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–+ servings
Greek pasta bake

Pastitsio Recipe (Greek Lasagna)

Published by: Lydia
Pastitsio is a rich Greek pasta bake, often referred to as Greek Lasagna. This recipe's star ingredients are ground beef, Béchamel, cheese and savory spices. Pastitsio is comfort food at it's finest!
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients
  

Sauce

  • 2 lbs ground sirloin
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large onion finely chopped (or grated)
  • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped or grated
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper

Bechamel

  • ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick
  • 4 cups warm milk
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 2 egg yolks lightly beaten
  • 3/4 cup grated Romano cheese
  • ⅛ cup shredded Romano cheese

Instructions
 

Meat Sauce

  • Add olive oil to a large skillet or dutch oven and heat to medium-high. Add the onion and cook until soft.
    cook onions until soft
  • Add ground beef and use a wooden spoon to separate the beef into crumbles. Cook until browned. Drain and return to dutch oven.
    cook ground beef with onions
  • Add wine and stir until evaporated.
    cook ground beef with red wine
  • Add tomato paste and mix until ground sirloin mixture is coated in paste. Add in cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and oregano and combine. Add crushed tomatoes, salt and pepper and stir. Add bay leaves and simmer for 30 - 40 minutes on low heat. Remove bay leaves and discard.
    Pastitsio meat sauce
  • Cook pasta just under al dente (about 2 minutes less than the package cooking time instructs). Drain and return to pot.

Bechamel

  • Melt butter in saucepan under medium heat. Whisk in flour until combined and frothy about 3 minutes.
    roux for bechamel sauce
  • Gradually add warm or hot milk stirring constantly until thickened (should cling to spoon and show stir tracks in the saucepan).
    bechamel sauce
  • Remove from heat and whisk in cheese. Whisk in lightly beaten eggs. Add salt and pepper to taste and a pinch of nutmeg.
  • Add ½ of the meat sauce to the pot with the noodles and combine. Spray 9" x 13" pan with olive oil and add the noodles.
    first layer of Pastitsio
  • Sprinkle with grated cheese and add the remaining meat sauce.
    meat sauce layer for Greek lasagna
  • Top with Béchamel and the remainder of grated cheese.
    bechamel and cheese layer
  • Bake at 350° F for 45 - 55 minutes. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and place under broiler for 4 - 5 minutes until cheese is golden brown.
    finished Pastitsio
  • Allow to set for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Keyword greek lasagna, greek pasta bake, Pastitsio
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