Ingredients
For the Tomato Meat Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons good olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (1 large)
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound lean ground lamb
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 large cloves)
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes in puree
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Bechamel:
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan or Kasseri cheese
- 2 extra-large eggs, beaten
- 2/3 cup Greek-style yogurt, such as Fage Total
- 3/4 pound small shells
Directions
For the sauce, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes. Add the beef and lamb, and saute over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until it's no longer pink, crumbling it with the back of wooden spoon. Drain off any excess liquid, add the wine, and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the garlic, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, and cayenne, and continue cooking over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 40 to 45 minutes. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the bechamel, heat the milk and cream together in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until simmering. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly for 2 minutes. Pour the warm milk and cream mixture into the butter and flour mixture, whisking constantly. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until smooth and thick. Add the nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Stir in 3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of the tomato and meat sauce, and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Stir in the eggs and yogurt and set aside.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. Don't over-cook because the pasta will later be baked. Drain and set aside.
Add the pasta to the meat and tomato sauce, and pour the mixture into a baking dish. Spread the bechamel evenly to cover the pasta and sprinkle with the remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake for 1 hour, until golden brown and bubbly. Set aside for 10 minutes and serve hot.
Photo: Pastitsio Recipe













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By PumpkinVeggie
on April 21, 2013
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I have made this recipe three times using Texturized Vegetable Protein, zucchini, or eggplant instead of lamb. Everyone raved about this dish!
By hoysrus
Essex, VT
on March 16, 2013
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This is fantastic. And you could easily make this with whatever ground meat you had on hand in a pinch. I just made it with 1/2 lamb, 1/2 beef as directed this first time though. I had to eliminate the 1 hour baking time at the end by eliminating the eggs in the bechamel sauce so I could just warm it in the oven for 10 minutes since I made it after work during the week. This was so good my 2 year old even ate it.
By designerdi212
New York, NY
on February 23, 2013
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My husband, who is 100% Italian American and who says he could eat pasta every day, said this was the best pasta he ever had in his life! Amazingly light considering the ingredients. He is already worried I won't be able to reproduce it again! Takes time but is much easier to assemble than lasagna. Incredible results!
Read all 223 reviews