Pastitsio

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Picture of Pastitsio Recipe Photo: Pastitsio Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
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8 servings
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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.

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Wine Suggestion for This Recipe

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc

Acidic, refreshing white wine

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 224 reviews

  • on May 20, 2013

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    AMAZING. Used Italian sausage instead of the beef and lamb. Prefer it too the Food Network Kitchen's version. Can also use canned tomato sauce if you want to cheat a little.
    I did think it was a lot of work, but in the end it was worth it, and fed my parents and I for two nights and one lunch.

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • 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!

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on March 16, 2013

    Flag

    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.

    people found this review Helpful.
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