Pastitsio
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 8 to 10 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 10 servings
- Calories
- 602
- Total Fat
- 33
- Saturated Fat
- 16
- Carbohydrates
- 46
- Dietary Fiber
- 3
- Sugar
- 7
- Protein
- 30
- Cholesterol
- 154
- Sodium
- 697
- Total: 2 hr
- Prep: 40 min
- Cook: 1 hr 20 min
Ingredients
For the pasta and filling:
Kosher salt
1 pound ziti
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
1 pound ground beef or lamb (or a combination)
1 onion, chopped
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 15 -ounce can tomato sauce
Freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups grated kefalotyri or parmesan cheese (about 6 ounces)
For the bechamel:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups plain 2 percent Greek yogurt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Kosher salt
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Meanwhile, make the filling: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meat and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and cinnamon and cook until the onion is soft, about 5 more minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce and wine and cook until the wine starts to evaporate, about 2 more minutes. Add the tomato sauce, 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and bring to a simmer. Stir in the parsley and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs and remove from the heat.
- When the pasta is done, drain and return to the pot off the heat; stir in the butter, then the beaten eggs and 1 cup cheese until the pasta is coated.
- Brush the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Spread half of the pasta in the dish, then top with the meat filling and the remaining pasta.
- Make the bechamel: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking, 1 minute. (Do not let the flour brown.) Whisk in the yogurt and 3/4 cup water and gently simmer, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 5 more minutes. (Do not let the mixture boil.) Remove from the heat and whisk in the eggs, nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
- Pour the bechamel evenly over the pasta in the baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese and 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs and bake until golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.