Pastítsio
Macaroni Pie

Tender pasta layered with a meaty tomato sauce and topped off with a Parmesan flavored egg custard. Similar to Moussaka, this classic Greek dish is famous throughout the world, and a favorite at Greek restaurants and festivals.

 

Ingredients:

 

Meat Sauce/Filling:

  • 1 pound lean ground beef or lamb

  • 2 large onions, finely chopped

  • 2 – 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

  • 1  6-ounce can.tomato paste

  • 1 cup water (or 1/2 cup water & 1/2 cup red wine)

  • 1/8-teaspoon allspice

  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon Greek oregano

  • Salt & pepper to taste

Macaroni:

  • 1 pound small elbow macaroni

  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cream Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup flour

  • 1/2 cup butter

  • 2 cups warmed milk

  • 4 eggs, beaten

  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese

  • Dash nutmeg

  • Salt to taste  

Directions:

 

Meat Sauce/Filling:

  • Saute onion and garlic in olive oil; do not brown.

  • Brown ground beef or lamb; drain well.

  • Add browned ground meat, tomato paste, water (or water & wine), nutmeg, allspice cinnamon, and oregano to onion mixture.

  • Simmer about 20 minutes over medium heat; sauce will not be juicy.

  • Season to taste with salt and pepper (do not over salt).

Macaroni:

  • Cook macaroni until al dente in boiling salted water.

  • Rinse in cool water and drain.

  • Combine 1-cup meat sauce and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese with macaroni; blend well.

Cream Sauce:

  • Melt butter and stir in flour.

  • Cook over medium/low heat, stirring until mixture is well blended and bubbling.

  • Add warmed milk and stir continuously until sauce is well blended and begins to thicken.

  • Take sauce off heat.

  • Season to taste with salt.

  • Allow sauce to cool.

  • Add beaten eggs to sauce.

  • Stir until all sauce is blended with eggs.

  • Stir in ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and dash nutmeg.

Pastitsio Assembly:

  • Brush bottom of 13” x 9” baking dish with olive oil.

  • Spread 1/2 of macaroni mixture into bottom of pan.

  • Spoon remaining meat mixture over macaroni.

  • Top with remaining macaroni mixture.

  • Pour cream sauce over all.

  • Bake at 350 degrees for 45 – 60 minutes (the top should be set, slightly puffy, and nicely browned).

  • Let rest for 15 minutes before cutting into serving pieces.  


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