**Pastitsio: A Culinary Journey Through Greece**
Pastitsio, a culinary masterpiece hailing from the heart of Greece, is a delectable dish that tantalizes taste buds with its harmonious blend of flavors and textures. This traditional Greek casserole boasts layers of tender pasta, seasoned minced meat, and a velvety béchamel sauce, all enveloped in a blanket of golden-brown cheese. Pastitsio's rich history dates back centuries, with variations found across different regions of Greece, each offering a unique interpretation of this beloved dish. Join us on a culinary odyssey as we delve into the secrets of pastitsio, exploring its origins, diverse regional variations, and the step-by-step process of creating this iconic Greek casserole. Discover the culinary artistry behind this beloved dish, from the preparation of the pasta and meat filling to the layering and baking techniques that result in a symphony of flavors and textures.
NIKKI'S PERFECT PASTITSIO
My mother used to work so hard in the kitchen to make this classic Greek dish, and the results were always well worth her effort. My recipe for pastitsio is easier, a bit lighter and every bit as great as Mom's.-Nikki Tsangaris, Westfield, Indiana
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h35m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Toss with butter; add grated Parmesan cheese. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink, breaking beef into crumbles; drain. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in tomato sauce, salt and cinnamon; heat through. Spoon over pasta. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese., In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened., In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of hot mixture into eggs; return all to pan, whisking constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Pour over beef mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cheese., Bake, covered, 20 minutes. Bake, uncovered, 30-40 minutes longer or until golden brown.,
Nutrition Facts : Calories 332 calories, Fat 18g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 98mg cholesterol, Sodium 718mg sodium, Carbohydrate 24g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 20g protein.
PASTITSIO
Steps:
- 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.
CHEESY PASTITSIO
This is a very good recipe, my family really likes it. It's from a 1980 edition of Better Homes and Gardens All-TIme Favorite Hamburger and Ground Meat Recipes cookbook. Typed here for future reference, as I am always misplacing the cookbook! I usually double the bechamel sauce, since we like it that way.
Provided by Michelle Berteig
Categories Greek
Time 1h15m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- For the pasta, cook macaroni until just done, drain. Add one beaten egg, 1/3 cup parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup milk. Mix and set aside.
- For the meat sauce, cook the meat and onion in a skillet until the meat is brown, drain off the fat. Add tomato sauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
- For the sauce, melt the butter or margarine in a saucepan. Add in flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add the milk slowly and cook and stir until thickened. Remove from heat and stir a small amount of the hot mixture into one beaten egg, return that mixture to the rest of the sauce in the pan. Add the 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese.
- To assemble, put half the macaroni into an 8 x 8 inch square pan. Add the meat sauce next, then the rest of the macaroni on top of that. Add the sauce over all. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
PASTITSIO
Steps:
- Make béchamel sauce:
- In a heavy saucepan melt butter over moderately low heat. Whisk in flour and cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes. Whisk in milk and simmer sauce, stirring, 8 minutes. In a bowl whisk eggs and add 1 cup sauce in a stream, whisking. Whisk egg mixture into remaining sauce and whisk in dill, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Keep béchamel warm, its surface covered with plastic wrap.
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a kettle of boiling salted water cook pasta until just al dente. Rinse pasta in a colander and drain well. In a bowl stir together lamb and braising liquid.
- In a buttered 2-quart shallow baking dish spread half of pasta evenly and spread lamb mixture evenly over it. Top evenly with remaining pasta and pour béchamel over pasta. Sprinkle pastitsio with cheese and bake in middle of oven until béchamel is set, about 40 minutes.
PASTITSIO IV
A Greek beef and macaroni baked casserole.
Provided by B.E.Whitaker
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 1h
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook garlic, onions and beef until meat is browned; drain fat. Add tomatoes, pepper and oregano. Stir and cook about 5 minutes. Sprinkle in 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese.
- Lightly coat a casserole or baking dish with olive oil and spread 1/2 the cooked pasta in it. Add the meat sauce and cover with the remaining pasta.
- Melt butter in a saucepan and blend in flour. Slowly add milk, stirring almost to boiling. In a bowl, blend remaining parmesan cheese and egg yolk and slowly add to the milk sauce, stirring constantly.
- Pour sauce over macaroni and bake for 30 minutes. Top should be golden and a little crispy.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 850.7 calories, Carbohydrate 78.7 g, Cholesterol 149 mg, Fat 37.5 g, Fiber 5.1 g, Protein 45.4 g, SaturatedFat 16.6 g, Sodium 751.2 mg, Sugar 6.6 g
PASTITSIO
Guests always seem to gobble up this authentic Greek beef and pasta casserole. The creamy white sauce is delicious. -Amanda Briggs, Greenfield, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h5m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in the tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, oregano, pepper and, if desired, cinnamon; heat through., Drain macaroni; place half of macaroni in a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese. Layer with meat mixture and remaining macaroni. Set aside., Preheat oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour and remaining salt until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened., Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of the hot mixture into egg; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in remaining cheese. Pour sauce over macaroni., Bake, uncovered, 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 614 calories, Fat 26g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 147mg cholesterol, Sodium 1206mg sodium, Carbohydrate 57g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 38g protein.
Tips:
- Choose the right pasta. Pastitsio is traditionally made with short pasta shapes like penne or macaroni. However, you can also use other types of pasta, such as spaghetti or linguine. Just be sure to cook the pasta al dente so that it still has a bit of a bite to it.
- Make a flavorful meat sauce. The meat sauce is the heart of pastitsio. Be sure to use a variety of meats, such as ground beef, lamb, and pork. Also, don't be afraid to add plenty of spices and herbs. You can also use a store-bought meat sauce if you're short on time.
- Use a creamy béchamel sauce. The béchamel sauce is what gives pastitsio its rich and creamy texture. Be sure to use whole milk and butter for the best flavor. You can also add some grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce for extra flavor.
- Layer the pastitsio correctly. The traditional way to layer pastitsio is to start with a layer of pasta, followed by a layer of meat sauce, and then a layer of béchamel sauce. You can repeat these layers until you reach the top of the baking dish. However, you can also get creative with your layering. For example, you could add a layer of vegetables or cheese between the layers of pasta, meat sauce, and béchamel sauce.
- Bake the pastitsio until it's golden brown. Pastitsio is typically baked in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. You can check the pastitsio for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. If the toothpick comes out clean, the pastitsio is done.
Conclusion:
Pastitsio is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a family meal. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. So next time you're looking for a new recipe to try, give pastitsio a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love