Best 3 Greek Pastitsio For Two Recipes

Pastitsio is a classic Greek dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a cozy family dinner. This hearty and flavorful dish is made with layers of seasoned ground beef, macaroni, and a creamy béchamel sauce, all topped with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese. Pastitsio is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as a main course or a side dish. It is also a great make-ahead meal, as it can be prepared ahead of time and reheated when you are ready to serve. This recipe serves two people and can be easily doubled or tripled to feed a larger crowd.

This article includes two different recipes for pastitsio: a classic pastitsio recipe and a vegetarian pastitsio recipe. The classic pastitsio recipe uses ground beef, while the vegetarian pastitsio recipe uses a combination of lentils and mushrooms. Both recipes are easy to follow and result in a delicious and satisfying dish.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

GREEK PASTITSIO FOR TWO

Greek Pastitsio for Two image

This is one of my favorite recipes, not only because it's so good, but it only serves 2-3 people, depending on your appetite. My hubby doesn't eat leftovers so I get to eat whatever is left the next day.

Provided by Linda Seide

Categories Pasta

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

FOR PASTA
4 oz bucatini or ziti pasta
4-1/2 tsp butter, melted
1/2 egg, beaten
8 tsp parmesan cheese, grated
FOR MEAT SAUCE
1/4 c onion, chopped
8 oz ground beef
1 can(s) tomato sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp dried mint flakes, if using
1/16 tsp ground nutmeg
1/16 tsp pepper, black
FOR CREAM SAUCE
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp all purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
1 c milk
8 tsp parmesan cheese
1/2 beaten egg

Steps:

1. Cook pasta; drain and return to pan. Stir in 4-1/2 tsp melted butter, 8 tsp parmesan cheese, 1/2 beaten egg. Reserve other half of beaten egg for later. Set aside.
2. Cook ground beef and chopped onion in skillet until meat loses its pinkness and the onion softens. Drain excess fat from pan.
3. Stir in tomato sauce, salt, mint flakes if using, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper. Set aside. (The recipe calls for 1/2 can of tomato sauce but I always use a whole can.)
4. Melt 2 T butter in a saucepan. Then mix in flour and 1/4 tsp salt. Slowly stir in milk, stirring well after each addition so no lumps form. Cook and stir on medium high until cream sauce starts to thicken. Stir for one more minute; then remove from heat.
5. Pour other half of beaten egg into cream sauce, stirring briskly. Blend in remaining parmesan cheese.
6. Layer half the pasta in a 2 quart baking dish. Spoon meat mixture over the top, then the remaining pasta. Pour cream sauce over the top to completely cover the pasta.
7. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, or until hot and lightly browned. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

NIKKI'S PERFECT PASTITSIO

Nikki's Perfect Pastitsio image

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

Ingredients

2-1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1-1/2 pounds ground sirloin
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
BECHAMEL SAUCE:
1/2 cup butter, cubed
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cups 2% milk
2 large eggs, beaten

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 II

Pastitsio II image

Makes a lot and is just incredible. Everyone loves this dish and it is worth the effort.

Provided by ALKHATIB

Categories 100+ Pasta and Noodle Recipes Pasta by Shape Recipes Ziti Recipes

Time 2h25m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 23

Ingredients

1 pound dry ziti pasta
4 tablespoons butter
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 dash ground nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
¼ cup tomato paste
½ cup dry red wine
½ cup vegetable broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste
½ cup butter
½ cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 egg, lightly beaten
salt and pepper to taste
cooking spray
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes.
Melt butter until golden brown and pour over ziti, add Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Toss well. Cool briefly. Add eggs and toss again; set aside.
To make meat sauce: Gently fry onion and garlic in butter in a skillet until onion is soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Increase heat and add ground beef; stir well. Cook until meat begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, wine, broth, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
To make cream sauce: Melt butter in saucepan, stir in flour and cook gently for 2 minutes. Pour in milk all at once and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil gently for 1 minute. Add nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cool slightly before stirring in beaten egg. Transfer 1/2 cup of this sauce to the meat sauce.
To assemble pastitsio: Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spoon half of the prepared ziti evenly in the bottom and top with meat sauce. Top with remaining ziti. Pour on cream sauce and spread to completely cover ziti. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
Bake in a preheated oven for 50 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into squares.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 575.8 calories, Carbohydrate 45.9 g, Cholesterol 167.7 mg, Fat 31 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 25.7 g, SaturatedFat 16.3 g, Sodium 432.3 mg, Sugar 6.6 g

Tips:

Use a deep, ovenproof dish to ensure the pastitsio cooks evenly.
For a crispy top, sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese over the pastitsio before baking.
If you don't have any ground beef, you can use ground lamb or pork instead.
Feel free to add other vegetables to the meat sauce, such as diced carrots, celery, or zucchini.
To make the pastitsio ahead of time, cook and assemble it according to the recipe, but do not bake it. Cover it tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When ready to serve, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the pastitsio for 30-35 minutes, or until heated through.

Conclusion:

This Greek pastitsio recipe is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. With its flavorful meat sauce, creamy béchamel sauce, and crispy phyllo pastry, this pastitsio is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give this Greek pastitsio a try!