CLASSIC PASTITSIO
A perfect serving of this baked-pasta dish needs to have the right ratio of bechamel topping to lamb-and-pasta filling.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Lamb Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Make the sauce: In a large deep skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, and cook until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add lamb, salt, cinnamon, pepper, and nutmeg. Cook, breaking lamb into pieces, until it is no longer pink. Add wine, and cook until liquid is almost evaporated. Stir in tomato paste, bay leaves, and 2 cups water. Cover, and let simmer 30 minutes, skimming the fat occasionally. Remove from heat, and set aside, covered.
- Make the bechamel: In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. When butter is bubbling, add flour and baking powder. Cook, stirring constantly with a wire whisk, for 1 minute. While whisking, slowly pour in milk. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick. Remove pan from heat, and stir in Parmesan, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper. Set aside, covered, until ready to assemble.
- To assemble: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-inch glass or other ovenproof baking dish; set aside. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add pasta; cook until very al dente, 2 to 3 minutes less than manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a colander; drain well. Stir noodles into meat mixture. Pour meat-and-pasta mixture into prepared pan. Spread bechamel over the mixture, and bake until top is set and golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm.Note: Photograph by Maria Robledo
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Eva Nanozi
[email protected]This pastitsio was just okay. I've had better.
Vishal Vishal
[email protected]This pastitsio was too time-consuming to make. I don't think it was worth the effort.
Malek hossam2022
[email protected]I followed the recipe exactly and my pastitsio turned out dry. I'm not sure what went wrong.
Binda Badu
[email protected]This pastitsio was a bit bland for my taste. I think I'll add more spices next time.
AnythinG CreativE
[email protected]I've made this pastitsio several times and it's always a hit. It's a great dish to serve for company.
Sarah Mbanjo
[email protected]This pastitsio is a must-try for any fan of Greek food.
Steve Castle
[email protected]This pastitsio was easy to make and tasted great. I'll definitely be making it again.
Diane Jones
[email protected]I'm not usually a fan of pastitsio, but this recipe changed my mind. It was absolutely delicious.
Addie Jamison
[email protected]This pastitsio was so good, I ate two servings!
Tanya Tylene
[email protected]I made this pastitsio for a potluck and it was a huge success! Everyone raved about how delicious it was.
Stefany C
[email protected]This pastitsio was a bit more work than I expected, but it was worth it! The dish was absolutely delicious and everyone at the table loved it.
Ayesha Awan
[email protected]I'm a big fan of pastitsio and this recipe did not disappoint. The meat sauce was rich and flavorful, and the pasta and béchamel sauce were cooked to perfection.
Nabadda Racheal
[email protected]This pastitsio was so easy to make and turned out so well! I was especially impressed with the béchamel sauce, which was creamy and flavorful.
Michael Agyemang
[email protected]I've tried many pastitsio recipes but this one is by far the best. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and the end result was a delicious and authentic pastitsio.
Renae Hoey
[email protected]Just made this pastitsio for my family and it was a huge hit! The flavors were amazing and the dish was perfectly cooked. Will definitely be making this again.