MY PASTITSIO

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image



My Pastitsio image

This is a variation of the Greek meat, pasta and custard casserole. It relies on cumin rather than cinnamon to flavor the meat. The proportions of pasta, meat and custard are comparable to traditional pastitsio, as is the custard topping, but the meat sauce used in this version is completely mine.

Provided by Nicole Schultheis

Categories     Cheese

Time 1h10m

Yield 1 9" x 13" casserole, 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 21

1 lb lean but good quality ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cumin
2 tablespoons flour
4 sprigs fresh marjoram (or a little dry marjoram but fresh is better)
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons beef base or 2 beef bouillon cubes
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can chopped tomatoes (don't substitute whole canned tomatoes, they don't have as much tomato in them, says Cook's)
8 ounces pastitsio or 8 ounces long other slender tubular pasta
1/4 cup flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (don't use salted butter if you can help it; unsalted has better flavor and it will show in this reci)
2 large eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
3 tablespoons freshly and finely grated hard cheese, like romano or 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese (don't even think of using that canned stuff)

Steps:

  • Meat Base: Saute onion with ground beef, breaking meat up as you go, until meat is almost done.
  • Drain off any excess fat.
  • Add garlic, cumin and flour, stir together well, and saute a minute or two more.
  • Add remaining meat base ingredients and simmer gently, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Turn off heat and cover.
  • Pasta: Cook pasta until al dente in an ample quantity of salted water to which a bit of vegetable oil has been added (helps keep strands from sticking together).
  • Drain well.
  • Custard Topping: Melt butter in saucepan and mix in the flour.
  • Let it bubble a minute or two or until you can smell a slightly nutty flavor, but do not let it brown.
  • Gradually add most of the milk, whisking.
  • Let it cook about 10 minutes, stirring, until well thickened, then remove from heat.
  • Mix the nutmeg, salt and pepper into the grated cheese.
  • Add the eggs to the remaining milk in your measuring cup and whisk.
  • Whisk the egg and milk mixture into the sauce, then whisk the cheese mixture into the sauce also.
  • Assembly: Layer 1/2 of the pasta in the bottom of your baking pan.
  • Then add all of the meat sauce, removing the bay leaf and any stems from the marjoram.
  • Top with remaining pasta, then pour the custard sauce over all.
  • If everything is still hot when you assemble it, bake at 400 degrees Farenheit for about 35 minutes.
  • If merely warm, or if using a glass or ceramic pan instead of a metal one, bake for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees Farenheit.
  • Top should be slightly golden, edges slightly brown.

Tajuddin Taj
[email protected]

This pastitsio is a must-try for any Greek food lover! The flavors are incredible and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I especially love the creamy béchamel sauce. I will definitely be making this again for special occasions.


fi monnan
[email protected]

I'm not a huge fan of Greek food, but I decided to give this pastitsio a try and I'm so glad I did! It was absolutely delicious. The flavors are so rich and flavorful, and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I will definitely be making this again.


Adelaide Plange
[email protected]

This pastitsio was a bit of work to make, but it was definitely worth it! The flavors are incredible and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I especially love the creamy béchamel sauce. I will definitely be making this again for special occasions.


Bubble • 15 years ago {edited}
[email protected]

I made this pastitsio for my family last night and they loved it! The only change I made was to use ground beef instead of lamb, and it was still delicious. The sauce is so flavorful and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I will definitely be making this


Nicole Rhodes
[email protected]

This pastitsio is a must-try for any Greek food lover! The flavors are incredible and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I especially love the creamy béchamel sauce. I will definitely be making this again for special occasions.


Patricia Morgan
[email protected]

I'm not a huge fan of Greek food, but I decided to give this pastitsio a try and I'm so glad I did! It was absolutely delicious. The flavors are so rich and flavorful, and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I will definitely be making this again.


Saghir Msaghir
[email protected]

This pastitsio was a bit of work to make, but it was definitely worth it! The flavors are incredible and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I especially love the creamy béchamel sauce. I will definitely be making this again for special occasions.


Jean Samuel Marcelin
[email protected]

I made this pastitsio for my family last night and they loved it! The only change I made was to use ground beef instead of lamb, and it was still delicious. The sauce is so flavorful and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I will definitely be making this


Millicent Phakathi
[email protected]

This pastitsio is a must-try for any Greek food lover! The flavors are incredible and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I especially love the creamy béchamel sauce. I will definitely be making this again for special occasions.


Azubuike Ikenna
[email protected]

I'm not a huge fan of Greek food, but I decided to give this pastitsio a try and I'm so glad I did! It was absolutely delicious. The flavors are so rich and flavorful, and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I will definitely be making this again.


Chaudhary bidya
[email protected]

This pastitsio was a bit of work to make, but it was definitely worth it! The flavors are incredible and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I especially love the creamy béchamel sauce. I will definitely be making this again for special occasions.


Md Jihadul islam
[email protected]

I made this pastitsio for my family last night and they loved it! The only change I made was to use ground beef instead of lamb, and it was still delicious. The sauce is so flavorful and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I will definitely be making this


TANHI YTI
[email protected]

This pastitsio is a must-try for any Greek food lover! The flavors are incredible and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I especially love the creamy béchamel sauce. I will definitely be making this again for special occasions.


Hannah Jones
[email protected]

I'm not a huge fan of Greek food, but I decided to give this pastitsio a try and I'm so glad I did! It was absolutely delicious. The flavors are so rich and flavorful, and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I will definitely be making this again.


Shyam Shrivastav
[email protected]

This pastitsio was a bit of work to make, but it was definitely worth it! The flavors are incredible and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I especially love the creamy béchamel sauce. I will definitely be making this again for special occasions.


Moola Buksh
[email protected]

I made this pastitsio for my family last night and they loved it! The only change I made was to use ground beef instead of lamb, and it was still delicious. The sauce is so flavorful and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I will definitely be making this


Busingye Lillian
[email protected]

This pastitsio is amazing! I've made it several times now and it's always a hit. The flavors are so rich and delicious, and the pasta is cooked perfectly. I highly recommend this recipe to anyone who loves Greek food.


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 »

    #weeknight     #time-to-make     #course     #main-ingredient     #cuisine     #preparation     #casseroles     #main-dish     #beef     #eggs-dairy     #pasta     #greek     #oven     #european     #cheese     #eggs     #dietary     #ground-beef     #meat     #pasta-rice-and-grains     #equipment     #4-hours-or-less