Pastitsio is a classic Greek dish that typically consists of layers of ground beef, pasta, and béchamel sauce. This vegetarian pastitsio recipe puts a unique twist on the traditional dish by using lentils instead of ground beef and a creamy vegan béchamel sauce made from cashews. The result is a hearty and satisfying dish that is also packed with protein and fiber.
This recipe includes step-by-step instructions for making the lentil filling, the vegan béchamel sauce, and assembling the pastitsio. It also provides tips for making the dish ahead of time and freezing it for later. Additionally, the article includes recipes for two different types of pasta sauces that can be used in place of the lentil filling, making this a versatile dish that can be tailored to your preferences.
VEGETARIAN PASTITSIO
From: "The Vegetarian Epicure" by Anna Thomas, first edition 1972. This book was a real find! Greek-Style casserole.
Provided by Engrossed
Categories Lentil
Time 1h30m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Heat olive oil and butter over medium heat in a large skillet.
- Add onions, eggplant, garlic and seasonings. Cover and let saute, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes.
- Add tomatoes and lentils with a little liquid. Cook until very thick.
- Stir in tomato paste and heat through. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- Butter a large casserole of oblong baking dish and layer half of the noodles across the bottom. Sprinkle one third of the parmesan over the noodles. Layer half of the sauce over noodles and parmesan.
- Layer the remaining half of the noodles over the sauce, sprinkle with one third of the parmesan and cover with the remaining sauce. *You could refrigerate it at this point if you want to make it ahead of time.
- Custard Sauce:.
- Heat butter in a saucepan over low heat, stir in flour, and let roux cook a few minutes.
- Pour in heated milk, stirring with a whisk.
- Slowly whisk sauce into beaten eggs.
- Pour sauce over entire casserole. It should drain through to the bottom and bind the whole thing together. If it sits on top, slide a butter knife in and out of the layers in a few places.
- Sprinkle with remaining parmesan and cover.
- Bake for 1 hour.
- Serve very hot.
VEGETARIAN PASTITSIO
In our veggie version of this Greek pasta dish, budget-friendly lentils replace the meat and we've used a little balsamic vinegar instead of wine
Provided by Sara Buenfeld
Categories Dinner
Time 1h40m
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Put the onions and oil in a large saucepan with the bouillon, bay leaves, the vinegar, garlic, oregano and cinnamon. Add a mug of water (about 250ml), then cover and simmer for 10 mins until soft. Uncover and cook for 10 mins more, stirring frequently. The water should evaporate after this time and the onions should be soft.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling water following pack instructions, or for 10 mins until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Stir the tomatoes, tomato purée and the lentils, along with their liquid, into the onions. Stir well, then cover and simmer for 5 mins. Remove the bay leaves.
- To make the white sauce, pour the milk and 200ml water into a pan with the flour, whisk well to stop lumps forming and keep stirring until thickened, for about 8-10 mins.
- Stir the egg white into the pasta and spoon over the base of a baking dish. Top with the lentil mixture. Stir the egg yolk into the white sauce, then spoon on top of the lentils, scatter over the feta and oregano, then bake in the oven for 40 mins until bubbling.
- Serve half with the tomato and onion salad, and chill the rest for another day. Will keep chilled for up to two days. Reheat in the microwave on plates until piping hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 576 calories, Fat 11 grams fat, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 85 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 19 grams sugar, Fiber 18 grams fiber, Protein 27 grams protein, Sodium 1.5 milligram of sodium
MEATLESS PASTITSIO
This is great served with Baked Chicken Kapama or any Greek lamb entree.Pasta and three cheeses combine in a phyllo-topprd casserole.From a February 1984 issue of Bin Appetit that featured A Feast of Heritage Dishes-Greek Dinner for 12.
Provided by Leslie in Texas
Categories Cheese
Time 1h15m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Brush 9x13-inch baking dish with some of melted butter.
- Cook macaroni in large pot of boiling salted water until tender;drain well.
- Mix with half of remaining melted butter in a large bowl.
- Toss with cheeses.
- Blend in eggs,milk and pepper.
- Spoon into prepared dish.
- (Can be prepared 1 day ahead to this point, covered and refrigerated.If refrigerated, bring to room temperature before continuing.).
- Cover dish with phyllo, brushing each sheet with some of remaining butter.
- Score top 3 sheets with tip of sharp knife.
- Bake 15 minutes.
- Reduce oven to 300 degrees and bake 35 minutes.
- Let stand 15 minutes.
- Cut into squares and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 572.4, Fat 40.5, SaturatedFat 24.5, Cholesterol 198.5, Sodium 613.7, Carbohydrate 37.9, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 1.7, Protein 14.7
PERFECT PASTITSIO (VEGETARIAN)
Posted for Zaar World Tour 2005. Have never eaten Pastitsio (a traditional Greek dish) before and was grateful to have found one I could eat. This looks like a great one-dish meal, and takes less time to make than you might expect. It's described as a great party dish, and leftovers can be reheated and eaten a day or two later. From Vegetarian Times Cooks Mediterranean. Have not tried this recipe yet. Update: Tried this the other night. It makes a lot of food, but leftovers are quite good! Mine didn't turn out too dry with 1 cup of tomato sauce, but do add more tomato sauce or fresh tomatoes if you wish.
Provided by Kumquat the Cats fr
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h15m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit.
- In large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until golden brown, about 7 minutes.
- Add beef substitute, chopping into small bits. Cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce, red wine and spice, stirring to mix.
- Simmer, uncovered, until the excess moisture has evaporated, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.
- In large saucepan, bring milk to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium.
- Dissolve the cornstarch in water, then add to milk in a thin stream, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
- Cook, whisking, until mixture has returned to a boil and is thickened, 2-3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in 3/4 cup of the cheese.
- In separate bowl, beat eggs until light and very frothy. Add to cheese sauce in a thin stream, whisking constantly. Add salt and pepper to taste and combine with cooked pasta in a large bowl.
- Lightly oil an 11x15x2 inch casserole dish. Spoon in half the pasta/cheese mixture. Top with meat substitute mixture, then with remaining pasta/cheese mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
- Bake until casserole is golden brown and bubbling, about 40 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 575.4, Fat 15.8, SaturatedFat 5.2, Cholesterol 100.7, Sodium 866.1, Carbohydrate 72.8, Fiber 7.2, Sugar 5.4, Protein 32.5
Tips:
- For the best flavor, use fresh vegetables. If using frozen vegetables, thaw them completely before using.
- Use a variety of vegetables to create a more flavorful and colorful pastitsio. Some good options include spinach, zucchini, carrots, peas, and mushrooms.
- Be sure to cook the vegetables until they are soft before adding them to the pastitsio. This will help to ensure that they are evenly cooked and flavorful.
- Use a good quality béchamel sauce. A homemade béchamel sauce is always best, but you can also use a store-bought variety if you are short on time.
- Layer the pastitsio carefully to ensure that it cooks evenly. Start with a layer of vegetables, then a layer of béchamel sauce, and then a layer of pasta. Repeat these layers until you have used all of the ingredients.
- Bake the pastitsio in a preheated oven until it is golden brown and bubbly. This will usually take about 30 minutes.
Conclusion:
Pastitsio is a delicious and hearty vegetarian dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its combination of pasta, vegetables, and béchamel sauce, pastitsio is sure to be a hit with everyone at your table.
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