Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna)
Pasta casserole or Pastitsio is among the best dinner ideas when you need a recipe for pasta dishes that can serve a greater group of people. Casserole recipes are very convinient and a healthy way to prepare food, and pasta and meat sauce together with bechamel sauce is a combination that leaves memories of special pasta dishes you have tried.
This dish is among the most loved and cooked in the Mediterranean countries and mostly in Greece. It is perfect for gatherings with family and friends because you can prepare it earlier and then just bake it. You will need to find bucatini pasta or if you can not any long shaped tubular pasta like pene should be fine. Pastitsio is prepared in three steps that are not complicated as it seems if you prepare them one by one and then assemble the dish. Try it especially if you have children, they will love the combination of the meat and sauce that are filling in the spaces in the hollow pasta.
You can also freeze some of it and just warm it before serving.
The meat sauce that is used in this recipe can be easily be adjusted and used in many other recipes. As it is you can use it to stuff cannelloni, tortellini.
Add rice, parsley or dill and stuff peppers and other vegetables. Add grated cheeses and make it a pie filling.
INGREDIENTS:
PASTA LAYER:
1 pack (500 gr.) bucatini pasta or pene
2 egg whites slightly beaten
2 tablespoons bread crumbs
MEAT LAYER (meat sauce) :
750 gr. ground beef
1 medium sized onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 and a half cup grated tomatoes
1/3 cup red vine
1/3 cup olive oil
a pinch of Cinnamon powder
salt and pepper to taste
BECHAMEL SAUCE LAYER:
8 tablespoons butter fresh or olive oil
8 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 and a half liter milk
Follow the steps for the basic bechamel sauce recipe.