Pastitsio (Greek pasta bake)

Lamb Recipes Pastitsio (Greek pasta bake) recipe

delicious magazine
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Date Published:
30/11/2007

This pasta recipe is unusual because it's Greek rather than Italian. Pastitsio has layers of pasta and minced lamb with a very moussaka-like white sauce topping. With its tomato and aubergine sauce this hearty dish oozes with gorgeous flavours.

Serves 4 adults or 2 adults and 4 pre-school children
Takes 45 minutes to make and 25 minutes to bake

Nutritional Information

Per serving:
766kcals
31.5g fat (14.4g saturated)
44.7g protein
80.7g carbs
11.4g sugar
0.9g salt

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 500g lamb mince
  • 1/2 aubergine, chopped
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée
  • 400g can chopped tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme or oregano leaves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 150ml hot vegetable stock
  • 350g dried macaroni
  • 15g butter, softened
  • 15g plain flour
  • 300ml semi-skimmed or full-fat milk
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 50g Cheddar cheese, grated

Method: How to make pastitsio (greek pasta bake)

1. Heat the oil in a pan, add the onion and garlic and fry over a medium heat for 3 minutes, until softened. Turn the heat to high, add the mince and aubergine and fry for 4 minutes to brown all over. Add the purée, tomatoes, herbs and stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 25 minutes until the lamb is tender. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4.

Tip

Leftovers freeze very well. Microwave each portion from frozen on high (900W) for 3 minutes to reheat. Check it's piping hot before serving. You could also use the mince base for shepherd's pie – just leave out the tomato purée and add a dash of Worcestershire sauce instead. Boil 500g each of potatoes and parsnips, mash together with a splash of milk and knob of butter, and spread over the mince. Brown in a medium-hot oven for about 25 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, cook the macaroni in boiling water according to the packet instructions, then drain and set aside.

3. Make the white sauce. Put the butter, flour and milk into a large jug and whisk. Microwave on high (900W) for 4 minutes, stirring twice until the sauce has boiled and thickened.

4. Pour half the macaroni into the base of a 2-litre ovenproof dish, spoon over the meat mixture and top with the rest of the macaroni, or do the same in individual ovenproof dishes. Add the egg to the white sauce, whisk, and pour over the pasta. Sprinkle with the cheese and bake individual pastitsios for 15 minutes or the larger one for 25 minutes, until golden. Serve with a green salad.

© delicious. magazine

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Comments

  1. pastichio isnt made with aubergine and chedder cheese! i recomend you drop the aubergine and substitute chedder with greek cheeses kefalodiri and haloumi! And when makking the mince use both thyme and oregano plus add cinnamon and nutmeg! and that should taste alot more authentic. This is the best dish in the world when made right
    Posted by greek on 20/06/2009 17:16:56
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  2. I tried this. It was good but I'd recommend seasoning, which isn't included in the recipe. I'd also have prefered a thicker top white sauce layer so recommend doubling that for a traditional pastitsio, I found the sauce a bit too eggy so would probably just use 1 egg with more milk and flour next time. Might be a good idea to bind the bottom layer of pasta together with some sauce also because mine fell apart rather than having a 'layered' look. Although it was very tastey!
    Posted by amore on 11/05/2009 23:53:18
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  3. Has anyone tried this?
    Posted by Vicky on 10/05/2009 21:22:35
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