Welcome to the world of culinary delights, where flavors dance on your palate and aromas ignite your senses. Embark on a culinary journey as we delve into the secrets of creating the ultimate "meat and macaroni pie pastitsio." This classic Greek dish, a symphony of flavors and textures, has captivated taste buds for generations. Prepare to tantalize your senses with a delectable combination of seasoned ground beef, tender macaroni, and a velvety béchamel sauce, all harmoniously layered in a golden-brown crust. Whether you're a seasoned chef or just starting your culinary adventures, let this article guide you through the steps of crafting this iconic dish, ensuring a successful and unforgettable culinary experience.
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PASTITSIO
Pastitsio is a layered Greek casserole of macaroni and seasoned ground lamb, topped with a thick cream sauce. This version substitutes beef in place of the lamb to suit American tastes.
Provided by Ben S.
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 6h10m
Yield 15
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in onion and cook until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in the ground beef, and cook until crumbly and no longer pink. Pour in the water and tomato paste. Season with salt, pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon; cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, adjust salt to taste, then refrigerate until cold. Once cold, remove any congealed fat, and thoroughly mix with 2 beaten eggs, and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, and rinse under cold water to cool. Mix the macaroni in 2 beaten eggs until well coated.
- Evenly spread half of the macaroni mixture into a 11x14x2 inch baking pan, sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the grated parmesan cheese, and drizzle with 1/2 cup of melted butter. Spread the meat mixture overtop, then finish with the remaining macaroni. Sprinkle the macaroni with another 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, and drizzle with 1/2 cup of melted butter.
- Whisk together 4 beaten eggs with the half-and-half, 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, flour, and salt; whisk until well blended. Pour the cream mixture evenly over top of the pastitsio, and sprinkle with nutmeg.
- Cover the pan with foil, and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake until the top has turned golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and allow to stand for 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 429.9 calories, Carbohydrate 27.8 g, Cholesterol 179.8 mg, Fat 23 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 27.5 g, SaturatedFat 11.4 g, Sodium 689.7 mg, Sugar 2.9 g
PASTITSIO
Guests always seem to gobble up this authentic Greek beef and pasta casserole. The creamy white sauce is delicious. -Amanda Briggs, Greenfield, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h5m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in the tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, oregano, pepper and, if desired, cinnamon; heat through., Drain macaroni; place half of macaroni in a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese. Layer with meat mixture and remaining macaroni. Set aside., Preheat oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour and remaining salt until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened., Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of the hot mixture into egg; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in remaining cheese. Pour sauce over macaroni., Bake, uncovered, 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 614 calories, Fat 26g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 147mg cholesterol, Sodium 1206mg sodium, Carbohydrate 57g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 38g protein.
MEAT AND MACARONI PIE - PASTITSIO
Make and share this Meat and Macaroni Pie - Pastitsio recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Rita1652
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 50m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Toss pasta with 1 tablespoon oil and garlic powder.
- In a large frying pan, sauté the onion and garlic in a 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the meat and brown.
- Add the tomatoes ,tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano and parsley. Simmer until cooked through and the mixture has the consistency of a sauce.
- Using a greased oven proof dish, layer the cooked spaghetti and the meat mixture in the dish.
- Heat the butter, flour in microwave oven to make a paste about 30 seconds.
- Whisk eggs into milk. Add to roux and whisk to mix together. Micro 2 minutes. Whisk and micro 2 more minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in grated cheddar cheese. Pour over the casserole. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake for 45 minutes at 350°F.
PASTITSIO IV
A Greek beef and macaroni baked casserole.
Provided by B.E.Whitaker
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 1h
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook garlic, onions and beef until meat is browned; drain fat. Add tomatoes, pepper and oregano. Stir and cook about 5 minutes. Sprinkle in 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese.
- Lightly coat a casserole or baking dish with olive oil and spread 1/2 the cooked pasta in it. Add the meat sauce and cover with the remaining pasta.
- Melt butter in a saucepan and blend in flour. Slowly add milk, stirring almost to boiling. In a bowl, blend remaining parmesan cheese and egg yolk and slowly add to the milk sauce, stirring constantly.
- Pour sauce over macaroni and bake for 30 minutes. Top should be golden and a little crispy.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 850.7 calories, Carbohydrate 78.7 g, Cholesterol 149 mg, Fat 37.5 g, Fiber 5.1 g, Protein 45.4 g, SaturatedFat 16.6 g, Sodium 751.2 mg, Sugar 6.6 g
Tips:
- Use a good quality pasta: A high-quality pasta will hold its shape better during cooking and will have a better texture.
- Cook the pasta al dente: Al dente pasta is cooked through but still has a slight bite to it. This will help to prevent the pasta from becoming mushy in the pie.
- Use a variety of cheeses: A combination of cheeses will give the pie a more complex flavor. Some good options include cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
- Don't overfill the pie crust: The pie should be filled to the top, but it should not be overflowing. If the pie is too full, it will be difficult to bake evenly.
- Bake the pie until the crust is golden brown: The pie should be baked until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. This will take about 30 minutes.
Conclusion:
Pastitsio is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a family meal. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. With a few simple tips, you can make a pastitsio that will impress your friends and family.
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