Pastitsio - Greek Pasta Casserole
Penne pasta with Feta, topped with reach meat sauce and covered with a rich bechamel sauce. Glorious. Greek comfort food. @mostdeliciouslife.com
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 2 pounds ground meat - beef, turkey or lamb
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 bay leaf
Pasta Layer
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 egg whites
White Sauce
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup flour
- 3 cups whole milk, warmed
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- Pinch nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Brown meat and drain any extra oil.
- Add olive oil, onion and red pepper. Cook and stir 5-7 minutes until veggies start to soften.
- Add garlic, tomato sauce and paste, salt, pepper, sugar, cinnamon and bay leaf. Cook over medium heat until most of moisture is absorbed.
Pasta Layer
- Cook penne 3-4 minutes less than suggested on package. Drain and pour into bowl.
- Add parmesan and egg whites. Mix well.
White Sauce
- Melt butter in sauce pan over medium high heat.
- Whisk in flour and cook for about a minute.
- Whisk in the warmed milk. Cook and stir until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and cool for 10 minutes.
- Whip in salt, pepper, egg whites, parmesan and nutmeg.
Make Casserole
- Spray or butter large casserole dish. **Use deep dish
- Cover bottom with penne mixture.
- Top with meat sauce. Spread evenly over pasta.
- Pour on white sauce and spread with spoon.
- Sprinkle with a little parmesan if desired.
- Bake for 40 minutes.
- Allow to cool 7-10 minutes before serving.