Pastitsio (Greek Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce and Béchamel)
Local name: Παστίτσιο
In short: Thick pasta tubes layered with cinnamon-spiced beef sauce and topped with a thick béchamel, baked until golden. It takes about 2 h 15 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 1 h 30 min
- Resting
- 20 min
- Total
- 2 h 15 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 715 kcal
Pastitsio is Greece's baked pasta: thick tubes of pasta, a meat sauce spiced with cinnamon and allspice, and a thick béchamel that sets into a golden crust. It is made for Sunday lunches, name days and big family tables, and it cuts into neat squares after a short rest. Make it a day ahead and the layers hold together even better.
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in salted water for 2 minutes less than the packet says. Drain, toss with the melted butter and cool 5 minutes. Mix in the eggs and 50 g of cheese.
- For the sauce, cook the onion in the oil for 8 minutes. Add the garlic for 1 minute, then the beef, breaking it up, and brown it for 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste for 1 minute.
- Add the wine and let it bubble for 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, cinnamon, allspice, bay, salt, pepper and 100 ml (scant 1/2 cup) water. Simmer for 30 minutes until thick. Remove the cinnamon and bay.
- For the béchamel, melt the butter, stir in the flour for 2 minutes, then whisk in the warm milk gradually. Stir 8 to 10 minutes until thick. Off the heat, season with the 1/2 tsp salt and the nutmeg and stir in 80 g of cheese.
- Cool the béchamel for 5 minutes, then whisk in the yolks. Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a 23 x 33 cm (9 x 13 inch) dish.
- Spread half the pasta in the dish, then the meat sauce in an even layer. Cover with the remaining pasta, pressing gently.
- Pour the béchamel over and smooth the top. Sprinkle with the extra cheese. Bake 45 minutes until golden and set.
- Rest for 20 minutes before cutting into squares.
Tips
- Long hollow pastitsio pasta is sold in Greek shops. Bucatini broken in half, ziti or penne work well.
- Make the béchamel thick, like custard. A thin sauce soaks into the pasta and the topping will not set into a clean layer.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between pastitsio and lasagna?
Pastitsio uses tubes of pasta, a cinnamon-spiced meat sauce and a thick béchamel, with no ricotta or mozzarella. Lasagna uses flat sheets and a tomato sauce with cheeses.
Can I make pastitsio ahead?
Yes. Assemble it up to a day ahead, cover and chill, then bake 10 minutes longer. It also reheats well and freezes for 3 months.
What do you serve with pastitsio?
A tomato and cucumber salad or a simple green salad, plus bread. The dish is rich, so something fresh and sharp on the side helps.
How long does it take to make Pastitsio (Greek Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce and Béchamel)?
About 2 h 15 min in total: 45 min of preparation and 1 h 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pastitsio (Greek Baked Pasta with Meat Sauce and Béchamel)?
About 715 kcal per serving, with 32 g of protein, 66 g of carbohydrates and 36 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 715 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 32 g |
| Carbohydrates | 66 g |
| Fat | 36 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Sodium | 950 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
