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Pastitsio (Greek Macaroni Pie)

A community recipe by Markella

Not tested or verified by Nigella.com

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Introduction

Ingredients

Serves: 4

For the Pastitsio

1⅔ pounds ground beef
1⅛ pounds macaroni
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon tomato paste (diluted in a glass of cold water)
1 chopped onion
white wine (half a glass - you can drink the rest)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon breadcrumbs
4 eggs
1 cup grated cheese (about, or more, - not a sweet cheese, something like cheddar or parmesan)
1 cup milk
6 ounces butter
seasoning
garlic (I always add this)

For the Bechamel Sauce

5 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups milk
nutmeg
salt

Method

Pastitsio (Greek Macaroni Pie) is a community recipe submitted by Markella and has not been tested by Nigella.com so we are not able to answer questions regarding this recipe.

Heat the first lot of butter and fry the onion until brown. Add a cup of water and simmer until the water is absorbed. Add the wine, cinnamon and your seasoning. Simmer with the lid on for about 3 mins.

Add the tomato paste and sugar and allow to simmer until almost all the liquid is absorbed.

Boil the macaroni with a bit of salt and drain once ready. Mix the 2nd lot of butter and a handfull of cheese into the macaroni and then put a layer of the macaroni (half of the full quantity) in a greased oven dish. Sprinkle with cheese

Spread the mince over the macaroni and sprinkle with cheese. Top with the rest of the macaroni.

Beat two whole eggs and two egg whites with the milk. Add your seasoning and pour over the macaroni. Make a bechamel sauce by heating the butter and blending in the flour. Add the mild and blend till smooth. Add your seasoning and the nutmeg. Cook until fairly thick.

Add the two remaining egg yolks and a handful of grated cheese. Cover the macaroni with the Bechamel. Sprinkle the remaining cheese and the breadcrumbs on top with dots of butter.

Bake in a moderate oven until golden brown. About 45 minutes

Additional Information

Add as much cheese as you like. I often combine 2 or 3 different cheeses and like to make it very cheesy. Obviously - season and spice to your taste. This is just a guideline.