Go Back
+ servings

Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna)

A hearty dish with layers of cinnamon-infused beef and creamy béchamel, perfect for gatherings.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

  • 3 pounds ground beef
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • to taste coarse kosher salt
  • 1 package pastitsio noodles or mostaccioli
  • 0.5 pound kasseri cheese, grated (about 4 cups)
  • 4 eggs
  • 1.5 sticks unsalted butter
  • 1 cup flour
  • 5.5 cups whole milk

Method
 

  1. Prepare the meat sauce by cooking onions in olive oil, adding ground beef, then stirring in tomato sauce and cinnamon. Simmer for three hours.
  2. Cool and refrigerate the meat sauce overnight.
  3. Cook pastitsio noodles in salted water until al dente, then mix in one beaten egg.
  4. Preheat oven to 350ºF and assemble layers with noodles, cheese, and meat sauce.
  5. Make béchamel sauce by melting butter, adding flour, and whisking in milk until bubbling.
  6. Combine eggs and milk, then incorporate into béchamel while whisking.
  7. Thicken béchamel on medium-high heat until desired consistency is reached.
  8. Pour béchamel over layered ingredients and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
  9. Bake for about one hour until golden brown and bubbly.
  10. Let Pastitsio rest for ten minutes before slicing and serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 25gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 600mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5g

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!