Pastitsio (Παστίτσιο)

Prep time: 40 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

Total time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Country of Origin

Greece

Description

Often called Greek baked pasta, this comforting casserole pairs tubular bucatini pasta bound with cheese and egg whites, a cinnamon-infused beef ragù, and a blanket of golden béchamel.

Presentation & How It's Eaten

Cut into clean, square portions showing off distinct pasta and meat layers. Eaten warm with a fork as a main course.

Ingredients

• 400g (14 oz) Bucatini or tubular Pastitsio No. 2 pasta

• 2 egg whites

• 100g (1 cup) grated Kefalotyri or Parmesan cheese

The Cinnamon Meat Ragù:

• 700g (1.5 lbs) lean ground beef

• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/2 cup white wine

• 400g (14 oz) canned tomato sauce

• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp ground clove

• Salt and black pepper to taste

The Béchamel Topping:

• 100g (7 tbsp) butter

• 100g (3/4 cup) all-purpose flour

• 1 liter (4 cups) warm whole milk

• 2 egg yolks

• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Boil Pasta: Cook bucatini in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain, let cool slightly, then toss with beaten egg whites and half the grated cheese.

2. Make Meat Ragù: Brown ground beef with onion and garlic in a pot. Pour in white wine, then add tomato sauce, cinnamon, cloves, salt, and pepper. Simmer 20 minutes until thick.

3. Make Béchamel: Melt butter, whisk in flour, and cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk in warm milk until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat, stir in nutmeg, egg yolks, and remaining cheese.

4. Layer Casserole: Line a greased 9x13-inch pan with cooked bucatini aligned parallel. Spread meat ragù evenly over pasta. Pour béchamel sauce over top layer, smoothing to edges.

5. Bake: Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 45 minutes until top turns deep golden brown. Let rest 20 minutes before cutting.

Cooking Tips

• Align Pasta: Laying bucatini noodles neatly in one direction before layering helps create the signature geometric cross-section when sliced.

Nutrition Facts

(Estimated per serving)

• Calories: ~610 kcal

• Total Fat: 28g

• Saturated Fat: 15g

• Cholesterol: 145mg

• Sodium: ~820mg

• Total Carbohydrates: 56g

• Dietary Fiber: 3g

• Sugars: 8g

• Protein: 32g