Pasticcio Recipes

Steps:

• In a hot pan melt 4 ounces of butter, add ground chuck, chopped onion, salt, and pepper. Add tomatoes and tomato sauce, bay leaf, and cinnamon and cook over medium flame for about 35 minutes.
• Cook macaroni in boiling water, strain and put back in pot to keep warm.
• Place a 1/4 of the grated cheese in a 11 by 14-inch pan, and then a layer with 1/3 of the pasta. Continue until both ingredients are used up. Spread on the meat sauce.
• Mix the final layer, the Pastitsio Crema by mixing 4 ounces of melted, cooled butter and 3/4 cup of flour. Heat 3 1/2 cups of milk and pour a little over flour and butter mixture then pour the rest of the mixture into the milk. Add 5 beaten eggs and stir thoroughly over medium flame until mixture thickens. Pour the crema on top of the meat sauce and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until brown. Cool for 1 hour before cutting.

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F and arrange a rack in the middle.
• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil, over medium-high heat, and cook pasta according to package directions. When pasta is done, drain, and run under cold water to cease the cooking.
• For the sauce: Heat the oil and butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When the
• butter foams, add the onion and garlic and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the meat and break it up with a spoon. Cook, stirring frequently, until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and cinnamon and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes more, then remove from the heat.
• Butter a 2 1/2 to 3-quart baking dish. Spread half of the pasta evenly in the bottom of lightly buttered glass baking dish. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the top, add all the meat sauce, the remaining pasta, and the remaining cheese.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and the eggs until evenly combined. Slowly pour it over the entire dish; (the liquid should completely cover the noodles). Cover and bake until bubbly, about 40 to 45 minutes. Uncover and bake until bubbling and browned, about 10 to 15 minutes more. Let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Meanwhile, make the filling: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meat and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and cinnamon and cook until the onion is soft, about 5 more minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce and wine and cook until the wine starts to evaporate, about 2 more minutes. Add the tomato sauce, 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and bring to a simmer. Stir in the parsley and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs and remove from the heat.
• When the pasta is done, drain and return to the pot off the heat; stir in the butter, then the beaten eggs and 1 cup cheese until the pasta is coated.
• Brush the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Spread half of the pasta in the dish, then top with the meat filling and the remaining pasta.
• Make the bechamel: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking, 1 minute. (Do not let the flour brown.) Whisk in the yogurt and 3/4 cup water and gently simmer, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 5 more minutes. (Do not let the mixture boil.) Remove from the heat and whisk in the eggs, nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Pour the bechamel evenly over the pasta in the baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese and 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs and bake until golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• For the sauce, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes. Add the beef and lamb, and saute over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until it's no longer pink, crumbling it with the back of wooden spoon. Drain off any excess liquid, add the wine, and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the garlic, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, and cayenne, and continue cooking over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 40 to 45 minutes. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the bechamel, heat the milk and cream together in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until simmering. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly for 2 minutes. Pour the warm milk and cream mixture into the butter and flour mixture, whisking constantly. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until smooth and thick. Add the nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Stir in 3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of the tomato and meat sauce, and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Stir in the eggs and yogurt and set aside.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. Don't over-cook because the pasta will later be baked. Drain and set aside.
• Add the pasta to the meat and tomato sauce, and pour the mixture into a baking dish. Spread the bechamel evenly to cover the pasta and sprinkle with the remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake for 1 hour, until golden brown and bubbly. Set aside for 10 minutes and serve hot.

Steps:

• For the meat sauce: In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the ground beef and sear without disturbing until brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Break it up into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper and cook until deeply browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the Aleppo and cinnamon and stir to combine. Tie the thyme sprigs together with butcher's twine and add to the meat sauce. Deglaze with the wine, reduce by half, then stir in the crushed tomatoes and 1 cup water. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the tomatoes have begun to break down, about 30 minutes.
• For the béchamel sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the butter and allow to melt. Whisk in the flour and allow to toast for 1 minute. Add the nutmeg and about a quarter of the milk and whisk as the mixture cooks and bubbles. Add another quarter of the milk and cook, whisking. Once the milk is incorporated, add the rest of the milk and whisk again. This will ensure a smooth bechamel sauce. Season with salt and pepper and continue to cook, whisking, until the mixture has thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the kefalotyri cheese until melted. Whisk in the eggs and set aside.
• For the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Do not stir as you will disturb it. In order to have even layers, the pasta needs to be cooked undisturbed, with all the noodles facing the same way. Cook the pasta for 4 minutes less than the package instructions.
• Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• To assemble: Brush a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish with olive oil and set aside. Using tongs, remove the pasta from the pot and line the pasta evenly in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. All the noodles should be facing the same direction. Add the melted butter and kefalotyri cheese and season with black pepper. Remove the bundle of thyme from the meat sauce and pour the meat sauce on top of the pasta. Using a rubber spatula, spread into an even layer without pressing down. Pour the béchamel over the meat sauce. Place the casserole dish onto the offset heat part of the grill, close the grill and bake until the top is golden brown and puffy, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from the grill and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into slices and serving.
• Oven method: Bake uncovered at 400 degrees F for 40 to 45 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook garlic, onions and beef until meat is browned; drain fat. Add tomatoes, pepper and oregano. Stir and cook about 5 minutes. Sprinkle in 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese.
• Lightly coat a casserole or baking dish with olive oil and spread 1/2 the cooked pasta in it. Add the meat sauce and cover with the remaining pasta.
• Melt butter in a saucepan and blend in flour. Slowly add milk, stirring almost to boiling. In a bowl, blend remaining parmesan cheese and egg yolk and slowly add to the milk sauce, stirring constantly.
• Pour sauce over macaroni and bake for 30 minutes. Top should be golden and a little crispy.

Steps:

• In a saucepan melt 4 tablespoons butter & whisk in the flour.
• When flour is completely incorporated, gradually pour in the milk, whisking constantly. Keep whisking until milk comes to a boil, then simmer for 2-3 minutes & remove it from the heat.
• Stir in nutmeg, salt & pepper to taste, & add 1/3 of the cheese.
• Let this sauce cool until just warm, then stir in the beaten egg yolks & set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add salt & pasta & cook for 2 MINUTES LESS than the package instructions indicate, so that the pasta is very al dente, as it will continue cooking in the oven.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F & butter the inside of a 13"x9" baking dish.
• When pasta is done, drain it & toss with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, then spread half of the pasta in the bottom of the baking dish. Pour half of the sauce over it & sprinkle half of the remaining cheese over that. Repeat layering with the remaining pasta, then the rest of the sauce & finally the cheese.
• Place the baking dish on the oven's middle rack & bake 20-30 minutes or until golden.
• Great when served warm or at room temperature with a fresh green salad.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Melt butter until golden brown and pour over ziti, add Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Toss well. Cool briefly. Add eggs and toss again; set aside.
• To make meat sauce: Gently fry onion and garlic in butter in a skillet until onion is soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Increase heat and add ground beef; stir well. Cook until meat begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, wine, broth, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
• To make cream sauce: Melt butter in saucepan, stir in flour and cook gently for 2 minutes. Pour in milk all at once and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil gently for 1 minute. Add nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cool slightly before stirring in beaten egg. Transfer 1/2 cup of this sauce to the meat sauce.
• To assemble pastitsio: Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spoon half of the prepared ziti evenly in the bottom and top with meat sauce. Top with remaining ziti. Pour on cream sauce and spread to completely cover ziti. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
• Bake in a preheated oven for 50 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into squares.

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Toss with butter; add grated Parmesan cheese. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink, breaking beef into crumbles; drain. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in tomato sauce, salt and cinnamon; heat through. Spoon over pasta. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese., In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened., In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of hot mixture into eggs; return all to pan, whisking constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Pour over beef mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cheese., Bake, covered, 20 minutes. Bake, uncovered, 30-40 minutes longer or until golden brown.,

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Heat olive oil and butter over medium heat in a large skillet.
• Add onions, eggplant, garlic and seasonings. Cover and let saute, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and lentils with a little liquid. Cook until very thick.
• Stir in tomato paste and heat through. Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Butter a large casserole of oblong baking dish and layer half of the noodles across the bottom. Sprinkle one third of the parmesan over the noodles. Layer half of the sauce over noodles and parmesan.
• Layer the remaining half of the noodles over the sauce, sprinkle with one third of the parmesan and cover with the remaining sauce. *You could refrigerate it at this point if you want to make it ahead of time.
• Custard Sauce:.
• Heat butter in a saucepan over low heat, stir in flour, and let roux cook a few minutes.
• Pour in heated milk, stirring with a whisk.
• Slowly whisk sauce into beaten eggs.
• Pour sauce over entire casserole. It should drain through to the bottom and bind the whole thing together. If it sits on top, slide a butter knife in and out of the layers in a few places.
• Sprinkle with remaining parmesan and cover.
• Bake for 1 hour.
• Serve very hot.

Steps:

• Prehead the oven to Gas Mark 6/200c/fan oven 180c. In a lidded non stick saucepan, dry fry the mince for 5 minutes, stirring to break up the meat. Pour in the passata, season, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile bring a saucepan of water to the boil and cook the pasta for 10 minutes or according to the packet instructions until tender.
• To make a white sauce, blend the cornflour with a little of the milk in a non stick pan to make a smooth paste, then mix in the rest of the milk. Bring to the boil, stirring until thickened, then simmer for 2 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and mix with the meat sauce. Tip into a baking dish and pour the white sauce on top. Scatter with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 20 minutes until the top is golden brown.

Steps:

• Cook lasagne noodles in boiling,salted water until tender.
• Drain.
• Melt butter in pan and cook finely chopped onions and minced steak for 2-3mins, stirring constantly.
• Add tomato and salt&pepper to taste.
• Continue to cook over low heat until meat is tender.
• Cover pan if mixture is too dry.
• Blend with 1/2 cup grated cheese.
• Place half the lasagne in a greased casserole and cover with meat mixture, then remaining lasagne.
• Blend cream sauce with beaten egg and 1/4 cup grated cheese.
• Season and pour over the lasagne.
• Bake in a moderate oven for 40-50mins or until top is nicely browned.
• Serve hot.
• CREAM SAUCE:- Melt butter, blend in flour and cook gently for 2mins.
• Add milk gradually, stirring over a low heat until boiling.
• Add cream (optional) and season to taste with salt&pepper.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt and 1 cup of sugar. Cut in margarine by pinching between your fingers, or using a pastry blender, until the mixture has lumps no larger than small peas. Make a well in the center, and pour in the eggs, 1/2 cup milk and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Stir until the mixture comes together, then knead for about 5 turns on a lightly floured surface.
• Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Grease two 12 cup muffin tins or tart pans. Cut out 20 circles using a 3 inch cookie cutter or drinking glass. Line the muffin cups with the dough. Set aside the remaining dough to cut out tops for the cups.
• In the top of a double boiler, or in a metal bowl set atop a saucepan of simmering water, whisk together the cornstarch and 3/4 cup sugar. Gradually whisk in 3 of the egg yolks, and 1quart milk. Heat, stirring constantly, until thick and bubbling. Remove from the heat, and stir in the butter and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until the butter is melted.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fill the pastry shells half way with the vanilla cream. Roll out remaining dough, and cut into circles for lids. Place over the top of the pastry shells, and seal the edges by pressing with the tines of a fork. Whisk the remaining egg yolk with a fork, and brush the tops of the pastry cups.
• Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Let cool in the tins before carefully loosening the edges to remove. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in onion and cook until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in the ground beef, and cook until crumbly and no longer pink. Pour in the water and tomato paste. Season with salt, pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon; cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, adjust salt to taste, then refrigerate until cold. Once cold, remove any congealed fat, and thoroughly mix with 2 beaten eggs, and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, and rinse under cold water to cool. Mix the macaroni in 2 beaten eggs until well coated.
• Evenly spread half of the macaroni mixture into a 11x14x2 inch baking pan, sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the grated parmesan cheese, and drizzle with 1/2 cup of melted butter. Spread the meat mixture overtop, then finish with the remaining macaroni. Sprinkle the macaroni with another 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, and drizzle with 1/2 cup of melted butter.
• Whisk together 4 beaten eggs with the half-and-half, 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, flour, and salt; whisk until well blended. Pour the cream mixture evenly over top of the pastitsio, and sprinkle with nutmeg.
• Cover the pan with foil, and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake until the top has turned golden brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and allow to stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• SAUCE: Heat oil in large skillet; cook onion& pepper for 3 minutes.
• Add garlic, stir& cook for 1 more minute.
• Add beef& cook, stirring frequently, until no longer pink- about 10 minutes.
• Add tomatoes& wine; bring to a boil, lower heat& simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes or until sauce is fairly thick.
• Stir in parsley& anchovies; season to taste.
• PASTA: Cook in boiling salted water for 8- 10 minutes, or until tender.
• Drain& transfer to a bowl.
• Stir in the cream& set aside.
• TOPPING: Beat yoghurt, eggs& nutmeg until well combined; season to taste.
• ASSEMBLY: Brush a large, shallow ovenproof dish with oil (or spray with Pam).
• Spoon in 1/2 the pasta mixture& cover with 1/2 the meat mixture.
• Repeat these 2 layers.
• Spread the topping over the final layer& sprinkle evenly with cheese.
• COOKING: Bake in preheated 375F oven for 25 minutes or until the topping is golden brown& bubbling.

Steps:

• Cook macaroni; drain, and return to pan.
• Stir in the melted butter, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup milk, and the egg; set aside.
• In a a skillet or large saucepan, cook ground beef and onion until meat loses its pinkness and onion is soft; drain excess fat.
• Stir in tomato sauce, the 1 teaspoon salt, mint flakes (if used), cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper; set aside.
• In a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter, then mix in flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Slowly stir in the 2 cups milk, stirring well after each addition so that no lumps form.
• Cook and stir on medium high until cream sauce starts to thicken; stir for one minute more, then remove from heat.
• Beat egg in a small bowl, then pour into cream sauce, stirring briskly.
• Blend in the 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese.
• Layer half the pasta mixture in a 11" x 7" (or 2 quart) baking dish.
• Spoon the meat mixture evenly on top, then the remaining pasta.
• Pour cream sauce over top, to cover completely.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350F for about 40 minutes, or until hot and lightly browned.
• Let stand for 10 minutes.