Greek Pastitsio Classic Casserole (Print)

A baked Greek casserole featuring layered pasta, spiced beef, and a creamy béchamel sauce.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz bucatini or penne pasta
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 2 large eggs, beaten
04 - ½ cup grated kefalotyri or Parmesan cheese

→ Beef Sauce

05 - 2 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1.1 lb ground beef
09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
10 - 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
11 - ⅓ cup red wine
12 - ½ tsp ground cinnamon
13 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Béchamel Sauce

16 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
17 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
18 - 3 ⅓ cups whole milk, warmed
19 - 2 large eggs
20 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
21 - ½ cup grated kefalotyri or Parmesan cheese
22 - Salt and white pepper to taste

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
02 - Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and return to pot. Incorporate butter, beaten eggs, and ½ cup grated cheese. Set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add ground beef, breaking it up, and brown thoroughly.
04 - Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, red wine, cinnamon, nutmeg, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 20–25 minutes until thickened. Remove bay leaf.
05 - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1–2 minutes. Gradually add warm milk while whisking until smooth. Simmer 5–6 minutes until thickened.
06 - Remove sauce from heat. Whisk eggs in a bowl. Slowly add hot béchamel to eggs while whisking. Return egg mixture to saucepan. Stir in nutmeg, cheese, salt, and white pepper.
07 - Spread half the pasta in the baking dish. Layer all the beef sauce on top. Add remaining pasta. Pour béchamel sauce evenly over the top.
08 - Bake for 40–45 minutes until top is golden and set. Let cool at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Rich layered flavors combining pasta, beef, and creamy sauce
  • Classic Greek comfort food perfect for family meals
02 -
  • Substitute ground lamb for beef for a richer flavor
  • Kefalotyri cheese can be replaced with Parmesan if unavailable
03 -
  • Tempering the eggs with hot béchamel prevents curdling
  • Letting the pastitsio rest ensures clean slices when serving
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