Episode 13 Pastitsio

This recipe was featured on “Olga’s Greek Kitchen” aired on Eastlink TV in 2021

 

Needed for this Recipe:

Sunshine Coast Olive Oil Co. Basil Olive Oil

Sunshine Coast Olive Oil Co. Oregano White Balsamic

 

Ingredients:

1 Pkg Melissa 2 Pasta

2 Tbs Basil Olive Oil

2 Medium White Onion

1 Kg Lean Ground Beef

1 Tbs Salt

1 Tsp Pepper

1 Tsp Oregano

1 Tsp Cloves

1 Tsp Nutmeg

2 Tbs Oregano Balsamic

1 C Tomato Sauce

¼ C Water

3 C Mozzarella

 

Béchamel Sauce

4 C Milk

¾ C Cornstarch

¾ C Flour

2 Tsp Salt

1 Tsp Nutmeg

½ C Butter

2 Eggs

¼ C Mozzarella

 

Method:

In a pot of salted water, cook your pasta, strain and rinse with cold water. In a pan, heat olive oil, add diced white onion to hot oil and cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef, cook for 2 minutes. Add salt, pepper, oregano, cloves and nutmeg to ground beef and mix together. Once mixed, add balsamic and stir. Lastly, add tomato sauce and water. Stir and cook for 15 minutes.

To make the béchamel, heat milk on the stove. Mix cornstarch, flour, salt and nutmeg in a bowl. Add 1 C of warm milk to the dry mixture, stir until fully combined, then add to the milk on the stove. Cook until it begins to thicken. Turn off and add butter. In a small bowl, beat 2 eggs, then gradually add them to warm mixture, stirring constantly to avoid cooking the eggs. Lastly, add mozzarella and set aside.

To assemble your Pastitsio, Lay down half you your pasta in a baking dish. Next, add all of the meat mixture, put 1 ½ C of mozzarella on top. Put the rest of the pasta on top of the cheese layer, then put the béchamel sauce on top of the pasta. Finish by putting the last 1 ½ C of cheese on top. Bake in the oven at 420 for 30 minutes or until the top is brown. Cool and serve.