Pastitsio (greek baked pasta)
For the pastitsio we will need :
Ingredients :
600 gr. minced meat
300 gr. tomato puree
70 ml. olive oil
150 gr. parmesan
1 big onion
1 1/2 tsp pepper
4 dried bay leaves
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
3 all spices ( pimenta )
Directions:
In a pot we add the olive oil and one onion chopped, we let it to medium heat for a couple minutes. We stir the onion until it gets soft. Then, add the tomato puree, bay leaves , cayenne pepper all the spices left and some parmesan cheese. Mix very well. Bring to boil and turn the heat down and simmer.
HOW TO MAKE THE PASTA :
Cook the pasta for 7-9 minutes. Don't let them more because we will put them in the oven later.
Drain the pasta and the let them aside.
BECHAMEL SAUCE:
We use a pre made bechamel that we only add two cups of whole milk and we beat the mixture really well, until it gets a bit thick but not too much. For this pastitsio recipe we will need two large pyrex 23x 18 and 31x 23 cm. Layer the pasta, add the meat sauce and smooth them very gently with a spatula. On top, we spread the bechamel and parmesan cheese. Preheat the oven at 180-200 °C for 10 minutes and them bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour until crust turns golden. The pastitsio is now ready. Bon apetit!!