Pastitsio Bake
Pastitsio is a classic Greek pasta bake made with tubular spaghetti layered with aromatic spiced beef mince and topped with a silky béchamel sauce. Oven baked until golden, it’s a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish perfect for family dinners or entertaining.
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prep time10minuti
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cook time60minuti
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serves6people
Ingredients
Béchamel Sauce
Method
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Preheat oven to 200°C.
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Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain, drizzle lightly with olive oil and set aside to cool slightly.
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Heat a large non-stick pan over high heat. Add beef mince and cook until browned and excess liquid has evaporated.
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Pour in red wine and cook until reduced. Add onion, garlic, oregano, rosemary, cloves and allspice. Cook for 5 minutes until fragrant.
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Stir in tomato paste, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, crushed tomatoes and stock. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
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To make the béchamel, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
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Gradually add warm milk, whisking until smooth and thick. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Stir in eggs, nutmeg and half the cheese.
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Lightly oil a large casserole dish. Layer pasta over the base and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Spoon over the meat sauce, then spread béchamel evenly on top.
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Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, or until golden and set.
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Rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
