Description
A traditional Greek baked pasta dish that combines layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, and creamy béchamel topping, perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb bucatini or ziti pasta
- Salt for boiling water
- 2 egg whites
- ½ cup grated kefalotyri or Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb
- ¼ cup red wine (optional)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, sautéing until the onion is translucent.
- Add the ground beef or lamb and cook until browned.
- Stir in the red wine (if using), tomato paste, and crushed tomatoes. Simmer for about 20 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix the cooked pasta with egg whites and cheese.
- In a baking dish, layer half of the pasta mixture, the meat sauce, and then top with the remaining pasta.
- Bake for about 30-40 minutes until golden on top. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Let the pastitsio sit for a few minutes after baking for easier cutting and serving. You can also prepare it ahead of time and refrigerate before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 75mg