Pastitso is an absolutely delicious Greek main course that is slightly unusual in that it has a pasta base (like pasta bake) with an egg topping (like Bobotie). The end result, however, is a wonderfully satisfying and filling meal that is perfect served with a fresh salad, like the Greek Salad shown in the featured image.
Serves 6 – 8
Ingredients
Pasta Base
- 250 g medium sized pasta of your choice (such as macaroni)
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 80 g parmesan, grated
Meat Sauce
- 2 large onions, roughly chopped
- 800 g minced beef
- 425 g can chopped tomatoes
- 200 ml tomato paste
- 125 ml water
- 75 ml dry white wine
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 beef stock cubes
Topping
- 100g butter
- 100 g plain flour
- 800 ml milk
- 125 g parmesan
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tbsp yeastless bread rusk or breadcrumbs
Method
- Grease a casserole dish
- Boil the pasta in a large saucepan with a little oil and a pinch of salt until “al dente”, then drain.
- In a large bowl, mix together the pasta, eggs and Parmesan and pour into the casserole dish, then season and gently press the mixture down with a spatula or back of a large spoon.
- Fry the onions in a large glug of olive oil for 5 minutes, then add the minced beef and fry until browned.
- Add the undrained tomatoes to the pan, followed by the tomato paste, water, and wine. Sprinkle the cinnamon and stock cubes over the ingredients then mix well and simmer until reduced to a thick mix (20 – 30 minutes).
- Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan, then slowly stir in the flour and continue stirring until the mixture starts to bubble.
- Remove the pan from the heat and slowly stir in the milk. Replace on the heat and continue stirring until the sauce boils and thickens.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan, followed by the egg yolks. If the mixture is too gloopy to work with, add a little water and stir in.
- Pour the topping over the meat mix and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs.
- Bake in the oven until lightly browned (40 – 45 minutes).
- Allow to stand for a few minutes, then serve with a Greek salad.
If you like this Pastitso meat dish, why not try my Bobotie recipe?
