World Flavors Cookbook

Pastitsio (Greek Baked Pasta)

Often called "Greek lasagna" — layers of tubular pasta, cinnamon-spiced meat sauce, and a thick, creamy béchamel top, baked until golden.

Cuisine: Greece

Ingredients

• 500g tubular pasta (bucatini or pastitsio pasta)
• 500g ground beef
• 400g crushed tomatoes
• Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves
• 600ml milk, 60g butter, 60g flour (béchamel)
• 2 eggs, grated kefalotyri or Parmesan

Instructions

1. Cook pasta al dente. Brown beef with onion, add tomatoes and spices.
2. Make béchamel with butter, flour, milk, nutmeg, and beaten eggs.
3. Layer half the pasta in a buttered dish, spread meat sauce, top with remaining pasta.
4. Pour béchamel over the top. Sprinkle with cheese.
5. Bake at 180°C for 45 minutes until golden. Rest before slicing.