Name: Julie Goodwin’s pastitsio
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 375 grams macaroni; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 medium (300g) brown onions, chopped; 2 cloves garlic, crushed; 500 grams beef or lamb mince; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 400 gram can diced or crushed tomatoes; 2 teaspoons sugar; 60 grams butter; ¼ cup (35g) plain flour; 3 cups (750ml) milk; 2 eggs, beaten lightly; ½ cup (40g) freshly grated parmesan cheese or kefalotyri

Julie Goodwin’s pastitsio

This Greek pasta bake recipe is true home-made comfort food and tastes even better reheated the next day.

A baking dish filled with pastitsio, a baked pasta

Serves 6

Prep

20M

Cook

50M

Total

1H 10M

Julie Goodwin’s pastitsio is really a Greek version of a pasta bake.

Making up a double batch is worthwhile; pastitsio can be frozen before the final baking process. Thaw and bake for a fast midweek dinner.

Ingredients

375 grams macaroni

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 medium (300g) brown onions, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

500 grams beef or lamb mince

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 tablespoons tomato paste

400 gram can diced or crushed tomatoes

2 teaspoons sugar

60 grams butter

¼ cup (35g) plain flour

3 cups (750ml) milk

2 eggs, beaten lightly

½ cup (40g) freshly grated parmesan cheese or kefalotyri

Method

Cook pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water until just tender; drain.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large heavy based saucepan over medium heat; cook onion and garlic, stirring, until soft but not coloured. Add the mince; cook, stirring, over a high heat until browned. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste; cook, stirring, for a further minute. Stir in the undrained tomatoes, sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes or until the liquid has reduced. The mixture should be quite dry
and very rich and fragrant. Now is the time to taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat; stir in the flour. Stir for about 1 minute or until frothy. Gradually stir in the milk; cook, stirring, until mixture boils and thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat; whisk in the eggs.

Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Place pasta and the meat mixture in the base of a 20cm x 30cm ovenproof dish, then spread with the white sauce. Sprinkle the top with parmesan.

Place dish on an oven tray. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbling. Serve with green salad, if desired.

Suitable to freeze at the end of Step 4. White sauce suitable to microwave.

Kefalotyri is a hard salty cheese made from sheep and/or goat’s milk. It’s great for grating over pasta or salads.
Julie’s notes