Pastitsio Pie
- Ready In:
- 1hr 50mins
- Ingredients:
- 24
- Serves:
-
6-8
ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic (or to taste)
- 2 teaspoons dried chili pepper flakes (or to taste)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano (or to taste)
- 1 1⁄2 lbs lean ground beef
- 1⁄3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups cooked macaroni (macaroni should measure 2 cups after cooking)
- 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon seasoning salt (or to taste)
- black pepper
- 1 (14 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
- 1 (5 ounce) can tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 3 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
-
WHITE SAUCE
- 2 tablespoons butter (no subs)
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup half-and-half cream
- 1 cup cream-style cottage cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
- salt and pepper
directions
- Set oven to 350 degrees.
- Great a 10-inch deep-dish pie plate.
- In a skillet melt butter over medium heat; add in onion, garlic, oregano and dryed red chili flakes (if using) saute for about 3 minutes.
- Add in ground beef; cook for about 7-10 minutes or until beef is longer pink.
- Add in 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, season with seasoning salt and pepper; drain off fat.
- Stir in the stewed tomatoes, tomato paste; simmer for about 25-30 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Add in chopped fresh parsley; set aside.
- TO MAKE WHITE SAUCE; in a heavy saucepan melt butter over medium heat; stir in flour and cook whisking for about 2 minutes (do not brown!).
- Gradually add in the half and half cream and a pinch of cayenne pepper; cook whisking for about 3 minutes or until thickened and smooth; remove from heat and add in the creamed cottage cheese, egg, nutmeg, salt and pepper; mix well to combine.
- Generously butter the pie plate and sprinkle about 3 tablespoons dry bread crumbs in the bottom.
- Top with HALF of the cooked macaroni pasta.
- Spread all of the meat mixture evenly over top, pressing down slightly.
- Sprinkle with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
- Spoon the remaining macaroni over the top of the Parmesan.
- Carefully pour ALL of the white sauce over the top of the macaroni.
- Sprinkle about 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese on top (or to taste).
- Place the pie plate on a baking sheet.
- Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until golden.
- Let sit for about 15 minutes or longer before slicing (the longer you leave it sit the easier it will be to slice!).
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