As of: March 28, 2024, 5:13 a.m
By: Anna Yakusheva
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With Pastitsio, the classic Greek pasta bake, you can easily bring the authentic taste of Greece home.
Sun, beach and Mediterranean cuisine – Greece not only enchants with its beautiful landscapes, but also with its delicious dishes. One of the classics of Greek cuisine is Pastitsio, a hearty pasta casserole that is baked with creamy béchamel sauce, spicy minced meat and aromatic cheese. At first glance, Pastitsio is reminiscent of the popular Italian specialty Spaghetti Bolognese with pasta, minced meat sauce and cheese, but there are some striking differences.
Pastitsio traditionally uses macaroni or rigatoni instead of spaghetti and seasons the minced meat sauce with oregano, thyme and cinnamon for the typical Greek taste. Instead of the usual cheese, Kefalotyri is traditionally used, a salty hard cheese made from sheep or goat's milk, which gives the dish a unique flavor and harmonizes perfectly with the other ingredients.
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Pasta casseroles are a popular and versatile meal that are both delicious and easy to prepare. They combine tender pasta with a creamy sauce and a variety of delicious ingredients. A classic example is the pasta casserole with minced meat and tomato sauce, which is layered with spicy meat, juicy tomatoes and cheese. For fans of Greek cuisine, the gyros pasta bake with cream sauce is a delicious option. If you like something a little lighter, you can opt for a cauliflower pasta casserole with ham. For cheese lovers, the cheeseburger pasta casserole with pickles is an irresistible choice.
The following ingredients are required for the Greek pasta bake Pastitsio:
Pasta bake Pastitsio, the recipe that conjures up a piece of Greece on the dinner table. (Symbolic image) © Panthermedia/IMAGO
Noodles:
250g macaroni
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp olive oil
Minced meat mixture:
500 g minced beef
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp thyme
0.5 tsp cinnamon
1 bay leaf
400 g pureed tomatoes
200 ml red wine
200 ml vegetable broth
Salt and pepper, to taste
Béchamel:
50g butter
50g flour
750 ml milk
Nutmeg, grated
Salt and pepper, to taste
To sprinkle:
100g Kefalotyri cheese, grated
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Thanks to these step-by-step instructions, preparing the Pastitsio pasta bake is easy:
Preheat the oven to 180 °C top/bottom heat.
For the pasta:
Cook the macaroni in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions. Drain and drizzle with olive oil.
For the minced meat mixture:
Fry the minced meat in a pan with olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until translucent. Add oregano, thyme, cinnamon and bay leaf and fry briefly. Deglaze with pureed tomatoes, red wine and vegetable stock and let everything simmer for about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
For the béchamel sauce:
Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add flour and sauté, stirring, for about a minute. Gradually add the milk and cook, stirring constantly, to form a creamy sauce. Stir in nutmeg, salt and pepper.
Grease a baking dish with a little olive oil. Put half of the pasta in the baking dish, spread the minced meat mixture on top and layer the remaining pasta on top. Cover with the béchamel sauce and sprinkle with cheese.
Bake the pastitsio in the preheated oven for 30 minutes until the cheese is golden brown. Arrange on a plate and enjoy!
Easy Tasty Tip:
Pastitsio tastes particularly good with a fresh salad and a glass of red wine. The Kefalotyri cheese can be replaced with spicy Parmesan, Pecorino Romano or Manchego.
The recipe for Greek pasta bake Pastitsio combines pasta, creamy béchamel sauce, spicy minced meat and aromatic cheese to create an irresistible taste experience. (Symbolic image) © Pond5 Images/IMAGO
Delicious classics of Greek cuisine
Greek cuisine is known worldwide for its variety of flavors, fresh ingredients and Mediterranean flair. It combines traditional recipes with an abundance of fresh vegetables, high-quality olive oil, aromatic herbs and delicious spices. Some of the most famous dishes include moussaka, a type of casserole with eggplant, potatoes, minced meat and béchamel sauce, and souvláki, marinated meat skewers that are often served with tzatziki. Other popular specialties include hearty gyros, a dish of grilled meat, typically lamb or chicken, served with fluffy pita bread and various side dishes, and tirokroketes, crispy fried cheese balls with feta cheese.
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The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at her own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.