Patitsio

Recipe #2 from Vefa's Kitchen. 

A traditional greek pasta dish, patitsio. Patitsio is a cheesy pasta bake with a layer of meat sauce, topped with a layer of bechamel sauce (white sauce). I would not say it is the best-for-you recipe. Lots of cheese, milk, carbs, and butter. Tough to lighten up without losing all the flavor! But so delicious. I have made a few changes to the original recipe.

White Sauce adapted from Vefa's Kitchen:
I made this first and let it sit on the stovetop while I cooked the rest.
3 cup milk (I used 2%)
3 T butter
3 T flour
1/8 t nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
3 egg yolks, beaten
1/2 c white cheddar, shredded

Heat milk in microwave until warm but not boiling. Melt butter in saucepan, stir in flour, cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually pour in milk, whisking constantly. Continue to simmer over medium heat until thickened. This will take about 15 minutes, and it won't be super thick. Remove from heat, stir in nutmeg, salt, pepper. Once slightly cooler, fold in 3 beaten egg yolks and 1/2 cup white cheddar cheese.

folding in cheese

Pastitsio adapted from Vefa's Kitchen:
2 T olive oil
1 yellow onion, grated
1 lb ground beef (can also use lamb)
1 cup canned pureed tomatoes
1 T tomato paste
pinch of cinnamon
1/2 t sugar
3 T finely chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1/2 cup white cheddar, shredded
12 oz Ziti
4 Y melted butter
2 T bread crumbs
2 cup (8 oz) Gruyere cheese, shredded
White Sauce (above)
cooking spray

Heat oven to 350.

Heat 2 T olive oil in pan. Add onion, cook over medium until soft, about 5 minutes. Add beef, cook until no longer pink. Drain.

Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, cinnamon, sugar, parsley, and season with salt and pepper. Simmer about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, cool 5 minutes. Add egg whites and cheddar.

Meanwhile, boil pasta according to package. Drain. Toss with melted butter, cool. Stir in Gruyere.

Spray 13x9 baking dish (or 10x14) with cooking spray. Add breadcrumbs to the bottom of dish. Spread 1/2 pasta mixture in dish. Top with meat sauce. Cover with remaining pasta. Pour white sauce over the top. Bake about 1 hour, until golden brown and set. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Her recipe says it serves 4. I got at least 6 meals out of this.

Yum!