Example output
Great choice! Pastitsio is a delicious Greek dish made with pasta, ground meat, and a creamy béchamel sauce. Here's a basic recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
1 pound (450g) penne pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 pound (450g) ground beef or lamb
1 can (14 ounces/400g) diced tomatoes
1/2 cup (120 ml) red wine
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 cups (475 ml) whole milk
5 tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter
5 tablespoons (40g) all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, sauté the chopped onion in a little bit of oil until soft and translucent.
Add the ground meat to the skillet and cook over medium heat until browned.
Stir in the canned tomatoes, red wine, tomato paste, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Simmer for about 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
To make the béchamel sauce, heat the milk in a saucepan until it's just about to boil. In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the flour and whisk until it forms a paste. Gradually pour in the hot milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Cook the sauce over low heat until it thickens, then remove from heat.
Whisk the beaten eggs into the béchamel sauce.
In a large baking dish, layer half of the cooked pasta on the bottom. Pour the meat sauce over the pasta, then layer the remaining pasta on top of the meat sauce.
Pour the béchamel sauce over the pasta, spreading it evenly to cover the surface. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese on top.
Bake the pastitsio in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
I hope this helps! Enjoy your delicious pastitsio.