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Pastitsio 

Greek Marcaroni and Meat Pie 

350°F Oven
Serves 6

 Pastitsio
Pastitsio is often called Greek Lasagna. Layers of Penne Pasta and meat sauce, with a creamy custard topping. A bit rich, but worth it.
 
Ingredients
1 pound Penne pasta or long macaroni
4 Tablespoons butter
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
 salt and pepper
3 eggs, lightly beaten
 
Meat Sauce
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 Tablespoons butter
1 1/2 pound ground beef or lamb
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup meat stock
2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon sugar
 salt and pepper
 
Cream Sauce
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
3 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
 salt and pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
Preparation
  1. Cook macaroni in boiling salted water until tender, drain.
  2. Melt butter and pour over macaroni. Add 1/2 cup of the cheese, the nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste and toss well. Cool. Add eggs and toss again. Set aside.
  3. Make meat sauce: Saute onion and garlic in butter, add meat and brown. Add remaining sauce ingredients, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
  4. Make cream sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in flour and cook gently for 2 minutes. Add milk all at once and bring to a boil gently, stirring. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste. Cool slightly and add beaten egg.
  5. Added 1/2 cup of cream sauce to meat sauce.
  6. Butter a 13" x 9" x 2" baking dish. Spoon half of the prepared macaroni in the bottom and top with meat sauce. Cover with remaining macaroni.
  7. Pour on cream sauce and spread to cover macaroni. Sprinkle on remaining cheese and bake at 350°F for 50 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.