Pastitsio I Recipe
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- 4 ounces tomato sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 1/2 cups macaroni
- 1/4 cup butter
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 1/2 cups milk
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- 6 thick slices white bread, toasted and cut into cubes
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and onion, until meat is brown. Stir in 3/4 teaspoon salt, a pinch of pepper, tomato sauce and cinnamon and cook 1 to 2 minutes more. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Dump in flour, all at once, and stir until a smooth roux is formed. Pour in 2 1/2 cups milk, a little at a time, stirring until smooth. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper and 1/4 cup Parmesan; bring to a boil, and stir until thickened. Remove from heat.
- In a small bowl, beat together eggs and 1 cup milk. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Place half the cooked macaroni in the baking dish and top with all of the beef mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup grated Parmesan over the meat. Place the remaining macaroni over the cheese. Pour the egg mixture over the macaroni. Cover all with the white sauce.
- In a medium bowl, stir together bread cubes and melted butter, until bread is well coated. Place bread cubes evenly over macaroni.
- Bake 50 to 60 minutes, or until topping is golden brown.
