Foteini’s “pastitsio” recipe

One of the most famous greek food is “Pastitsio” and believe me it is delicious! As I cooked today “Pastitsio” for my family, I will share the recipe with you!

• 500 gr penne pasta
• 1 tbsp butter (unsalted) – I use naxian butter made by cow milk
• 1 cup gratted “Graviera” cheese – you can use parmesan or similar
• 1 carrot, minced
• Tomato sauce (150 gr)
• 1 cinammon stick
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper

For the bechamel sauce:

• 1 lt fresh milk – I use naxian fresh cow milk
• 1 tbsp butter (unsalted)
• 7 tbsp corn flour or flour for all purposes
• nutmeg
• pepper
• 250 gr greek yoghurt
• 1 egg
• 1 cup gratted “Graviera” cheese – you can use parmesan or similar

• Cook pasta according to package directions and drain them. Toss with butter and add grated Parmesan cheese. Transfer to a greased baking dish.

• In a large skillet heat water with 1 tbsp olive oik, cook beef and carrot over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Stir in tomato sauce, salt, pepper, cinammon stick and bay and cook till it is almost drained. Spoon over pasta. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the gratted cheese.

• In a large saucepan, melt butter. Add milk and corn flour and stir till it become creamy (low-medium heat). Take it off the heat plate and add yoghurt while stiring, the egg, the gratted cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg.

• Pour over the beef and pasta mixture and add the remaining cheese.

• Cook in preheated oven (180 Celsius degrees) till it become gold and crispy.

Enjoy!