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Home » Greek Recipes » Easy Greek Pastitsio (Pastichio) Recipe

Easy Greek Pastitsio (Pastichio) Recipe

Author: Karon Grieve Published : September 2016

Recipe
Easy Greek Pastitsio
Easy Greek Pastitsio
Easy Greek pastitsio recipe but lighter version of this clssic Greek mince and macaroni dish. #pastitsio #Greek recipes #larderlove

This easy  Greek pastitsio (pastichio) recipe is one of my all time favourite comfort foods. It’s the Greek version of lasagne, pasta, minced (ground) beef and lovely creamy white sauce. Seriously, what’s not to like in this plateful of aromatic goodness.

easy traditional Greek pastitsio recipe

Easy Greek pastitsio (pastichio) recipe

Pastitsio, or pastichio is almost as popular as the famous moussaka of Greece. It is a rich mixture of aromatic minced beef with luxuriously creamy bechamel sauce and of course pasta. 

Pastitsio, Greek macaroni and meat pie, fabulous! This is old fashioned comfort food and holds so many memories for me.

But this is not a traditional pastitsio recipe in that I’m not using bechamel sauce, instead I’m going for a lighter healthier version of this classic Greek recipe.

easy pastitsio recipe

I first came across Pastitsio when I worked on the island of Spetses oh so many years ago. There were two tavernas on the beach, the main one that was your basic everyday kind of place, and the one set a little behind that was more expensive and for a treat now and then.

This is where I first tasted Pastitsio and so far it’s the best I’ve ever had.

Pastitsio is a meat and macaroni dish, hearty and filling and to me it’s the perfect comfort food. It’s my daughter Imogen’s favourite dish and I make it once a month and probably more than that in the winter.

top down shot of prepared dish

Pasta for pastitsio

Traditionally pastitsio is made using Bucatini pasta. That’s a pasta that looks rather like very wide sticks of spaghetti but with a hole right down the middle so that the sticks of pasta are actually long tubes. 

Alas, this sort of pasta is not readily available in our local supermarkets here in Scotland so I use macaroni instead.

It’s so easy to buy and cooks up a treat in this pastitsio recipe. You can also use penne pasta in pastitsio too.

easy pastitsio recipe

Ingredients for pastitsio

There seems like a lot of ingredients here but please don’t be put off by that. A lot of the list is pinches of this and that in the spices department.

Basically you are going to be making a meat in tomato sauce, a creamy white sauce and boiling up some macaroni. Nothing to panic about.

easy traditional pastitsio

Pastitsio flavours

Pastitsio is packed with flavour. It’s a mixture of spices that come together to create a really well-rounded flavour for the minced beef/ground beef.

Honestly, this takes good old mince to a whole new level. I use cumin, ground allspice, cloves, ground coriander, cinnamon and of course salt and pepper to make up my spice blend and this really packs a punch.

 top down image

Creamy white sauce

I don’t use the traditional bechamel sauce in my pastitsio. I go for a lighter version of this classic white sauce.  Using a milk and Greek yogurt combo (you can even make your own Greek style yogurt with this easy recipe) and  parmesan cheese.

You would normally use Greek Kefalotiri cheese, but that isn’t readily available out here in the Scottish countryside.

Can you freeze this pastitsio

Yes, simply save any leftovers in a freezer-proof box and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly and make sure it is piping hot when you serve your pastitsio.

Kali Orexi!

larder links

Looking for some more Greek recipes to try, then check these out;

Easy vegetarian moussaka

Greek fried meatballs

Vegetarian stuffed aubergine/eggplant

Prawn stuffed tomatoes

Traditional Greek Stifado beef stew

Finally, if you do try this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment/star rating below as I just love to hear from readers. Want more Larder Love? Then follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter and sign up for my newsletter too of course.

Photos And Tips AboveMost of my recipes have step by step photos and useful tips plus videos too, see above.
easy traditional pastitsio

Easy Greek pastitsio recipe

Karon Grieve
Pastitsio is a simple meat and macaroni pie with a creamy sauce packed with Greek flavour.
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Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 1 hr
Course main dish
Cuisine Greek
Servings 4 people
Calories 582 kcal

Ingredients
 

Pastitsio Base

  • 200 g macaroni
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 250 g minced beef or lamb or mix of both
  • 400 g tinned tomatoes
  • 35 ml dry white wine
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp ground allspice
  • 1 pinch ground cloves
  • 1 pinch ground cinnamon
  • 1 pinch ground coriander
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 50 g Kefalotiri or parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped

White sauce mix

  • 20 g butter
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 200 ml milk
  • 100 ml Greek yogurt
  • 1 egg beaten beaten
  • 25 g Kefalotiri or parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 pinch nutmeg grated
Metric – US Customary

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 180C/350F/Gs4
  • Boil the macaroni in plenty of salted water till al dente, drain and set aside.
  • Heat oil in pan and saute the onion for 3 mins then add the garlic for 1 more minute.
  • Add the mince and brown.
  • Add the tinned tomatoes and all spices and seasoning and simmer for 20 minutes till some of the liquid has evaporated.
  • In a separate pan melt the butter and stir in the flour to form a paste.
  • Beat the egg in a small bowl with the grated cheese.
  • Mix milk and yogurt and gradually add this to the flour paste and stir till smooth and the sauce will start to thicken.
  • Pour a little of this into the egg mix and combine well and then add this to the pan with the rest of the sauce and stir in the lemon juice and nutmeg, stir well and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Grease a baking dish and layer the mince mixture and pasta then half the grated cheese then the white sauce.
  • Top with remaining cheese and bake for 30-40 minutes till golden on top.
  • Sprinkle with the parsley to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 582kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 32gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 532mgPotassium: 789mgFiber: 4gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 683IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 391mgIron: 4mg
My Top Tips*Always read the full recipe first. *Assemble all your ingredients and everything you need before you start. *For baking check the size of tins I’m using as this makes a big difference to your cakes. * I use medium sized eggs unless otherwise stated. * I use extra virgin olive oil unless otherwise stated. * I use unsalted butter unless otherwise stated. * Check out My Preserving Kit!
Keyword pastitsio
Tried this recipe?Mention @LarderLove or tag #LarderLove

 

 

Filed Under: ALL RECIPES, Autumn/Fall, Greek Recipes, Main Dishes, Meat Recipes

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