Greek Pastit*io recipe - beef mince and pasta bake (2024)

by Lucy Parissi 14 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Greek Pastit*io recipe – this Greek pasta bake with cheese sauce closely resembles Lasagne and will be a hit with the entire family.

Greek Pastit*io recipe - beef mince and pasta bake (1)

There are certain recipes that take me straight back to my childhood and this Greek Pastit*io – mince and pasta bake with cheese sauce, is just one of those dishes.

Pastit*io, or pastichio (the spelling doesn’t translate so well) combines two family favourites – macaroni and cheese and pasta bolognese to form a sort of Greek lasagne.

Basically it is pasta in a bolognese-type sauce topped with a simple Béchamel sauce and baked in the oven. It is a true family favourite that is a hit with absolutely everyone, grown ups and kids alike.

Greek Pastit*io recipe - beef mince and pasta bake (2)
I remember loving Pastit*io as a kid growing up in Athens but I haven’t made it all that often for my own kids in the UK.

I think I was a bit intimidated by it but in actual fact it is a simple recipe – easier than lasagne which it closely resembles and just as crowd-pleasing.

You can use lamb or beef mince – I sort of go with whatever I have available and both are delicious with a few subtle differences in taste.

Go with lamb mince for a sweeter flavour and lean beef if that’s your preference. I used macaroni here for the pasta but you could also use small penne or buccatini.

Greek Pastit*io recipe - beef mince and pasta bake (3)
Greek Pastit*io is a good make-ahead recipe when you are feeding a crowd. The elements can be prepared ahead and the dish can be assembled just before you need to bake it.

Since the cheese sauce contains fresh eggs it is best added just before baking. You can experiment with what cheese to add in the sauce – I used strong vintage cheddar and grated Grana Padano but you could also add some crumbled feta cheese for an added nod to the Greek heritage.

My kids like to add ketchup on top because their dad is Canadian and that’s how he eats his Mac n’Cheese and who I am I to argue?

Greek Pastit*io recipe - beef mince and pasta bake (4)

Greek Pastit*io - mince and pasta bake with cheese sauce

Lucy Parissi | Supergolden Bakes

Greek Pastit*io recipe - beef mince and pasta bake

4.50 from 6 votes

Print Rate

Course: Main

Cuisine: Greek

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 -6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion peeled and finely diced
  • 2 large garlic cloves grated or minced
  • 500 g lean beef or lamb mince
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 bay leaf
  • pinch cloves
  • 175 ml | 6 fl oz white wine or vegetable stock
  • 1 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 400 g | 14oz chopped tomatoes in tomato sauce
  • 5 tbsp tomato paste
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 400 g | 14oz macaroni or penne pasta
  • <br>
  • <b>For the cheese sauce</b>
  • 25 g | 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp plain all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp mustard powder
  • 300 ml | 10 fl oz whole milk
  • 50 g | scant 2oz grated Grana Padano or Parmesan cheese plus 1 tbsp for topping
  • 50 g | scant 2oz finely grated strong cheddar cheese or feta cheese crumbled
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • large pinch freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a lage pot over medium-low heat and cook the onion and garlic for 5 minutes.

  • Add the lamb or beef mince and brown for 5 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.

  • Stir in the spices, herbs, cinnamon stick and bay leaf.

  • Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, wine and vinegar. Season generously with salt and pepper.

  • Bring to a simmer and cook for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaf.

  • Cook the pasta until it is al dente – cooked but with a bit of a bite. Rinse, drain and mix with the meat sauce.

  • Pack into a large ovenproof dish.

  • Make the cheese sauce. Melt the butter in a pan and whisk in the flour and mustard powder. Cook over low heat for two minutes.

  • Gradually add the milk and whisk it in.

  • Add the cheeses and whisk to combine until melted.

  • Remove from the heat and gradually whisk in the beaten eggs and nutmeg.

  • Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and place the dish on a large baking tray.

  • Bake for 30 minutes in. 180C /350F preheated oven then sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of grated cheese and the dried thyme. Bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese layer is set.

  • Cool for 10 minutes and serve with a green salad or steamed vegetables.

Save

Tried this recipe?Mention @supergolden88 or tag #supergoldenbakes!

Greek Pastit*io recipe - beef mince and pasta bake (6)

Greek Pastit*io recipe - beef mince and pasta bake (2024)

FAQs

What does pastitio taste like? ›

The noodles on the bottom of the pastit*io add a bit of chew and texture to this otherwise saucy dish. So when you take a forkful of pastit*io, you get the creaminess of the Béchamel sauce, the earthy richness of the meat sauce, and the sharpness of the cheese, all of which enriches and seasons the pasta.

What is the name of Greek pasta? ›

Chylopites, kofto makaronaki, kouskousaki, kritharaki, trachanas... These words may sound weird to you, but they are all types of Greek pasta, made with tasty ingredients such as wheat, milk, and eggs. A Greek pasta dish is usually topped with a red tomato or creamy-white sauce, and lots of grated myzithra cheese.

Can pastitio be frozen? ›

If you are using this method, it is best to use a deep dish so the topping does not stick to the cover when baking. After baking, cool and freeze the pastit*io. The day before baking, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

What is the difference between lasagna and pasticcio? ›

Pasta type - Italian lasagna traditionally utilizes long, flat sheets of lasagna pasta. Each pasta layer is therefore much thinner, but there are more of them. Greek pastit*io utilizes cylindrical tubes of pasta like ziti, penne, or bucatini pasta, allowing for a much thicker pasta layer, but fewer of them.

Is pasticcio Greek or Italian? ›

It is the Italian spelling, you will also see other variants such as pastit*io . It usually has noodles, but not always. Lasagne is a subtype of pasticcio, and the most common pasticcio in Italy - note that on the Italian Wikipedia, "pasticcio(cucina)" redirects to "Lasagne al forno".

Who is the Greek god of pasta? ›

The first pasta appear in Greek mythology as a "cord made of dough" created by Hephaestus!

Do Greeks eat pasta or rice? ›

Pasta and rice are deeply embedded in the Greek diet. A way to thicken soups, accompany a rich kokkinisto or to stuff vegetables, these carbohydrates are an essential ingredient in Greek cuisine.

What is tiny Greek pasta called? ›

Made with eggs, milk and whole-wheat flour, hilopites are a dried pasta, usually cut into small squares. In the village kitchen, they are often served topped with browned ewe's or goat's butter and cheese, typically myzithra, an unpasteurized cheese made from a combination of milk and whey, or touloumotiri.

Why can't you freeze lasagna? ›

That crunchy, caramelized crust that appears on top of a baked lasagna is arguably one of its most appealing qualities. Unfortunately, when you bake, freeze, and then rebake it, that crust won't be fresh, brand new, and sizzling the way it will if it's only been frozen, then baked once.

What is the meaning of pastichio? ›

pastichio (countable and uncountable, plural pastichios) A Greek dish made with cheese, chopped meat and pasta, resembling lasagna.

Do you freeze pasta bake before or after cooking? ›

To freeze, assemble the pasta bake. Cover with a double layer of greased aluminum foil (so the cheese doesn't stick). Bake, covered, straight from the freezer at 350 degrees F.

What is taste of lasagna? ›

FLAVOR: Typical of thermally processed pasta and a tomato beef sauce with a cooked cheese, slight salt, and slight spice-herb blend taste. TEXTURE: Soft cooked pasta, soft fine curd cheese, with small cooked ground meat pieces.

Does lasagne taste good? ›

Tasty's ultimate lasagna is cheesy, comforting and indulgent. We spent hours upon hours perfecting this recipe to test different techniques, methods, and ingredients and ended up with a dish that has layers of creamy béchamel, rich tomato sauce, and mounds of mozzarella and fontina cheeses.

Does lasagna taste like spaghetti? ›

Yes, the marinara sauce in lasagna is not dissimilar to some spaghetti sauces. The pasta, too, although of a different shape, is made of similar ingredients.

What is the meaning of Pastitio? ›

noun. pas·​ti·​tsio pä-ˈstēt-sē-(ˌ)ō variants or less commonly pastit*o. pä-ˈstēt-(ˌ)sō : a Greek baked dish made of ground meat layered with pasta and usually topped with white sauce and cheese.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Last Updated:

Views: 5758

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Birthday: 1997-10-17

Address: Suite 835 34136 Adrian Mountains, Floydton, UT 81036

Phone: +3571527672278

Job: Manufacturing Agent

Hobby: Skimboarding, Photography, Roller skating, Knife making, Paintball, Embroidery, Gunsmithing

Introduction: My name is Lakeisha Bayer VM, I am a brainy, kind, enchanting, healthy, lovely, clean, witty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.