PASTITSIO [GREEK MACARONI PIE]

Pastitsio [Greek Macaroni Pie] image

Provided by Zelda Hopkins

Time 1h30m

Number Of Ingredients 20

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1 large onion, finely chopped
2 Tbsp butter or olive oil
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp oregano, dried
2 c tomato puree
2 Tbsp minced parsley
1/2 lb small elbow macaroni
1 Tbsp cooking oil
freshly ground black pepper
CREAMY TOPPING
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
3 1/2 c milk
3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/2 c parmesan cheese

Steps:

1. Saute onion in butter or olive oil in large heavy pan or skillet until soft. Stir in beef and cook until lightly brown.Season with salt, pepper, cinnamon, and oregano. Stir in tomato puree and parsley. Cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Taste and add more salt if necessary. Cook macaroni in large kettle of well salted boiling water until tender but still slightly firm. Drain, then rinse in lukewarm water. Mix cooking oil well through macaroni to prevent it from sticking together.
2. CREAMY TOPPING----Melt butter and blend in flour. Stir in milk and cook about 5 minutes, stirring constantly to make a thin white sauce. Dip out 1 cup of hot sauce and pour thin stream into yolks, stirring constantly until well- blended. Pour mixture back into rest of sauce and stir for a few minutes over low heat. Do not allow to boil. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
3. In greased 9x13 pyrex casserole, put a thin layer of macaroni, a layer of meat sauce, a second layer of macaroni, and a second layer of meat sauce. Pour creamy topping over all. Jiggle the dish so that some sauce runs through all layers. Sprinkle Parmesan over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 15-20 minutes. Cut into large squares and serve from pan.