Pastitsio

Ingredients

1 box Ziti pasta

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 lb. ground lamb

1 cup onions, small dice

4 cloves garlic, minced

24 oz. Passata

1/2 cup red wine

3 Tbsp tomato paste

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp Greek oregano

1 tsp fresh thyme

2 tsp sugar

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

salt

pepper

1 egg white, whisked

Bechamel Sauce

5 Tbsp butter

3 Tbsp flour

2 cups milk

pinch of nutmeg

salt

pepper

Cooking Tools

Deep baking dish

Large skillet/pan

Mixing bowl

Medium saucepan

Large pot

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Cook pasta according to manufactures directions, drain and slightly cool and place in a mixing bowl and toss with the whisked egg white. In a skillet, brown ground beef and lamb until browned. Add in onions and garlic, sauté for several minutes. De-glaze with red wine then add Passata, cinnamon, nutmeg, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook meat sauce for additional 10 minutes before adding tomato paste. As the sauce thickens for a few minutes, remove from heat. Remove half of the meat sauce and set aside. Toss the pasta in the skillet with half of the meat sauce until well coated. Place pasta in a baking dish and pour the other half of meat sauce in an even layer over the pasta, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese evenly and then ladle the Bechamel Sauce (directions below) evenly all the way to the edges. Bake in oven for 50 minutes, (If the top browns quickly, just loosely place foil on top) Let it cool down for 15-20 minutes before cutting in.

Bechamel Sauce

In a saucepan on low heat, melt butter then whisk in flour and whisk for a few minutes (not to burn or change color) Pour in milk and raise the temperature to medium and whisk until the flour and butter dissolve. As the temperature rises the sauce will thicken, add nutmeg, salt & pepper to taste. Once it is a very thick sauce, pour sauce over the Pastitsio.

Serves 6-8