Pastitsio is a traditional dish of Greek cuisine! Here you will find an easy and delicious recipe!

Ingredients

1 package of pasta #2 for pastitsio

2 egg whites

650-700 g minced beef

1 onion

1/3 cup oil

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

¼ tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp tomato paste

½ tsp sugar

100 grams of grated romano cheese

Bechamel

1 litre of milk

1 cup of flour

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

1 ½ tbp phytini or margarine

½ tsp nutmeg (optional)

2 egg yolks

Directions

Boil the pasta, strain it well and 1 tbs phytini or 3 tbs oil in the pot to get hot abit and add the strained pasta

Separate the egg whites from the yolks into two bowls

Beat the egg whites  a little with a whisk or fork and pour them into the spaghetti and mix (leave aside)

Save the yolks for the béchamel

Finely chop the onion or grate it

Pour the oil into the pan and add the onion

Sauté it a little until it becomes transparent, add the minced meat

Press and mix so that there are no lumps

Add all the remaining ingredients except the cheese and mix

Add water to cover the minced meat, let it boil on medium heat until there isn’t any water left and it thickens

Assemble

Place most of the pasta in a medium deep pan

Sprinkle some grated cheese on top

Spoon in all the minced meat and spread it out so that it goes everywhere

Pour some grated cheese on top

Put the rest of the pasta on top, making sure there is room for the béchamel (there may be a little pasta left over)

For the Béchamel

Put the cold milk in a saucepan

Pour in the flour and beat with the wire

Turn on the stove on medium to high

Pour in the salt, pepper and phytin or margarine  and the nutmeg (optional)

Stir constantly so that it does not stick to the bottom until it thickens and makes the first bubble

Remove from the fire

Beat the yolks and pour them into the béchamel mixing well with a wire whisk

Pour the Béchamel on top of the pasta in the pan, starting from the middle, slowly so that it goes everywhere being careful so it doesn’t go over the sides

Sprinkle some cheese on top

Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 35-40 minutes until it gets a nice brown color

** Instead of phytini you can put margarine