Egyptian Light Creamy Baked Béchamel Pasta (Greek Pastitsio)
Prep Time45 minutesmins
Cook Time45 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr30 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 8people
Calories: 393kcal
Author: Maria
Equipment
Oven
Stove Top
Ingredients
400gmOat penne pasta
½cupLight Mozzarellashredded
½CupLight Cheddarshredded
Minced Beef
500gmLean minced beef
1Oniongrated
1tspOlive oil
Salt
Pepper
Nutmeg
Béchamel sauce
1LSkimmed milk
6tbspOat flour or Whole flour
Salt
Pepper
7 Spice blend
½cupLight Cheddarshredded
Instructions
Pasta
Start by bringing a large pot of water with 1 teaspoon of salt to a boil. Then add the pasta to cook till al dente. Drain into a large colander, but don't rinse. Set aside.
Béchamel Sauce
Prepare the béchamel sauce as described. Add the Cheddar cheese to the sauce.
Minced Beef
Add salt to the grated onion.Then sauté the grated onion in a greased saucepan, stirring occasionally till tender.Add the minced beef, salt, pepper and nutmeg to the pan.Stir the meat occasionally for 10 minutes, making sure all sides are browned.
Assembling and Baking
Preheat the oven to 200°C.Prepare all your ingredients.
Coat the casserole with oil, then add a thin layer of béchamel sauce, followed by roughly half the quantity of the cooked pasta.Then add the minced beef, and another thin layer of béchamel sauce.
Add another layer of pasta. Then one more thin layer of béchamel sauce. Finish by adding the rest of the pasta, followed by the béchamel sauce.Top with the shredded mozzarella and cheddar.
Finally, Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes till golden brown and bubbling.