What is Greek lasagna made of?

Pastit*io (pastichio/pasticcio/pastizio) is a Greek pasta bake or Greek lasagna made of layers of pasta, a delicious meat sauce, and a topping of creamy béchamel that gives it an extra luxurious silkiness and hearty finish. It's one of those legendary dishes similar to moussaka, but of course there is no eggplant here.

What does pastitio taste like?

Greek pastit*io (pastichio/pasticcio/Pastizio) owes its distinctive and rich flavour to the two aromatic spices used in the meat sauce. These are nothing else than cinnamon and clove ! Once put in the oven, the intense aromas of those spices bring back so many childhood memories!

What's the difference between lasagna and pasticcio?

Lasagna features thin sheets of pasta while pastit*io relies on tube-shaped noodles . The cheese also differs, reflecting their country of origin. Italian cheeses, such as ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella, are found in lasagna. Pastit*io uses Greek cheese, such as the aforementioned kasseri and kefalotyri.

What's the difference between Greek lasagna and moussaka?

Many wonder what the difference is between moussaka and lasagna, and it's quite simple! Lasagna is made with layers of pasta, while moussaka is made with layers of vegetables . There are variations of eggplant moussaka, some use potatoes or even zucchini squash.

What is the difference between Greek and Italian lasagna?

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?

Pastit*io takes its name from the Italian pasticcio, a large family of baked savory pies that may be based on meat, fish, or pasta, with many documented recipes from the early 16th century, and continuing to modern times.

What is Mediterranean lasagna made of?

Layer upon layer of lasagna noodles are filled with Sargento ® Shredded 6 Cheese Italian, chopped olives, bell peppers, artichoke hearts smothered in spicy puttanesca pasta sauce — and more levels of creamy cheese. This hearty meal is great for any occasion and is sure to please.

What is Greek pasta made of?

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.

What is the Greek dish made of?

Greek cuisine is the cuisine of Greece and the Greek diaspora. In common with many other cuisines of the Mediterranean, it is founded on the triad of wheat, olive oil, and wine. It uses vegetables, olive oil, grains, fish, and meat, including pork, poultry, veal and beef, lamb, rabbit, and goat .

Yiayia's Easy Greek Pastit*io (Greek Lasagna with Bechamel)) Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

google.com, pub-7110225082283099, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

I’m so excited to share with you my Yiayia’s Greek Pastit*io Recipe. Pastit*io is a quintessential Greek dish — it’s synonymous with being Greek: large parties, plenty of food, drink, and celebration. It’s true that Greeks love to celebrate. We love to cook, feed our friends, dance, and celebrate life.

Yes, that’s me! It’s 1984 and I’m celebrating Greek Independence Day.Whenever I think of pastit*io, I am instantly transformed back to my childhood. I become the little girl you see in the photo, dressed in my traditional Greek costume, anxiously waiting to recite my poem during the annual Greek School Independence Dayprogram at my Church, The Cathedral of the Annunciation, in Baltimore, Maryland.

It may look complicated, but it’s not too hard to prepare Yiayia’s Greek Pastit*ioRecipe.There are, however, multiple steps involved, so give yourself a little extra time and patience.

Greek Pastit*io is definitely a showstopper and worth the effort! Your guests are sure to be impressed.

If you need a dish to take to a potluck function or for a special occasion,Yiayia’s Greek Pastit*io is the one. You can make one large dish, or you can use two smaller pans with this recipe if you’d like to make one to store in the freezer. It tastes just as delicious thawed and reheated in the oven on low heat.

What I love about Yiayia’s Greek Pastit*io Recipe is the delicious combination of flavors — the hints of cinnamon in the meat sauce, the sturdy bucatini noodles, and the nutmeg-flavored, creamy bechamel sauce that just melts in your mouth.

Plus, it’s the kind of dish that doesn’t need extra side dishes. Serve it alongside a plate of fresh greens, some olives and cheese and you have a balanced, delicious meal.

I hope you enjoy making myYiayia’s Greek Pastit*io Recipe and sharing it with your family and friends. It’s truly one of the best Greek main dishes I’ve ever had.

Yiayia’s Pastit*io Recipe

1 1/2 Pounds of Ground Beef (Or Ground Turkey)

1 lb. Pasta (I used bucatini pasta, but you can also sub penne or rigatoni)

1 28 oz. can crushed tomato

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

Bechamel Sauce:

4 Cups 2% Milk

Yiayia’s Greek Pastit*io Recipe: Step By Step Instructions

There are three distinct steps to making Greek Pastit*io

1. Boiling the pasta while cooking the meat sauce.

2. Preparing the bechamel sauce.

3. Assembling the dish.

Preparing the Meat Sauce:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large dutch oven, cooking pasta according to package instructions. Once pasta is cooked and drained. Add back to dutch oven and coat with a splash of olive oil to keep noodles from sticking. Cover and set aside.

Yiayia's Easy Greek Pastit*io (Greek Lasagna with Bechamel)) Recipe (4)

In a cast iron skillet, heat olive oil and add in ground beef and onions. Saute until ground beef is browned and onions are translucent.

Yiayia's Easy Greek Pastit*io (Greek Lasagna with Bechamel)) Recipe (5)

Stir in salt, pepper, and cinnamon.
Stir in tomato. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off fire and move pan aside.

Yiayia's Easy Greek Pastit*io (Greek Lasagna with Bechamel)) Recipe (6)

Preparing the Bechamel Sauce:

In a dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat.
Make a roux (Flour and butter mixture to thicken bechamel sauce). Stir in flour and continue to stir until its coated in butter. Allow to cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring gently.

Yiayia's Easy Greek Pastit*io (Greek Lasagna with Bechamel)) Recipe (7)

In a large microwave bowl, warm 4 cups of milk in microwave for about one minute. Add in two eggs and whisk well.
Turn heat to medium high and whisk milk mixture into flour/butter. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Yiayia's Easy Greek Pastit*io (Greek Lasagna with Bechamel)) Recipe (8)

Whisk constantly to smooth out any lumps and prevent the mixture from sticking.

Yiayia's Easy Greek Pastit*io (Greek Lasagna with Bechamel)) Recipe (9)

Keep your full attention on this step, as the mixture needs to constantly be whisked. It takes about 5 minutes or so for it to thicken. Once it thickens and reaches a pancake batter consistently turn off flame and remove from stove.

Assembling the Pastit*io

NOTE: You will need either TWO 9 x 12 dishes or one DEEP 10 x 13 dish to properly fit the mixture and prevent the bechamel from overspilling.
Spread about 1/2 cup meat sauce on bottom of pan — just enough to cover the bottom.

Yiayia's Easy Greek Pastit*io (Greek Lasagna with Bechamel)) Recipe (10)

Layer half of the noodles and top with the meat sauce and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese.
Layer the remaining noodles.

Yiayia's Easy Greek Pastit*io (Greek Lasagna with Bechamel)) Recipe (11)

Pour the bechamel sauce on top of the noodles evenly to cover.

Yiayia's Easy Greek Pastit*io (Greek Lasagna with Bechamel)) Recipe (12)

Sprinkle 1 cup of parmesan evenly on top of the bechamel sauce.
Bake covered for 20 minutes, uncover and bake an additional 30-45 minutes, or until the top of the bechamel is golden brown.