Pastitsio – Baked Macaroni with Meat Filling

Pastitsio for Patty!

1 lb.  elbow macaroni
1/2 lb. butter
1-1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 can tomato paste
4 oz. grated cheese (Kefalotiri or Gruyere or Parmigiana)
1 medium onion – chopped
cinnamon and nutmeg
salt and pepper

#1 sauce: 2 eggs, 1 cup of milk
#2 sauce: 2 cups milk, 4 eggs, 3 tbsp. flour

Cook macaroni in boiling salted water and drain. Proceed as follows: Saute chopped onion in a little butter; add ground beef and stir until brown; add tomato paste thinned with a little water. Add seasoning – salt pepper cinnamon and nutmeg to taste ( a pinch of each). Cook until beef is done. Melt butter and pour half over drained macaroni mixing carefully. Spread half of macaroni on bottom of 9 x 13″ pan; sprinkle  some of the grated cheese on top. Spread entire meat sauce over the macaroni, and cover with remaining macaroni as the top layer. Add rest of cheese. Over this pour the #1 Sauce. Shake pan so that the sauce will penetrate to the bottom of the mixture.

#2 Sauce: In a saucepan place remaining melted butter and add the 3 tbsp. of flour gradually , stirring constantly. Add milk and continue stirring. Slowly add eggs and cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Spread over macaroni and bake in moderate oven for 40-45 minutes. Cut in squares and serve.

This recipe is from Hellenic Cuisine by Sts. Constantine and Helen Ladies Society, Detroit MI 1956 page 103

Published by

Kitoula

I'm Greek. This is my journal. It's all about food and family.

3 thoughts on “Pastitsio – Baked Macaroni with Meat Filling”

  1. Hello, K –
    Can’t wait to try this. Probably even sooner, will try balsamic vinegar on some sauteed kale, as you mentioned at lunch a week ago.
    Back to real life – would rather be poolside at the GF.

    1. Hello Denise! Welcome to my blogworld! Yes, would rather be poolside at the GF, but we have some nice weather up here for the extended weekend. Just posted another kale recipe yesterday. Check it out.

  2. Thanks…I’ve made your baked chicken (a few times with a few minor changes of my own), potato salad, moussaka, and greek salad – all delicious!!!

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