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traditional pastichio - video

(5 ratings)
didicoffeegirl avatar
Recipe by
Didi Dalaba
@didicoffeegirl
Greece, NY

Our moms are our idols. They taught us everything we know. They have molded each and every one of us into the women we are today. They taught us amazing tips, values, morals, traditions and Greek dishes to make for our family. They made sure we knew the proper way of doing things, and if we messed up, eventually someone's hair was pulled!! Yet I cannot think back even one time when we were all in the kitchen cooking and baking up a storm, that there wasn't a ton of chatter, singing, laughing and the occasional let's break into dance. I love them so!!

(5 ratings)
yield 8 -10
prep time 45 Min
cook time 55 Min

Ingredients For traditional pastichio - video

  • GROUND BEEF SAUCE
  • 2 lb
    ground beef (i used 85/15 ratio)
  • 28 oz
    can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 lg
    onion chopped
  • 2 tsp
    tomato paste
  • 2
    cinnamon sticks or 1-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 3/4 tsp
    black pepper
  • BECHAMEL
  • 4 c
    milk (i used 2%)
  • 1 stick
    (8) tbsp unsalted butter
  • 10 Tbsp
    all purpose flour
  • 4 lg
    eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 c
    kefalotyri cheese (can sub with romano)
  • 3/4 tsp
    salt
  • 1/4 tsp
    white pepper (can use black)
  • 1/4 tsp
    freshly grated nutmeg
  • PASTA
  • 1 lb
    long macaroni (i used zigotini)
  • 1 c
    kefalotyri cheese (romano)
  • TOPPING
  • 2 Tbsp
    kefalotyri cheese (romano)
  • 1/4 tsp
    freshly grated nutmeg

How To Make traditional pastichio - video

  • 1
    -In a large saucepan add enough water and a couple of pinches of salt and bring water to boil for pasta. -Using a large stockpot, add your ground beef, and proceed to crumble till the ground beef is browned. Add your onions in and saute for 3-5 minutes till the onions have become soft and translucent. Or as I like to say, "happy". -Add your crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, salt & pepper and finally your cinnamon. Let simmer for 20 minutes. -Meanwhile, pasta water should be boiling. Add your macaroni in and boil till almost Ala Dente, not quite. You still want a bite to these noodles because you will finish off baking them in the oven. Does that make sense? Cool! -Drain your noodles, and stop the cooking process by rinsing them in cold water. Just like you would if making a pasta or macaroni salad. Drain well, add to a large bowl and sprinkle with the Kefalotyri Cheese. Toss well. -Using a large baking pan, pre-spray with baking spray. Add your noodles in the baking pan with all the noodles laying in one direction.
  • 2
    -Add that wonderful, amazing beyond aromatic ground beef sauce directly over the noodles. Don't worry if a couple of noodles are peeking through, it's all good. -Let's make our Bechamel. Using a large saucepan, add the butter, once melted add in the flour. Let it cook for about 1 minute or so. You will know when the flour is cooked because it will start to bubble. -Pour in your milk all at once. Whisking constantly till the Bechamel thickens. This will take about 5 minutes. -Turn off the heat, add in your Kefalotyri Cheese, your pepper, salt and finally the nutmeg. Set aside. -In a small bowl beat your eggs. In a medium bowl, add 2-3 ladle fulls of Bechamel. Temper the Bechamel by adding the eggs to the very hot Bechamel. Once incorporated, return the now tempered sauce into the large saucepan where the rest of the Bechamel is. Whisk in till thoroughly incorporated. Pour the now tempered sauce over the Pastichio. Sprinkle with the topping of cheese and a little bit more nutmeg. -Bake in a pre-heated 350F for 45-55 minutes, or till edges are starting to become golden brown. Remove from the oven and let rest for approximately 20 minutes. Cut into large squares, top with a sprinkle of additional cheese if so desired and serve.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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