Pastitsio I

Ingredients

Contains: egg, milk, wheat (auto-detected from the ingredients and method; we can miss things, so check labels)

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 4 ounces tomato sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 1/2 cups macaroni
• 1/4 cup butter
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 cups milk
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 6 thick slices white bread, toasted and cut into cubes
• 1/4 cup melted butter

Directions

Method written by CompKitchen from the ingredient list. Not the original author's method, not kitchen-tested.

1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Boil the macaroni in a large pot of salted water for about 8 minutes until just tender, then drain and set aside.

2. Brown the lean ground beef with the chopped onion in a large skillet over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking it up, until no pink remains and the beef reaches 160°F (71°C). Drain the fat.

3. Stir the tomato sauce, 3/4 teaspoon salt, black pepper and cinnamon into the beef. Simmer on low for 10 minutes, stirring often.

4. Toss the toasted bread cubes with the melted butter. Spread the cooked macaroni in a 9x13 inch pan, then the meat sauce, then scatter the buttered bread cubes over the top.

5. Melt the 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

6. Let the sauce cool for 3 minutes, then whisk in the 1/4 teaspoon salt, the eggs one at a time, and the Parmesan until smooth.

7. Pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes in the pan.

8. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the top is golden and the custard is set and reaches 160°F (71°C) in the center. Rest 15 minutes before cutting into squares.