Despina Kapiris, originally from Ikaria, has always believed that cooking and sharing food with others is the best way to display her love and bring people and families together.
She shared a pastitsio recipe with us.
Pastitsio
· 185gm butter
· 1 onion finely chopped
· 500gm lean beef mince
· 500ml Passata (or tomato salsa)
· 3-4 ripe tomatoes chopped
· 1 tspn oregano
· 500gm Macaroni
· 185gm grated cheese
· 100gm parmesan
· Salt and pepper to taste
METHOD
Melt half of the butter in a large pan, add onion, oregano and fry until transparent.
Add minced beef and brown.
Add tomatoes, passata and stir through
Add salt and pepper to taste
Cover and simmer for 20- 30 minutes
Remove from heat and set aside
Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente.
Drain macaroni
Melt butter and stir through
Bechamel Sauce (White Sauce)
· 185gm butter
· 125gm plain flour
· 5 cups hot milk
· 2 egg yolks lightly beaten
· Salt and pepper to taste
METHOD
Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat
Add flour and stir 1-2 minutes
Add hot milk slowly, while stirring
Bring to boil stirring continuously #
Add egg yolks to sauce and mix through gently
#NB : if sauce is lumpy add a little more hot milk and whisk until lumps dissolve
In a baking dish brush the bottom and sides with melted butter
Layer the bottom of the baking dish with macaroni
Sprinkle parmesan cheese
Second layer add meat sauce
Sprinkle with grated and parmesan cheese
Third layer add white sauce
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese
Fourth layer add macaroni
Final layer spread remaining white sauce
Sprinkle with grated and parmesan cheese
Bake in moderate oven for approximately 45 minutes and top is brown.
Set aside for 10 minutes before serving
Serve warm with Greek Salad.