Pastitsio Pie

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic (or to taste)
• 2 teaspoons dried chili pepper flakes (or to taste)
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano (or to taste)
• 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 cups cooked macaroni (macaroni should measure 2 cups after cooking)
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon seasoning salt (or to taste)
• black pepper
• 1 (14 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 1 (5 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
• 2 tablespoons butter (no subs)
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup half-and-half cream
• 1 cup cream-style cottage cheese
• 1 large egg
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
• salt and pepper

Recipe

• 1 set oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 great a 10-inch deep-dish pie plate.
• 3 in a skillet melt butter over medium heat; add in onion, garlic, oregano and dryed red chili flakes (if using) saute for about 3 minutes.
• 4 add in ground beef; cook for about 7-10 minutes or until beef is longer pink.
• 5 add in 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese, season with seasoning salt and pepper; drain off fat.
• 6 stir in the stewed tomatoes, tomato paste; simmer for about 25-30 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
• 7 add in chopped fresh parsley; set aside.
• 8 to make sauce; in a heavy saucepan melt butter over medium heat; stir in flour and cook whisking for about 2 minutes (do not brown!).
• 9 gradually add in the half and half cream and a pinch of cayenne pepper; cook whisking for about 3 minutes or until thickened and smooth; remove from heat and add in the creamed cottage cheese, egg, nutmeg, salt and pepper; mix well to combine.
• 10 generously butter the pie plate and sprinkle about 3 tablespoons dry bread crumbs in the bottom.
• 11 top with half of the cooked macaroni pasta.
• 12 spread all of the meat mixture evenly over top, pressing down slightly.
• 13 sprinkle with 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese.
• 14 spoon the remaining macaroni over the top of the parmesan.
• 15 carefully pour all of the sauce over the top of the macaroni.
• 16 sprinkle about 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese on top (or to taste).
• 17 place the pie plate on a baking sheet.
• 18 bake for about 50-60 minutes or until golden.
• 19 let sit for about 15 minutes or longer before slicing (the longer you leave it sit the easier it will be to slice!).