Pastitso (Macaroni and Meat)

A Greek delight. I love pastitso. It's kind of like a Greek lasagne. This recipe takes some time, but it is well worth it! Enjoy. :)

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  large onion, grated
• 1⁄4 lb butter
• 2  lbs  ground round
• 1  tablespoon salt (I use Kosher)
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4  tablespoons tomato paste
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1  egg

• Macaroni

• 1  lb elbow macaroni
• 3  eggs, beaten
• 1 3⁄4 cups romano cheese, grated

• White Sauce

• 1⁄4 lb butter
• 1⁄2 cup flour
• 3  cups milk
• 5  egg yolks
• 1⁄4 cup romano cheese, grated

Directions

1. Brown onion in the butter then add the meat. Keep stirring until the meat is browned.
2. Add salt, pepper, cinnamon, tomato paste and water. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the water is absorbed.
3. Remove from the heat and allow this to cool.
4. Beat 1 egg very well and add it to the meat mixture.
5. Macaroni:.
6. Cook the macaroni as per the package directions. Then rinse under hot water, drain and put into a large bowl.
7. Toss the macaroni with the 3 beaten eggs and the 1 3/4°C grated Romano cheese.
8. White Sauce:.
9. Melt the butter and add the flour, mix well. This should be done on med-low heat, so you don't burn the butter.
10. Gradually add the cold milk, stirring well. Cook this until it's thick, stirring often. Be patient, it needs to thicken up! Remove from heat.
11. After about 5 minutes, while sauce is cooling, beat the 5 egg yolks very well and blend into the sauce. Add the cheese and mix.
12. Butter a 10" x 14" pan. Put 1/2 of macaroni mix in pan. put meat mixture over the macaroni, spreading evenly. Put the rest of the macaroni mixture on top, also spreading evenly.
13. Put white sauce all over the top.
14. Bake at 375 degrees F. for about 45 minutes or until golden brown (you might need to tent it with alum. foil towards the end of cooking).