Recipe - Pastitsio (Lamb And Pasta Casserole)

16 ounce Ziti
6 tablespoon Olive oil
1 lg Onion; chopped
1 One half pound Ground lamb
6 Ripe tomatoes; seeded,
chopped
8 ounce Tomato puree
3 Cloves garlic; minced
1 teaspoon Dried oregano
One fourth teaspoon Cinnamon
Salt; pepper
One half cup Breadcrumbs
1 Egg; beaten

SAUCE
4 cup Milk
2 tablespoon Butter
6 Eggs
One half cup Flour
One half teaspoon Salt
4 ounce Freshly grated kefalotiri
cheese

From: Bulldogfla Bulldogfla@aol.com
Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large stew pot, heat the olive oil. Saute the onions for 5
minutes, then add the lamb. Cook until no pink show, crumbling it up with a
spoon as it cooks. Add the tomatoes, tomato puree, garlic, oregano, and
cinnamon. Stir well and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for
15 minutes. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper. Add One fourth cup of
bread crumbs and quickly stir in the beaten egg.
Sauce: Combine 3 cups of milk and the butter in a pan. Heat until small
bubbles appear around the rim of the pan. Remove from heat. In a larger
saucepan, whisk the eggs until frothy. Add the remaining 1 cup of milk.
Then, whisking constantly, gradually add the flour and salt. Slowly pour in
the heated mixture to the eggs while whisking. Sauce should be thick.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a deep 9 x 13inch baking dish.
Sprinkle the bottom of the dish with the remaining One fourth cup of bread crumbs,
then half of the pasta. Cover it with the meat, then half of the sauce.
Sprinkle with half the cheese. Add another layer of pasta, the remaining
cream sauce, and the remaining cheese. Bake for 45 minutes.

Posted to recipeludigest by jeryder@juno.com on Mar 21, 1998