Low Fat Pastitsio Recipes

PASTITSIO

Steps:

• For the sauce, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes. Add the beef and lamb, and saute over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until it's no longer pink, crumbling it with the back of wooden spoon. Drain off any excess liquid, add the wine, and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the garlic, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, and cayenne, and continue cooking over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 40 to 45 minutes. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the bechamel, heat the milk and cream together in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until simmering. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly for 2 minutes. Pour the warm milk and cream mixture into the butter and flour mixture, whisking constantly. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until smooth and thick. Add the nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Stir in 3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of the tomato and meat sauce, and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Stir in the eggs and yogurt and set aside.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. Don't over-cook because the pasta will later be baked. Drain and set aside.
• Add the pasta to the meat and tomato sauce, and pour the mixture into a baking dish. Spread the bechamel evenly to cover the pasta and sprinkle with the remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake for 1 hour, until golden brown and bubbly. Set aside for 10 minutes and serve hot.

NIKKI'S PERFECT PASTITSIO

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Toss with butter; add grated Parmesan cheese. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until beef is no longer pink, breaking beef into crumbles; drain. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in tomato sauce, salt and cinnamon; heat through. Spoon over pasta. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese., In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened., In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of hot mixture into eggs; return all to pan, whisking constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Pour over beef mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cheese., Bake, covered, 20 minutes. Bake, uncovered, 30-40 minutes longer or until golden brown.,

LOW FAT PASTITSIO

Steps:

• COOK pasta and DRAIN.
• NOTE: Can be any kind of pasta; I like rigatoni.
• In non stick pan, heat chicken broth and saute onion and mushrooms until soft; ADD ground beef and cook until brown.
• ADD chopped tomatoes, garlic, salt, pepper, cinnamon.
• STIR until most of the liquid evaporates (About 7 minutes).
• NOTE: Can use 2 400g canned tomatoes as well.
• NOTE: Can use 12 ounces of 10 percent beef and omit mushrooms.
• In same saucepan that pasta was cooked in, COMBINE eggs, milk and cornstarch (also called cornflour).
• CONSTANTLY stir over low heat for 10 minutes.
• REMOVE from heat, add fat free parmesan cheese and nutmeg.
• In large baking dish, LAYER 1/2 pasta, 1/2 tomato sauce then remaining pasta and remaining tomato sauce.
• COVER with white sauce; make sure to cover all pasta.
• BAKE for 35 minutes at 170°C (325F).
• ENJOY!
• NOTE: Taste tomato sauce mixture and adjust to your preference; ie if you do not like that much garlic, use 2 or 3 cloves.

TURKEY PASTITSIO-LOW FAT!

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220/425/Gas 7.Fry the turkey and onion in a large non-stick pan without fat,stirring until lightly browned.
• Stir in the tomato paste,red wine/stock and cinnamon.Season,then cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Cook the macaroni in boiling salted water until just tender,then drain.Layer with the meat mixture in a wide oven proof dish.
• Place the milk,margarine and flour into a saucepan and whisk over a moderate heat until thickened and smooth.Add nutmeg and season to taste.
• Pour the sauce evenly over the pasta and meat.Arrange the tomato slices on top and sprinkle lines of breadcrumbs over the surface.
• Bake for 30-35 mins,or until golden and bubbling.