MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06
 
      Title: Athens Market Cafe's Pastitsio
 Categories: Greek, Beef, Groundmeat, Pasta, Sauces
      Yield: 4 Servings
 
           THE MEAT:
      2 tb Butter
    1/2 lg Spanish onion; chopped
  1 1/2 lb Lean ground beef
    1/4 c  White wine
      2 tb Fresh parsley; minced
      1 tb Fresh mint leaves; minced
      1 ts Salt
    1/4 ts Pepper
    1/4 ts Allspice
    1/3 c  Water
      1 tb Tomato paste
           PASTA:
      1 tb Salt
      1 lb Penne pasta
      2 tb Butter
      2    Egg whites
      1 c  Kefalograviera cheese; grated
           BECHAMEL SAUCE:
    1/4 c  Butter
      4 tb Flour
      3 c  Milk; scalded
      2    Egg yolks; beaten
    1/8 ts Nutmeg
           Salt and pepper
           TOPPING:
      3 tb Fine bread crumbs
 
  To prepare the meat: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet.
  Add the onion and saute until light brown. Add the meat and cook,
  stirring and breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until meat is
  browned and all liquid has evaporated.
  
  Add the wine, parsley, mint, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  and allspice and mix well. Turn off the fire, cover and let stand
  for 5 minutes.
  
  Combine water and tomato paste and stir into beef mixture. Bring
  to a boil and let simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set
  aside.
  
  To prepare pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1
  tablespoon salt. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until
  pasta is tender.
  
  Remove pasta from heat, strain and rinse under cold water. In the
  pot the pasta was cooked in, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Toss in
  the pasta and stir. Whip egg whites with an electric mixer until
  stiff. Pour them over pasta and sprinkle with grated
  kefalograviera cheese. Mix well.
  
  To prepare bechamel sauce: Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large
  saucepan. Stir in flour and cook over low heat for 4 minutes,
  stirring constantly. Do not brown. Pour in warm milk slowly while
  stirring. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until sauce
  comes to a boil and thickens. Turn off heat and stir in beaten egg
  yolks with a whisk. Add nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.
  
  To assemble: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9x13x2" baking
  dish. Place half the pasta in the pan, distributing evenly. Top
  with all of the meat, then the rest of the pasta. Pour the bechamel
  sauce evenly over the casserole.  Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake
  for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
  
  Note: Kefalogravieria cheese, a Greek sheep's milk cheese, Kasseri
  cheese can be substituted. Some pastitsio recipes suggest parmesan
  cheese as a substitute, but the result would be less authentic.

  From: Shantihhh

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