Pastitsio - Greek Macaroni Pie

• Meat

  • 500 g Lamb mince, lean
  • 3/4 Lamb stock cube

• Produce

  • 2 Garlic cloves
  • 1 tbsp Mint, fresh
  • 1 Onion, large

• Canned Goods

  • 2 tsp Tomato puree

• Pasta & Grains

  • 235 g Elbow macaroni, dry

• Baking & Spices

  • 1 Black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon, ground
  • 50 g Plain flour
  • 1 Sea salt

• Oils & Vinegars

  • 2 tbsp Olive oil

• Nuts & Seeds

  • 1 tsp Cumin seeds, toasted and ground

• Dairy

  • 56 g Butter, unsalted
  • 130 g Mature cheddar cheese
  • 125 ml Milk
  • 135 g Yogurt, Plain

• Liquids

  • 300 ml Reserved pasta water

Found on elizabethskitchendiary.co.uk

Description

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 190 C/ 375 F.
• Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the macaroni according to the package instructions, until al dente. About 8 minutes.
• Drain the pasta in a colander and pour over plenty of cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a saute pan.
• Gently saute the onion and garlic for 8-10 minutes, until softened. Add the lamb mince, season well with salt and pepper, and cook until browned all over.
• Mix the lamb stock cube with the pasta water to make a lamb stock, and pour into the lamb mixture along with the ground spices, tomato puree and chopped mint.
• Simmer, gently, for 10-15 minutes, until the mixture is thick.
• Heat the butter in a small saucepan until melted and beginning to bubble. Stir in the flour and cook for one minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove from the heat and whisk in the milk and yogurt.
• Return to the heat and cook gently for a further five minutes. Remove from the heat again and stir in half of the grated cheddar.
• Mix the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce and spoon half of the mixture into the bottom of a medium sized baking dish.
• Spoon over the spiced lamb mince and top with the remaining macaroni. Sprinkle with the remaining grated cheddar.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
• Serve with a side salad!