Pastitso (macaroni And Meat)

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 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
• 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 3/4 cups romano cheese, grated
• 1/4 lb butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 3 cups milk
• 5 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup romano cheese, grated

Recipe

• 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 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 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).