DiningBuzz! - Pastitsio recipe?

Mr. Kipper and I just tried pastitsio and would like to try to make it at home. Does anyone have a good recipe?

I used this one with great results and many a praise:
Food Network (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/pastitsio-recipe/index.html)

I used this one with great results and many a praise:
Food Network (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/pastitsio-recipe/index.html)

+1

With minor exceptions. I omit the yogurt for the sauce, substitute nutmeg with allspice and if you don't like lamb, mix equal amount of 90% and 80% lean meat. Need little fat to help bind the meat.

pastitsio

Hmmm. I love pastitsio. Most Greek restaurants cannot seem to make it homemade style. :( I finally found a place in Tarrytown NY that makes pastitsio properly. If you're ever near HPN, drop me a line. We'll head to http://www.lefterisgyro.com/ It's not fancy, but who wants fancy. :D

dh

I used this one with great results and many a praise:
Food Network (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/pastitsio-recipe/index.html)
Thanks, I'll try that next weekend.
Hmmm. I love pastitsio. Most Greek restaurants cannot seem to make it homemade style. :( I finally found a place in Tarrytown NY that makes pastitsio properly. If you're ever near HPN, drop me a line. We'll head to http://www.lefterisgyro.com/ It's not fancy, but who wants fancy. :D

dh
Sounds like a plan! There's a Greek drive-thru only place near me that isn't bad but I've not tried the pastitsio there.

My mom stopped making it years ago - way too much effort. We're talking 3-4 hours total time to prepare. The problem with restaurant versions is that it doesn't really like the steam table, so you have to get it at a place that will go through a full pan in a couple of hours.

My mom stopped making it years ago - way too much effort. We're talking 3-4 hours total time to prepare. The problem with restaurant versions is that it doesn't really like the steam table, so you have to get it at a place that will go through a full pan in a couple of hours.

Agree about the effort! When I make it in order to put the proper amount of love into it I have to have four hands when making the bechamel sauce.
It's all worth it though when there's nothing left of the restaurant size pan.

IMO, tomatoes do not belong in pastitsio - no pink in my Greek pasta!

Ground lamb, onions, nutmeg, bechamel, mizithra, butter.

I found a good recipe on The Food Network site, on Barefoot Contessa's page. This is a time intense dish and makes a huge quantity! Worth a try.

I found a good recipe on The Food Network site, on Barefoot Contessa's page. This is a time intense dish and makes a huge quantity! Worth a try.

The recipe Flahusky posted is the one on the Barefoot Contessa's page. :D

For those of you who have prepared it, would it affect it if I did all of the prep work, and then stopped before baking it? I'd toss it in the fridge overnight, and then would bake it the next day. Would it ruin anything? I'd like to make this for Mr. Kipper when he returns from his latest trip. I'd have several hours that Friday to prepare everything, but am concerned about leaving the oven on while I'm waiting for him at the airport, so I think I've decided the best thing to do is either to bake it and leave it in the warm oven while at the airport, or to prepare it and bake it the next day. If I leave it in the warm oven, I'm concerned it would cause it to be rather dry and crispy.

I'd say bake it then warm it up
I like you, will NOT leave the stove (on) unattended for more then 15 mins(in the house) ever regardless.

Not sure you cold par bake it either?
I know it takes my "lasagne" 20mins to become editable from the molten lava state :D
Hrmmm this gives me an idea @:-) ... slow cooker Pastitsio
I know the lasagne recipe I tried was pretty good in the slow cooker.

I'd say bake it then warm it up
I like you, will NOT leave the stove (on) unattended for more then 15 mins(in the house) ever regardless.

Not sure you cold par bake it either?
I know it takes my "lasagne" 20mins to become editable from the molten lava state :D
Hrmmm this gives me an idea @:-) ... slow cooker Pastitsio
I know the lasagne recipe I tried was pretty good in the slow cooker.

I was hoping to not have to warm it later, figuring that it would be better the first time around. :D

Slow cooker lasagna??? Oh, do share that recipe, please!

Slow cooker lasagna (http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/slow-cooker-lasagna) from Betty Crocker

If you don't have slow cooker liners I strongly advise getting them!

Slow cooker lasagna (http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/slow-cooker-lasagna) from Betty Crocker

If you don't have slow cooker liners I strongly advise getting them!

Thanks! We do have slow cooker liners. I finally purchased some after Mr. Kipper complained several times about having to clean the slow cooker. :D

+1 on making it the night/day before, if it's not possible for the same day, and warm it up the following day. Even if you make it the same day, you'll have to let it stand for a while to set (?). Easier to cut it in squares.

Good luck
Zeus

+1 on making it the night/day before, if it's not possible for the same day, and warm it up the following day. Even if you make it the same day, you'll have to let it stand for a while to set (?). Easier to cut it in squares.

Good luck
Zeus

I think I'm going to plan on making it that Saturday after he returns, since I don't want to leave the oven on while I'm gone, and I'd rather he experience it freshly prepared. :D