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Gluten-free Greek Pastitsio (Greek-style Baked Pasta)
At any Greek restaurant or church festival, you will always find pastitsio on the menu. It's a baked casserole with pasta, ground meat, tomato sauce and a bechamel sauce on top. This version is not only gluten-free, but it's also healthier than the traditional pastitsio since it is made with ground chicken. Try it….I know you will love it!
Ingredients
- 14 oz (about 3½ cups) ziti pasta
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons (plus more to drizzle on pasta) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ cup dry red wine
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Bechamel Sauce
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ⅔ cup brown rice flour
- ¼ teaspoon pink Himalayan sea salt
- 4 cups milk, warmed
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions (add salt and olive oil to the boiling water). Drain and transfer to a 9×13 inch glass baking dish that has been sprayed with olive oil. Drizzle pasta with extra virgin oil and toss with parmesan cheese. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and saute onions until golden. Add the ground chicken and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook until chicken is mostly cooked through and then add wine, crushed tomatoes and spices. Mix to combine, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Prepare the Bechamel Sauce
- In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook until flour turns a golden color, stirring constantly with a whisk. Slowly add the warm milk while whisking continuously. Cook the mixture over medium heat, while stirring constantly, until smooth and thick (about 5 minutes).
- In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs and then stir in a small amount of the hot bechamel sauce. Add the egg mixture to the bechamel sauce and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring the entire time. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.
Assemble the Pastitsio
- Top the cooked pasta with the meat sauce and make sure to fully cover the pasta. Top the meat sauce with the bechamel sauce, and make sure to completely cover the meat sauce. Smooth the top with a metal spatula.
- Bake at 350° for about one hour or until golden brown. Remove from heat and allow it to cool for a few minutes before cutting. Serve with a Greek salad and enjoy!
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