Greek Baked Pasta
Recipe from
Food & Wine
The moist and fragrant casserole pastitsio combines bechamel (a sauce of butter, flour and milk), pasta, ground lamb, tomato sauce, cheese, cinnamon and nutmeg. Instead of bechamel, Grace Parisi stirs a ricotta mixture into the pasta before baking it.

Servings:
6
Prep Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
45 mins
Ingredients
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2 tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oilsee savings

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1 1/2 poundslean ground lambsee savings

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1onion, finely choppedsee savings

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1 teaspoondried oregano, crumbledsee savings

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3/4 teaspooncinnamonsee savings

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Pinch of ground clovessee savings

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Salt and freshly ground peppersee savings

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3 cupsjarred marinara saucesee savings

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1 poundziti or pennesee savings

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3 cupsfresh ricotta (1 1/2 pounds)see savings

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4large egg yolkssee savings

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1/2 teaspoonground nutmegsee savings

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3/4 cupfreshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheesesee savings

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Directions
1.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the lamb, onion, oregano, cinnamon, cloves and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook over high heat, stirring frequently, until the lamb is no longer pink and any liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes. Add the marinara sauce and bring to a boil. Boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes.
2.
Cook the pasta until barely al dente; drain and return to the pot. Meanwhile, in a blender, blend 2 cups of the ricotta with the yolks, nutmeg and 1/2 cup of the Parmigiano-Reggiano until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Pulse in the remaining ricotta.
3.
Add the lamb ragu to the pasta and toss. Transfer the pasta to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Pour the ricotta mixture on top and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Bake in the center of the oven for about 20 minutes, until heated through. Turn the broiler on and broil until the top is golden brown. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.
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