Although I am part Italian I have to say Italian food is
probably my least favorite type of food to make. Not quite sure why? I feel
like a traitor to my own ancestors. I don’t know if it’s the lack of variety in
Italian food, or it is hard to have enough flavor for me. Either way, I spent
last Sunday racking my brain for a new, and flavorful Italian dish I could make
for dinner. Well, I ended up going with a Greek version (I know, still a
traitor 😉 of baked ziti dish and it was a huge hit! The thing I loved about
this recipe was it had everything I love about Italian food in one dish. I love
mixing my white and red sauces over pasta, and this Greek Pastitios has an
alfredo base with a thick, hearty marinara sauce on top. Covered in a bunch of
cheese and the whole combination was fantastic! Yes, maybe not low in calories
but if you serve with whole wheat noodles, use the lowfat milk instead of a
cream base, and you have a recipe that is a perfect 10 in my book. If your
honey loves Italian food, this would make for a great Father’s Day meal on
Sunday. Hope you enjoy!
probably my least favorite type of food to make. Not quite sure why? I feel
like a traitor to my own ancestors. I don’t know if it’s the lack of variety in
Italian food, or it is hard to have enough flavor for me. Either way, I spent
last Sunday racking my brain for a new, and flavorful Italian dish I could make
for dinner. Well, I ended up going with a Greek version (I know, still a
traitor 😉 of baked ziti dish and it was a huge hit! The thing I loved about
this recipe was it had everything I love about Italian food in one dish. I love
mixing my white and red sauces over pasta, and this Greek Pastitios has an
alfredo base with a thick, hearty marinara sauce on top. Covered in a bunch of
cheese and the whole combination was fantastic! Yes, maybe not low in calories
but if you serve with whole wheat noodles, use the lowfat milk instead of a
cream base, and you have a recipe that is a perfect 10 in my book. If your
honey loves Italian food, this would make for a great Father’s Day meal on
Sunday. Hope you enjoy!

Greek Pastitsio (Layered Pasta)
2016-11-21 17:19:23

Ingredients
- 16 oz. ziti or penne pasta
Marinara Sauce
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
- 4 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
- 2 1/2 tsp. oregano
- 1 tsp. basil
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
- 2 tsp. salt
Alfredo Sauce
- 3 Tbs. butter
- 3 Tbs. flour
- 3 cups milk (lowfat is okay but you could use half & half if you want it more rich)
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1-1 1/3 tsp. salt
Topping
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
- Fresh parsley (or mint), chopped (for garnish)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
- Fresh parsley (or mint), chopped (for garnish)
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Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta noodles and
- continue to boil until al dente (don’t over cook because they will continue to
- cook in the baking dish). Once the noodles are cooked, drain them and place
- them in a 9x13 baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- For the red sauce, mince the onion and place in a large skillet or
- sauté pan with some olive oil. Saute the onions until they begin to soften. Add
- the ground beef and cook until the hamburger is browned and broken into small
- pieces with the onion. Add the garlic cloves, tomato sauce and seasonings. Let
- the sauce simmer on low heat while you prepare the alfredo sauce.
- To save on cleaning another dish, use the emptied out noodle pot
- for the alfredo sauce. Or, cook in another sauté pan. Bring the pan to
- medium-high heat and add the butter and flour. Whisk until the butter melts.
- Turn the heat down slightly and add the milk. Continue to whisk until smooth
- and the sauce is slightly thick. Add the seasonings and parmesan cheese and
- continue to stir the alfredo sauce until smooth. Season with salt and pepper as
- needed. Pour the cooked alfredo into the baking dish with the cooked noodles. Toss
- until all the noodles are coated. Over the noodles, spread the marinara sauce.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top of the sauce. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs on
- top of the cheese and then the parsley (for garnish). Bake the dish for 20-25
- minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly golden brown.
Notes
- HEALTHIER OPTION: Use whole grain noodles instead of regular.
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