A savory Greek casserole featuring spiced beef, tubular pasta, and rich béchamel baked until golden.
# Components:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 oz bucatini or penne pasta
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 2 large eggs, beaten
04 - 1/2 cup grated kefalotyri or Parmesan cheese
→ Beef Sauce
05 - 2 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1.1 lb ground beef
09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
10 - 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
11 - 1/3 cup red wine
12 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
13 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Béchamel Sauce
16 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter
17 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
18 - 3 1/3 cups whole milk, warmed
19 - 2 large eggs
20 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
21 - 1/2 cup grated kefalotyri or Parmesan cheese
22 - Salt and white pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
02 - Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and return to pot. Stir in butter, beaten eggs, and 1/2 cup grated cheese. Set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef, breaking it up, and cook until browned.
04 - Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Stir in crushed tomatoes, red wine, cinnamon, nutmeg, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 20–25 minutes until thickened. Remove bay leaf.
05 - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1–2 minutes. Gradually add warm milk while whisking until smooth. Simmer for 5–6 minutes until thickened, then remove from heat.
06 - Whisk eggs in a bowl. Temper eggs with a ladle of hot béchamel while whisking, then return mixture to saucepan. Stir in nutmeg, cheese, salt, and white pepper.
07 - Spread half the pasta in the baking dish. Layer all beef sauce on top. Add remaining pasta. Pour béchamel sauce evenly over the top.
08 - Bake for 40–45 minutes until golden brown and firm. Let rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
