MLA Australian Lamb Greek Pastitsio
- Prep time 30Min
- Cook time 25Min
- Technique Broil, Bake
- Meat Lamb
- Cut Ground
- Serves 8
Looking for a delicious natural lamb recipe? Try out this simple, yet tasty recipe for Pastitsio from the experts at Australian Lamb!
Ingredients
Lamb Mixture Ingredients:
2 pounds Australian ground lamb
10 ounces dried macaroni
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 white onion, peeled and finely diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 cloves
red wine for cooking
14 ounce can chopped tomatoes
salt and freshly ground pepper
2 Tbsp dried breadcrumbs
Béchamel Sauce Ingredients:
2½ C whole milk
3 cloves
1 bay leaf
6 black peppercorns
4 ounces butter
½ C plain flour
½ C Parmesan cheese, grated
Method
Method:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook pasta according to packet directions until al dente and drain.
Heat olive oil in a large frying pan on medium to high heat. Add onion and garlic. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, without coloring the garlic. Add the ground lamb, crushing any lumps with a spoon. Cook until lamb is browned.
Add the bay leaves, cinnamon, cloves and red wine. Reduce heat to a simmer, add tomatoes and stir through. Cook 25 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
Add the pasta to the pan and mix through the meat sauce.
To prepare the béchamel sauce, combine milk, cloves, bay leaf and peppercorns in a saucepan. Place on low to medium heat, making sure milk slowly comes to the boil infusing all the flavors. Remove from the heat immediately.
In another saucepan take butter and melt over a low heat. Once melted, add flour and stir together with a wooden spoon. Continue to cook for 5 minutes, stirring continuously to avoid browning.
Strain the infused milk and gradually add to butter and flour mix. Make sure to continually stir to eliminate all lumps. Stir until the sauce thickens, approximately 4-5 minutes. Stir in the cheese.
In an ovenproof rectangle dish, spread pasta and meat sauce evenly, pressing down to make it flat. Pour the prepared béchamel over the pasta and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling.
Notes/Substitutions
For a keto-friendly version:
- Replace macaroni noodles with your favorite roasted vegetables.
- Replace red wine with stock/broth and a splash of vinegar.
- Replace bread crumbs with crushed pork rinds.
- Replace flour with xanthan gum.
For a paleo-friendly version:
- Replace macaroni noodles with your favorite roasted vegetables.
- Replace bread crumbs with almond flour.
- Replace flour with arrowroot or tapioca starch.
- Replace milk with almond milk.
- Replace red wine with stock/broth and a splash of vinegar.
- Replace butter with avocado or olive oil.
- Replace parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast.
For a Whole-30 friendly version:
- Replace macaroni noodles with your favorite roasted vegetables.
- Replace bread crumbs with almond flour.
- Replace milk with Whole30 approved almond milk.
- Replace red wine with stock/broth and a splash of vinegar.
- Replace butter with avocado or olive oil.
- Replace parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast.
