Greek Pastitsio – mince and pasta bake with cheese sauce

There are certain recipes that take me straight back to my childhood and this Greek Pastitsio – mince and pasta bake with cheese sauce, is just one of those dishes.

Pastitsio, or pastichio (the spelling doesn’t translate so well) combines two family favourites – macaroni and cheese and pasta bolognese to form a sort of Greek lasagne.

Basically it is pasta in a bolognese-type sauce topped with a simple Béchamel sauce and baked in the oven. It is a true family favourite that is a hit with absolutely everyone, grown ups and kids alike.

I remember loving Pastitsio as a kid growing up in Athens but I haven’t made it all that often for my own kids in the UK.

I think I was a bit intimidated by it but in actual fact it is a simple recipe – easier than lasagne which it closely resembles and just as crowd-pleasing.

You can use lamb or beef mince – I sort of go with whatever I have available and both are delicious with a few subtle differences in taste.

Go with lamb mince for a sweeter flavour and lean beef if that’s your preference. I used macaroni here for the pasta but you could also use small penne or buccatini.

Greek Pastitsio is a good make-ahead recipe when you are feeding a crowd. The elements can be prepared ahead and the dish can be assembled just before you need to bake it.

Since the cheese sauce contains fresh eggs it is best added just before baking. You can experiment with what cheese to add in the sauce – I used strong vintage cheddar and grated Grana Padano but you could also add some crumbled feta cheese for an added nod to the Greek heritage.

My kids like to add ketchup on top because their dad is Canadian and that’s how he eats his Mac n’Cheese and who I am I to argue?