Vegetarian Pastitsio: A Hearty Greek Delight Without the Meat

Transport yourself to the sunny Mediterranean with our vegetarian twist on the classic Greek dish, Pastitsio. This hearty casserole is packed with layers of pasta, aromatic tomato sauce, and a velvety béchamel topping.

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need for this delectable dish:

The Tomato Sauce:

• Olive oil
• Onion
• Garlic
• Crushed tomatoes
• Tomato paste
• Dried oregano
• Dried basil
• Salt and pepper

For the Pasta Layer:

• Penne or macaroni pasta (cooked)
• Grated cheese (Parmesan or Mozzarella)

For the Béchamel Sauce:

• Butter or olive oil
• All-purpose flour
• Milk (dairy or plant-based)
• Nutmeg
• Salt and pepper

Unlock the secrets to successfully making: Miso steak 

Method

Now that we have all the ingredients lined up, let's dive into the cooking process.

1. Prepare tomato sauce by sautéing onions and garlic in olive oil. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, herbs, salt, and pepper. Simmer until thickened.
2. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
3. Preheat oven and grease baking dish.
4. In a separate pan, melt butter or heat olive oil for béchamel sauce. Whisk in flour until smooth.
5. Gradually add milk while whisking continuously until thickened into a smooth sauce.
6. Season béchamel with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
7. Assemble pastitsio by layering half of cooked pasta in baking dish followed by half of tomato sauce and grated cheese.
8. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients.
9. Pour béchamel sauce over the top layer evenly.
10. Bake until golden and bubbly.
11. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Enjoy this vegetarian twist on traditional Greek pastitsio, bringing the flavors of Greece to your table without sacrificing taste or enjoyment. Opa!