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Stove Top Pastitsio

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This stove top Pastitsio is a simple and light version

of the very traditional Greek pasta dish.

Stove Top Pastitsio made with Greek Yogurt

“All in good time”, “Good things come to those who wait”, “Patience is a virtue”,  “There will be no wine before it’s time”, wait that last one is just plain silly!  There’s ALWAYS time for wine”!!  But those previous sayings always get me while I am  anxiously waiting for my absolute favorite Greek dinner!  I love, love, love pastitsio!!  And my mom seriously makes the best Pastitsio!

If you are unfamiliar with this classic Greek pasta dish, then I must enlighten you.  The components of this mouth-watering dish is pasta, combined with a hearty, cinnamon infused meat sauce that has simmered for just under an hour.  The pasta  is then cooled because over top of it will be poured a rich, creamy, egg based bechamel sauce that will rise after an hour in the oven.  This dish is heavenly!  Don’t be fooled by the pillowy top.  It is NOT a light dish.  But that can be said for a slew of  delectable dishes!   When you eat them, you enjoy them and forget about calories and fat!

Stove Top Pastitsio with Greek Yogurt

The fat and calories are not the reason I avoid serving my family  this traditional delight.  It’s just that I don’t have the time, the patience, or the stamina to conjure up this sort of dinner.  However, I’m not the sort to deprive my family of a deliciously savory meal.   So I created my own, quick, easy and light stove top version of this Greek pasta dish.  The meat sauce comes together quickly while the pasta is boiling.  The egg-laden white sauce is omitted and replaced with a bit of heavy cream and plain Greek yogurt.  All the flavors of my traditional Pastitsio in a fraction of the time and with minimal effort!

Stove Top Pastitsio with Greek Yogurt

 

I think this Pastitsio would make my mom  proud.   I still love her cooking, but this pasta dish may just take the title of best Pastitsio ever!  Grab the Ouzo! Opa!

 

IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME:

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Greek Chicken Souvlaki Salad

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Stove Top Pastitsio

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground sirloin
  • 1/4 cup diced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon McCormick Greek seasoning
  • Salt, pepper
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt such as Chobani
  • 1 lb penne pasta
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Prepare pasta according to package direction.
  2. Heat ground beef in a large skillet until browned. Add onions and garlic and cook another 2 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Stir in tomato paste, salt, pepper, nutmeg and Greek seasoning. Add heavy cream and Greek yogurt stirring until well blended. Reduce heat and cook until thick, about 1 minute.
  3. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid. Combine pasta, water and ground beef mixture. Add Parmesan cheese just before serving. Serve immediately

by

63 Responses

  2. Reply

    Yum, sounds delicious! I love a lightened up meal, although the original also sounded divine!
    • Reply

      Thank you Laura. The original is amazing!
  3. Reply

    Oh! My kind of recipe!! Easy, healthier and yum! I've made a similar sort of dish and my boys loved it so I'm definitely going to try this! Thanks for sharing, Tanya!
  4. Reply

    Bravo for this wonderful, quick version! I have always loved pastitsio, but have never made it because yes -- it is time consuming. I will try it this way!
    • Reply

      Oh boy it takes all day! It's worth it, but I just can't find that kind of time. Thank you Marcie!
  5. Reply

    I think yours sounds better. The egg mixture does not appeal to me.
    • Reply

      I can understand that, it's very thick. I sort like NOT having that layer myself!
  8. Reply

    Tanya, this looks and sounds so delicious and I've never tried this before - but I will now! :) Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful recipe. Pinning and buffering!
  9. Reply

    This is very intriguing to me because I only make pasta the Italian way but man this looks great! Thanks for sharing!!
  12. Reply

    This is a dish I'd never heard of but it sounds just wonderful! So hearty and flavorful. I know my family would love this. Gotta try it!
  13. Reply

    Yum!!! This is my favorite food ever! My brother's Nouna makes my favorite! I will have to try it :)
    • Reply

      Allison, this was a good substitute although there is nothing quite like the real thing! I'm sure Nouna's is pretty darn good!
  14. Reply

    OMG. This looks so good, Tanya, I wish I had the stuff to make it right now because I totally would!
    • Reply

      You need to make a grocery run Julie! It'll be worth it. Thanks you!
  15. Reply

    I lalalalalaLOOOVE pastitsio! One of my favorite comforting Greek dishes. This looks WAY easier than layering everything with bechemal and baking it.
  16. Reply

    This looks like a Greek version of skillet lasagna...yum! Can't wait to try it! Hopping over from Sundae Scoop to say thanks for the recipe!
  17. Reply

    This looks so amazing. I'm actually torturing myself by coming over to see what the ingredients are because my hubby has called for a no-carb diet for awhile! Ugh! I may have to make this while he is away at work! Thanks for sharing your recipe and blessings to you, Patti@OldThingsNew
    • Reply

      Oh no! I'm so sorry, this one will be difficult for your husband to pass up!
  18. Reply

    This pasta dish looks fabulous, definitely going to give this a try for dinner one night soon! Thanks for sharing!
  19. Reply

    OMG...Pastitsio is my absolute FAVORITE dish!!! I used to get it every time we went to The Greek Place, the one that closed last year :( I am soooo totally going to try this!!! I will miss the billowy top however :)
    • Reply

      Oh that billowy top is so good and so bad isn't it? This was nice, light version!
  20. Reply

    I LOVE all things Greek, Tanya! I may have to sub turkey...but this dish looks delicious!
    • Reply

      I think turkey would be perfect Cathy. I think you will love this dish!
  21. Reply

    This looks so good! Saw your link Tasty Tuesdays and had to click over! I've never made much greek food so I'm going to have to give this a try!
  23. Reply

    What a great idea to make pastitsio quicker and simpler! I've wanted to make the traditional version, but never have because of the time involved.
  24. Reply

    This has me craving pasta for sure! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
  26. Reply

    OMG! My best friend has turned me into a Greek..... Love it and all of the Greek cooking! I've actually made some the wonderful Greek pastries. The recipes was from her mother and they were almost a century old.
  27. Reply

    Looks delicious. I am making it this week. Just wondering if that is "¼ CUP plain Greek yogurt such as Chobani"?
    • Reply

      Yes and I believe I fixed the recipe. Thanks Mary!
  30. Reply

    Congratulations on being featured!! This looks so doggone good!
    • Reply

      Thanks Kelli! This might be one of the best things I ever made!
  31. Reply

    Looks simply delish! Pinning!
  32. Reply

    [...] that she’s an amazing chef!  Take a peek at her Stove Top Pastitsio or her White Chocolate Butterscotch Cashew Cookies, which I definitely need to make for [...]
    • Reply

      It is so easy and so good! Thank you!
  38. Reply

    […] I am so so so happy to welcome Tanya from Lemons for Lulu as a guest poster!  She is ridiculously awesome, and I just love her.  She’s a blogger, but also a friend, and someone that I know I can count on to answer questions and for moral support.  Plus?  She makes the most drool worthy food.  Dinners and desserts!  Two of my favorites?  Her Meyer Lemon Pull Apart Bread and her Stovetop Pastitiso! […]
    • Reply

      Awe thank you Lisa!! You have made me on happy blogger!
  43. Reply

    Pastitsio has always been a favorite. Yum! I don't have Greek Seasoning. Can you recommend individual herbs and spices? I have Cavenders, which I figure might suffice. Thanks!

Trackbacks

  9. […] I am so so so happy to welcome Tanya from Lemons for Lulu as a guest poster!  She is ridiculously awesome, and I just love her.  She’s a blogger, but also a friend, and someone that I know I can count on to answer questions and for moral support.  Plus?  She makes the most drool worthy food.  Dinners and desserts!  Two of my favorites?  Her Meyer Lemon Pull Apart Bread and her Stovetop Pastitiso! […]
    Reply

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