Pastitsio

Bucatini are long, hollow strands or pasta, slightly thicker than spaghetti. Freeze and reheat individual squares of this dish in the microwave.

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• Filling:
• 1  pound  uncooked bucatini pasta or spaghetti
• 1  pound  ground sirloin
• 1/2  cup  finely chopped onion
• 3  garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2  cup  dry white wine
• 1  (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground nutmeg
• 1/2  teaspoon  black pepper
• 
  White sauce:
• 3  tablespoons  all-purpose flour
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 3  cups  2% reduced-fat milk
• 2  large eggs
• 2  large egg whites
• 5  tablespoons  shredded kasseri or aged white cheddar cheese, divided
• Cooking spray
• 1/4  cup  (1 ounce) grated fresh pecorino Romano cheese

Preparation

To prepare filling, cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Rinse with cold water; set aside.

Cook beef, onion, and garlic in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned; stir to crumble. Add wine, tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, nutmeg, and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes or until thick.

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare white sauce, place flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly with a whisk until blended; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; set aside. Combine eggs and egg whites in a large bowl. Gradually add hot milk mixture to egg mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk. Stir in 1 tablespoon kasseri cheese until blended.

Spread 1 cup beef mixture in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange half of pasta over beef mixture. Top with 1 1/2 cups beef mixture. Repeat layers with remaining pasta and beef mixture. Top with white sauce. Sprinkle with 4 tablespoons kasseri and Romano cheese. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

416 (19% from fat)

Fat:

8.9g (sat 4.1g,mono 2.7g,poly 0.9g)

Protein:

27g

Carbohydrate:

54g

Fiber:

2.4g

Cholesterol:

97mg

Iron:

4mg

Sodium:

790mg

Calcium:

207mg