Well. My best friend is Greek. We’ve been friends since 1988, and I consider her my sister. Right now she is a strong little soldier, as she is battling cancer like no one else. So, in her honor I’m posting a Greek recipe today, knowing she would love this dish. Unfortunately I can’t feed her, she’s moved out of the city. But I’m going to cook this for her as soon as she’s up and running again. Join me!
What you’ll need:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 2 (15oz) cans tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- cooking spray
- 8 oz shredded mozzarella
- 1/3 cup bread crumbs
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the ziti pasta according to the instructions on the package.
Sauté the onion in large skillet with olive oil for 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 2 more minutes. Add ground beef and cook until brown. Drain fat.
Stir in tomato sauce. Then add sugar, oregano, cinnamon and lemon juice. Stir. Add 1 tsp salt. Stir and remove from heat.
Melt butter in a large sauce pan over low heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 2 minutes, constantly whisking. Add milk and continue to whisk until a thick and bubbly sauce is created. Add 1/2 tsp salt, black pepper and parmesan cheese. Add this sauce to the pasta.
Spray the bottom of a 13 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray. Add the pasta with cheese sauce. Then layer the beef sauce on top.
Add all of the mozzarella cheese on top of the beef sauce layer. Top off with the breadcrumbs. Bake in the oven for 20 – 25 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Bon Appétit!
