Pastitsio (Greek Pasta Bake)

Step 1

Heat in a large pot over high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 2 - 3 minutes until onion is softened. Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until it changes from red to brown.

Step 2

Add wine and and cook until the wine has mostly evaporated - about 3 minutes.

Step 3

Add remaining Meat Sauce ingredients. Stir well, bring to simmer, then reduce heat to medium / medium low so it's simmering gently. Cook for 45 min to 1 hour until liquid is mostly gone, stirring every now and then. It should be a thick mixture with little liquid, not saucy like Spaghetti Bolognese (Note 4).

Step 4

Remove from stove and cool. Preferably to room temperature, otherwise for at least 30 minutes before assembling (lid off).

Step 5

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and stir for 1 minute.

Step 6

While stirring, slowly pour half the milk in. It should turn into a wet paste. Then again, while stirring, pour in remaining milk - the paste should easily dissolve so it's lump-free. If not, just whisk vigorously.

Step 7

Cook, stirring so the base doesn't catch, for 5 minutes or until thick enough so it coats the back of a wooden spoon thickly and you can draw a path across it with your finger.

Step 8

Remove from stove. Stir in nutmeg, cheese and salt.

Step 9

Leave to cool for 5 minutes. Then whisk in egg yolks quickly. Place lid on and set aside. If sauce cools and gets too thick to pour, just reheat on a low stove until pourable.

Step 10

When you're ready to assemble, cook the pasta per packet instructions, minus 1 minute.

Step 11

Drain, then return to the pot. Leave to cool for 3 minutes, then stir through egg whites. Gently stir through crumbled feta.

Step 12

Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (all oven types).

Step 13

Place pasta in a baking dish (33 x 22 x 7 cm / 9 x 13 x 2.75"), arranging them so they are all going in the same direction as best you can (for visual effect when sliced). Make the surface as level as you can.

Step 14

Top with Meat Sauce, then smooth the surface.

Step 15

Pour over Béchamel Sauce, then sprinkle over the cheese.

Step 16

Bake 30 min or until crust turns golden.

Step 17

Cool for at least 10 minutes so you can cut neat slices with tdhe layers neatly visible. Serve!