Vegetarian Pastizio

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 300 g macaroni
• 1 whole egg
• 100 g feta cheese
• 150 g soy shreds
• 400 ml broth
• 1 can tomatoes, peeled
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 onion(s)
• 1 garlic clove(s)
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• Thyme, fresh
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 750 ml milk
• 100 g flour
• 100 g butter
• 2 egg yolks
• 100 g cheese, grated
• 1 tsp nutmeg, freshly grated

Instructions

Working time approx. 35 minutes; Rest time approx. 30 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 1 hour; Total time approx. 2 hours 5 minutes

The classic Greek pasta casserole in a great veggie version

For your pastizio (also spelled pastitsio), you first need to cook the macaroni according to the instructions. While you’re at it, you can soak the soy strips in hot broth for about 10 minutes. Sauté the finely chopped onions in a large pan, caramelize them lightly with a little sugar, and then add the garlic and tomato paste. Add the soaked soy strips and deglaze with the red wine. Then add the chopped canned tomatoes and the bay leaf to the pan. Season your sauce with salt, pepper, and cinnamon, then simmer for about 20 minutes, until the water in the tomatoes has reduced. For the béchamel sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan and whisk in the flour. Gradually add the lukewarm milk, whisking continuously in the hot pan until it reaches a thick, creamy consistency. Now remove the pan from the heat and season your béchamel sauce with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, then stir in the two egg yolks and the grated cheese. Now for the most important part: layering your pastizio. First, crumble the feta and mix it with the raw egg and drained macaroni in your casserole dish. Then add your “ground beef substitute” sauce and, last but not least, a generous layer of your béchamel sauce. Bake the whole thing in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for about 40 minutes, until the top layer of your casserole is a beautiful golden brown. The best pasta casserole in the world is ready. Kali Orexi!