Roasted Eggplant Pastitsio Recipes

EGGPLANT AND VEAL PASTITSIO

Steps:

• Roast eggplant:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
• Toss eggplant with salt in a colander set over a bowl and let drain 30 minutes. Rinse eggplant, then squeeze handfuls of it to extract bitter liquid. Toss eggplant with oil in a bowl, then spread in 1 layer in a large shallow baking pan. Roast, stirring once, until tender and lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Stir into meat mixture and spread in baking dish.
• Cook pasta and make béchamel while eggplant bakes:
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, about 8 minutes, then drain.
• Bring milk and garlic to a simmer in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Heat butter in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until foam subsides, then add flour, and cook roux, whisking, 1 minute. Add hot milk mixture in a fast stream, whisking vigorously to prevent lumps, and simmer béchamel, whisking occasionally, until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Discard garlic. Remove from heat and stir in feta and salt and pepper to taste, then whisk gradually into eggs in a large bowl. Stir in pasta, then spread evenly over meat mixture. Bake pastitsio until bubbling and golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

LAMB AND EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PASTITSIO

Steps:

• Make lamb sauce: Cook onion in oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add lamb and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring and breaking up lumps, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
• Add garlic, salt, oregano, cinnamon, sugar, and pepper and sauté, stirring, 2 minutes.
• Stir in eggplant and tomatoes and gently simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is just tender, about 40 minutes.
• Remove lid and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes more.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Sauce can be prepared one day ahead if desired.
• Preheat oven to 425°F Make cheese sauce and cook pasta while lamb sauce is simmering:.
• Melt butter in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, then stir in flour and cook, stirring, 2 minutes.
• Whisk in milk and add garlic clove and whole clove, then bring to a boil, whisking constantly.
• Reduce heat and simmer, whisking occasionally, 5 minutes.
• Add feta, salt, and pepper and cook, whisking vigorously, until cheese is well incorporated.
• Beat eggs in a large bowl and gradually add sauce to eggs, whisking.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until just al dente, then drain in a colander.
• Toss half of pasta with lamb sauce and half with cheese sauce.
• Assemble pastitsio: Pour pasta with lamb sauce into a wide shallow 3-quart baking dish, spreading evenly.
• Spoon pasta with cheese sauce on top, spreading evenly.
• Bake pastitsio, uncovered, in middle of oven until bubbling and top is golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Let stand 5 minutes before serving.