Aegean casserole from lhj

8 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
4cupsMilk
¼cupButter or margarine
cupAll-purpose flour
½Bay leaf
1teaspoonSalt
cupGrated Parmesan cheese
6cupsEggplant; finely diced
2teaspoonsSalt; divided
1tablespoonOlive oil; plus 1 teaspoon
1cupFinely chopped onion
2teaspoonsMinced garlic
½teaspoonCinnamon
1pinchGround red pepper
1poundsLean ground beef
½teaspoonDried mint flakes
½teaspoonFreshly ground pepper
¼cupTomato paste
28ouncesTomatoes; canned
cupChopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
16ouncesZiti pasta; cooked as directed

Directions

WHITE SAUCE

CASSEROLE

1. Make White Sauce: Bring milk to boil in medium saucepan over high heat.

Melt butter in large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook, whisking, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, bay leaf and salt; bring to boil, whisking. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring, 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Discard bay leaf and stir in Parmesan.

2. Toss eggplant with 1 teaspoon salt; drain in colander 30 minutes. Pat dry. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add eggplant and cook, stirring, until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Heat oven to 375°F. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil to skillet. Add onions and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, cinnamon and red pepper; cook 15 seconds. Add meat, mint, remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper; cook, stirring, until meat is no longer pink. Add tomato paste and tomatoes, breaking up tomatoes with spoon. Add eggplant and bring to simmer; simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley.

4. Transfer cooked ziti to large bowl and stir in 1 cup White Sauce. Spread half the ziti in bottom of deep 5-quart casserole. Spoon on filling, then remaining ziti and White Sauce. Bake uncovered 25 to 35 minutes, until bubbly and browned.

Prep Time: 1 hour Baking Time: 25 to 35 minutes Degree of Difficulty: Moderate (C) Copyright 1997, Meredith Corporation, All Rights Reserved.

NOTES : We combined the flavors of our favorite Greek specialties--moussaka and pastitsio--to create a new classic.

Recipe by: Ladies Home Journal

Posted to MC-Recipe Digest V1 #942 by "abprice@..." <abprice@...> on Dec 2, 1997