Healthy and Delicious Greek Pastitsio

local_grocery_store Ingredients

• 1 lb whole wheat penne pasta, cooked according to package instructions
• 1 lb lean ground turkey
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup reduced-fat feta cheese, crumbled
• 2 cups milk
• 3 tbsp flour
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

restaurant_menu Method

1. 1.Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. 2.In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
3. 3.Add the ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
4. 4.Stir in the tomato paste, cinnamon, and oregano and cook for 1 minute.
5. 5.Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes.
6. 6.In a separate saucepan, whisk together the milk, flour, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
7. 7.Add the crumbled feta cheese to the meat sauce and stir to combine.
8. 8.In a large baking dish, layer the cooked penne pasta and the meat sauce, starting and ending with a layer of pasta.
9. 9.Pour the béchamel sauce over the top of the pasta and sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese.
10. 10.Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
11. 11.Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

lightbulb_outline Tips

• chevron_rightIf you can't find whole wheat penne, you can use regular penne or any other short pasta shape.
• chevron_rightYou can make this dish ahead of time and refrigerate it until you're ready to bake it. Just add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time.
• chevron_rightServe with a simple green salad for a complete meal.