Pastitsio

This is an adaptation of the Italian classic dish Lasagna. It is also spelled Pasticcio. In this dish pasta is used instead of lasagna sheets. My version is an Indian adaptation. I use Garam Masala instead of all those Mediterranean herbs and spices that wont be available everywhere, particularly in the east. It may not have the flavour of the Med but to me it's tastier with more exotic flavours, call me biased!

• Pasta 500g (tubular type)
• Minced meat 1 kg
• Olive oil 2 tbsp
• Onion 1 > Chopped
• Garlic 5-6 cloves > Chopped
• Salt 2 tsp
• Garam Masala 2 tsp
• Eggs 2 > Beaten
• Lasagna sauce 500 ml*
• White sauce  500 ml*
• Grated Parmesan Cheese 100 g
• Fresh bread crumb > 1 cup (take crust off 3-4 slices of white bread, pulverise them in food processor)

*You can make both sauces, see how at the bottom

Make meat sauce:

• Fry garlic and onion in olive oil until soft and slightly brown
• Add minced meat and cook over medium heat until brown
• Add 2 tsp salt and 2-3 tsp garam masala
• Add Lasagna sauce (or Tomato sauce)
• cook for 2 minutes > set aside

Cook pasta

• In boiling hot water for 10 minutes (add some salt 3 tsp and oil 1 tbsp in the water)
• Drain 
• After few minutes add 1 cup white sauce + 2 beaten eggs + 25 g grated Parmesan cheese (or Mozzarella) > Set aside

Preheat oven. 180c

Layering:

• Brush the inside of the dish with oil (dish should be at least 4 inch deep)
• Spread ⅓rd of pasta at the bottom of the dish
• Spread ½ of meat sauce over
• Spread another ⅓rd of pasta
• Spread rest of the meat sauce over 
• spread final layer of pasta
• Spread remaining white sauce over
• Mix remaining cheese with breadcrumbs and sprinkle them over the top. 

Bake for 40 minutes

*Making white sauce and tomato sauce: 

White sauce. Melt 100 g butter in a saucepan on medium heat, stir 100 g plain flour, then cook for 2 mins. Slowly add in 1 pint milk, then bring to boil, stirring continuously, add salt to taste. 

Tomato sauce. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan. Add 2 onions, finely chopped, 2 garlic cloves, sliced and 2 cans of chopped tomato (about 800g), bring to boil, add salt to taste. 

Options: if you really want the authentic Mediterranean flavour, why not, replace Garam masala with, oregano, basil, cinnamon and nutmeg (Garam masala has some of these in it). There is a shortcut way, you can buy italian OXO cubes or Italiam mixed spices.