Pastiche
Pastiche is a popular cheese pasta dish in Albania among Albanians, especially among children. Pastiche, comfort food made of tubular pasta, beef ragu, and bechamel sauce, is a popular dish. It's similar to a Greek moussaka sans the eggplant. A quiche is the best way to define this classic Albanian delicacy. It's made with cooked spaghetti, milk, butter, and white cheese (feta). After that, it's all put together and baked into a slice. It's dairy-heavy, but it's a full supper dish with a salad or a terrific snack!
Ingredients:
1.5 lb fettuccine (about 1.5 standard packets),2 cups milk,1 stick butter (about 8 tbsps), 6 eggs,3 ozs parmesan cheese, pinch salt (optional),0.75 lbs feta cheese,pinch black pepper
Instructions:
- Boil water with a bit of salt. Throw fettuccine in and stir so they don't stick. Boil for about half of the time indicated in the box, usually 6-8 minutes instead of the regular 12-14 minutes.
- Turn the oven on at 380 degrees Fahrenheit (about 190 degrees Celsius) so it can pre-heat.
- Melt about 1 tbsp of the butter and coat the bottom of the baking dish.
- Once the pasta has cooked for 6-8 minutes, drain the water and pour the pasta into the baking dish. Arrange so it fills the dish evenly.
- Crumble the feta cheese and spread with a fork in between pasta and over. Cube the butter and repeat. Pasta is still warm enough that butter will start melting slowly.
- Whisk eggs and then add the milk, keep whisking for a minute or so. Then pour this mix over the pasta. Use the fork to move the pasta slowly so the egg/milk sauce can set in evenly.
- Bake for about 30 minutes. If the top is getting too crispy, lower the dish to the bottom rack or cover it with aluminum foil.
- Add bechamel
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese about 2 minutes
- Once the casserole is baked, let it cool for about 15 minutes
