Traditional Pastitsada

2022-11-01

By Athanasios Kostakos

Greek Cuisine

Main Course

3 Delicious Ways to Make Greek Pastitsada: Slow Cooker, Instant Pot, and Air Fryer Recipe

Slow Cooker Pastitsada: Tender, Flavorful Beef with Minimal Effort

Brown the meat in your slow cooker using the "Saute" function, then add your tomato sauce, wine, and spices. Set to "Low" for 6-8 hours, allowing the beef to become tender and the flavors to meld perfectly. The slow cooker will break down the meat, making it incredibly juicy and flavorful, just like a traditional pastitsada.

Instant Pot Pastitsada: Quick, Juicy Beef with Deep, Comforting Flavors

Use the "Saute" function to sear your beef, then add onions, garlic, tomato sauce, and your seasonings. Lock the lid and cook on "Pressure Cook" for 30 minutes. The Instant Pot speeds up the cooking process, resulting in a tender, rich pastitsada with deep, comforting flavors in a fraction of the time.

Air Fryer Pastitsada: Crispy, Flavorful Beef with a Modern Twist

While traditionally a stew, you can create crispy, flavorful pastitsada meat in the air fryer. After marinating the beef, air fry the pieces at 380°F for 10-12 minutes until browned and crispy on the outside. Pair it with a classic tomato sauce, and serve it over pasta for a modern twist on this Greek favorite.

Tips and Suggestions on Pastitsada

Complex flavor profile

Pastitsada is a traditional Greek dish that features a complex flavor profile, which can be challenging to achieve. The dish combines slow-cooked beef or veal with tomatoes, onion, garlic, cinnamon, cloves, and a touch of vinegar to create a rich, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor. Achieving the right balance of flavors requires careful measurement and attention to detail.

Tender meat

To make good Pastitsada, the meat must be cooked low and slow to ensure it is tender. This can be time-consuming and may require experimenting with cooking times and techniques to achieve the desired texture. Using a pressure cooker can help to tenderize the meat more quickly.

Thickening the sauce

Pastitsada has a thick, luscious sauce that coats the meat and pasta. Achieving the right consistency can be challenging as the sauce must be thick enough to cling to the meat and pasta without being too heavy or starchy. Adding a bit of flour or cornstarch to the sauce can help to thicken it.

Pairing with pasta

Pastitsada is typically served over thick pasta, such as bucatini or ziti. Achieving the right pasta texture can be challenging as it must be cooked al dente, yet firm enough to hold up to the thick sauce. Adding a bit of pasta water can help to loosen the sauce and create a smooth and creamy texture.

Presentation

As with any dish, presentation is key to making Pastitsada look as delicious as it tastes. Garnishing the dish with fresh herbs or grated cheese can enhance its visual appeal and make it more inviting.

Classic Pastitsada Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 500g peeled mashed tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tsp clove powder
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 500g thick spaghetti
  • 1 cup grated kefalotyri cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
  2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and brown in a large pot with olive oil.
  3. Remove the chicken from the pot and add onions and garlic. Cook until the onions are soft.
  4. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, beef stock, red wine, cinnamon stick, clove powder, oregano, salt and pepper. Stir well.
  5. Return the chicken to the pot, bring to a boil, and then transfer to the preheated oven.
  6. Bake for 1.5 hours or until chicken is tender and falling off the bone.
  7. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
  8. Serve pasta on a plate and top with chicken and sauce.
  9. Sprinkle grated kefalotyri cheese over the top and garnish with fresh oregano leaves.
  10. Enjoy!

Cooking Time

Preparation Time 30 min

Cook Time 2 hours

Total time 2.5 hours

Nutrition Facts

  • Calories: 742
  • Fat: 34 g
  • Saturated Fat: 9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 56 g
  • Fiber: 6 g
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Protein: 43 g

Variations for Pastitsada

Beef Stew with Pasta

This version is made with tender beef simmered in a rich tomato sauce, served over al dente pasta for a hearty meal.

Pastitsada from Corfu: Beef Stew with Pasta

Spicy Rooster

This version is made with succulent rooster or beef, seasoned with spices, and paired with spaghetti in a vibrant, flavorful tomato sauce.

Pastitsada (Spicy Rooster or Beef with spaghetti in tomato sauce)

Pastitsada Recipe Review

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