I am back with another awesome recipe redux of Stove Top Pastitsio {dairy-free} that is absolutely amazing…..if I do say so myself!
Pastitsio is one of my all time favorite dishes! I used to order it EVERY time we went the The Greek Place. I even made it at home, back before I had to eliminate dairy from our meals. So you can imagine my excitement I saw that Tanya at lemons for lulu posted Stove Top Pastitsio and I realized immediately how I could tweak it and finally have my favorite dish again <insert happy dance>!
For those of you who have never had this amazing dish; Pastitsio is a traditional Greek baked pasta dish that combines savory nutmeg/cinnamon spiced lamb or beef, and a cream and butter based bechamel sauce that is topped with cheese and baked to perfection. This dish is so much easier to make, and does not loose any of the original flavors…..
Okay it does loose it’s fluffy, yummy, souffle like top, but we will survive! I am pretty sure that The Greek Place used a combination of beef and lamb, but I decided to just use the ground beef.
So let’s talk changes. Canned coconut milk is an obvious choice to replace the heavy cream. I could get away with the Greek yogurt that Tanya used, but Alex cannot. I opted to use all coconut milk and it worked beautifully. The grocery store only sells one brand of Greek seasoning, and the second ingredient was MSG….that is soooo not happening! So I went back to my trusty Greek cookbook and sure enough, it calls for fresh chopped basil. Perfect! Then of course there is the vegan grated Parmesan topping that takes the place of regular Parmesan cheese…..
I am very lucky that I managed to get any photos taken before the vulchers with their plates swooped in! I think Alex came back for two more helpings. This is definitely a hit and will be made many more times in the future.
So a big huge thank you to my friend Tanya for inspiring this amazing meal 🙂 She has so many water watering recipes that you should check out when you get a chance. Her Strawberry Donut Holes are high on my To Do List!
Enjoy!
Stove Top Pastitsio {dairy-free}
Print recipe
| Serves | 6 |
| Prep time | 10 minutes |
| Cook time | 15 minutes |
| Total time | 25 minutes |
| Meal type | Main Course |
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup yellow onion (diced)
- 2 Large cloves fresh garlic (minced)
- 1 Pound grass-fed ground beef
- 4 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- sea salt & fresh ground pepper
- 3/4 cups full fat coconut milk
- 1 Pound penne pasta (cooked, drained -reserve 1 cup of pasta water)
- 1/4 cup vegan Parmesan cheese
Directions
 Heat oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook for 2 minutes to soften. | |
 Add the ground beef and garlic, and cook until no longer pink. | |
 Stir in the tomato paste, nutmeg, basil, salt and pepper | |
 Add the coconut milk and stir until well blended. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute to thicken. | |
 Add the cooked pasta and reserved pasta water to the beef mixture, and stir to combine. | |
 Add the Parmesan cheese just before serving. | |
 Serve immediately. | |
Note
You can also make this dish using real 1/4 Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of heavy cream, and 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt.
This recipe will be partying at these link parties:
Sunday – DIY Showcase, Think Pink Sundays, Adventures in My Kitchen, Sweet & Savory Sundays, Swap and Share, Nifty Thrifty, Who Need’s A Cape, Monday – Mop it Up Mondays, Marvelous Mondays, What’d You Do this Weekend?, Show Me Your Plaid, Tuesday – Tasteful Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesdays, Two Cup Tuesday, The Tuesday Talent Show, Project Inspired, Time to Shine, Totally Tasty Tuesday, Linking Up With Lil’Luna, The Gathering Spot, You’re Gonna Love It, In and Out of the Kitchen, Tuesdays with a Twist, Wednesday – All My Bloggy Friends, LBC Cast Party, Wednesday Extravaganza, Wow Me Wednesday, Work it Wednesday, What’s In Your Kitchen, Wonderful Food Wednesday, Whimsy Wednesday, Wednesday Whatsits, What’s Cookin’ Wednesday, Wicked Good Wednesday, Make Bake Create, Show & Share, Two Girls and a Party, You’re Creative Timeout, Thursday – Thursday’s Treasures, Live Laugh {Linky}, Showcase Your Talent, Tasty Thursdays, Friday – Carole’s Chatter, Friday Favorites, I’m Lovin’ It, Freedom Fridays, Foodie Friends Friday, Friday Food Frenzy, What’s Shakin’, Peek Into My Paradise, Inspiration Spotlight, Foodie Friday, Saturday – Say G’Day, Tatertots & Jello, Saturday Dishes, Strut Your Stuff, Sweet & Savory, Cheerios & Lattes, Super Saturday Show & Tell, Finding the Pretty and Delicious, WCFS Awards Show
I’m go hungry!!! This looks amazing Lisa! I think the coconut milk was an extraordinary substitution! I have to give that a try myself! While I love the traditional pastitsio and always will, this is an excellent substitute! Great work Lisa!
Lisa, this looks so delicious!!! Yum! Pinning and have a happy Tuesday!
Pastitsio is one of my favorite dishes, too! You always make such yummy Greek dishes, and I love how you put your dairy free spin on them. Looks delicious!
Wow. I am so impressed that you made this dairy free! I will definitely have to try it!
This looks so good! I’ve never heard of Pastitsio but I think we will be trying it! Pinning it now!
YAY! You made it lighter. I LOVE Pastitsio. The last time I had it was at Cat Cora’s restaurant in Disney World. Full on fat and SO yummy! I’ve been subbing greek yogurt in a lot of things lately!
Hi Lisa! I found you on SITS Girls. This looks yummy! I’m loving your blog. Wish I would have found this when I was teaching my high school foods class! You have so many yummy ideas. Great photos too. It is often hard to take great pics of food!
This recipe is AWESOME! I am Greek and an absolute lover of pastitsio. I have recently gone dairy- free and to find a recipe for one of my favorite Greek dishes without the dairy is amazing! Thanks so much for posting!! 🙂
Yum, this looks great and I love your picture. Visiting from SITS!
Drool, drool, drool. This looks so yummy! Visiting from SITS!
Dear Lisa, It is wonderful to take a recipe and make it your own as you did here.
I am sure it was delicious.
Blessings dear. Catherine
Love me some pasta! Pinned!
I love pastitsio but rarely eat it because it’s too fattening. But this sounds like a great alternative, and I’ve already pinned!
NOM. This looks so wonderfully yummy. Pinning!
Thank you! My 1 year old daughter and I are also dairy free and we are always looking for something new to try! Pinned to my recipes folder, thank you.
Yum, I love me some Pasta! Pinning 🙂
This looks really great! I love that you used coconut milk. That is making my tummy rumble right now just thinking about this dish! Thanks for sharing at Sweet & Savory Saturdays #25!
~Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later!
G’day Lisa! never heard of stove top pastitio, true!
A winner dish!
Cheers! Joanne
Thanks for sharing at the Foodie Friends Friday Meals in 30 Minutes Party!
Hi Lisa, I love recipe redux’s. This sounds delicious, it’s a Greek version of an Italian pasta bolognese style. Thanks for sharing with FFF 30 Minute Meals. I’m pinning and sharing on my FB page. Looking forward to seeing you again soon,
Joanne
This looks wonderful! Love that it is dairy free. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday!