For some home chefs, the notion of creating a meticulously layered Italian lasagna -- even speeding things up with no-boil noodles -- incites a certain amount of stage fright.
So take a cue from the Greeks and try your hand at pastitsio, a layered pasta dish with similar flavors, a fraction of the fuss and a whole new realm of flavor.
This video from the BBC features Chef Rick Stein making pastitsio as part of "Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escape." The recipe calls for a quick meat sauce, penne, a simple white sauce, shredded cheese and a dish in which to layer it all. The concoction is baked and emerges a rich melange of Greek flavors.
Opa!











