Dairy-Free Pastitsio (Greek Baked Pasta)

Ingredients

• 1 lb Pasta (bucatini or penne)
• 1 lb Ground beef
• 1 medium Onion
• 2 cups Tomato sauce
• 0.5 cup Red wine
• 0.5 tsp Cinnamon
• 1.5 cups Cashews (raw)
• 0.25 cup Nutritional yeast
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 0.5 tsp Salt
• 0.25 tsp Pepper

Instructions

1. 1Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the 1.5 cups of raw cashews in a heatproof bowl and cover them completely with very hot water; let them soak for at least 30 minutes.
2. 2Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the 1 lb of pasta and cook for 8-12 minutes, or until it is tender but still firm to the bite (al dente); then carefully drain the water from the pasta.
3. 3While the pasta cooks, heat the 2 tbsp of olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 1 medium onion, finely chopped, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has softened. Add the 1 lb of ground beef to the skillet and cook for 8-10 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until it is fully browned; carefully drain any excess fat from the skillet.
4. 4Stir the 2 cups of tomato sauce, 0.5 cup of red wine, 0.5 tsp of cinnamon, 0.5 tsp of salt, and 0.25 tsp of pepper into the skillet with the beef and onions. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has slightly thickened.
5. 5Drain the soaked 1.5 cups of cashews thoroughly and transfer them to a blender. Add the 0.25 cup of nutritional yeast, 1 tbsp of lemon juice, and 0.5 cup of water to the blender; blend on high speed for 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed, until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
6. 6Spread half of the cooked 1 lb of pasta evenly across the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spoon the entire meat sauce mixture over this first layer of pasta, spreading it to cover completely, then top with the remaining half of the cooked pasta.
7. 7Pour the creamy cashew sauce evenly over the top layer of pasta in the baking dish. Place the dish in the preheated 375°F (190°C) oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

Substitutions

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