Pastaits

Pastaits is a term used in certain online culinary discussions to describe a hypothetical family of baked pasta pastries that fuse elements of pasta dishes with pastry crusts. The concept blends pasta sheets or shapes with a savory filling and a pastry layer, creating a dish that resembles a cross between a lasagna, a pastitsio, and a savory pie. The name appears to be a portmanteau of pasta and pastry, and it has emerged mainly in informal food-writing and fiction about experimental cooking rather than in professional culinary literature.

Typical construction involves a base layer of pastry (shortcrust or puff), followed by pasta (lasagna sheets or tube pasta), a sauce such as ragù or tomato sauce, and a dairy sauce or cheese, then repeated in alternating layers and finished with a pastry lid. Some variants omit the top crust and instead crown with grated cheese or a pastry lattice.

Preparation and serving: the dish requires precooking the pasta and sauce, assembling in a baking dish, and baking until the pastry is golden and the fillings are heated through. Texture is intended to contrast flaky pastry with tender pasta. It is described as a crowd-pleaser for gatherings but is rarely standardized; recipes vary widely.

Reception and status: Pastaits is not part of standard culinary canon; references are limited to blogs, fan fiction, and experimental cooking communities. There is no official definition, measurement, or canonical set of ingredients.

See also: Pastitsio, Lasagna, Mille-feuille.