Pastitsio

Ingredients

• ¾ tsp table salt
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• 1 Tb plus ½ C water , divided
• 8 oz 93 percent lean ground beef
• 1 Tb vegetable oil
• ½ C onion , finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves , minced
• 1¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried mint
• 1 tsp paprika
• ⅛ tsp red pepper flakes
• ⅛ tsp pepper
• ¼ C red wine
• ⅓ C tomato paste