Hello my friend! Are you tired of cooking the same old meals every single week? I know the feeling. Sometimes you just want to try something warm and comforting from a different part of the world. Today I want to show you how to make a classic Greek Moussaka. It is a wonderful layered dinner that brings the sunny tastes of Greece straight to your kitchen.
If you love comfort food, this dish is going to become a fast favorite in your house. It features layers of tender eggplant, rich meat sauce, and a creamy topping that gets golden brown in the oven. Even though it looks fancy, I promise you can make it easily at home by following a few simple steps. You can also pair it with a cozy meal like our Easy Creamy Beef Stroganoff: Your Perfect Weeknight Comfort Meal if you ever want to switch up your dinner routine on another night of the week.
Cooking at home should always be fun and relaxing. Over at Azeely, we love sharing simple recipes that anyone can master. Let us get our aprons on and cook up something amazing together tonight!
Ingredients Needed
You will need some fresh ingredients to get that authentic Mediterranean taste. Here is your shopping list:
- Two large eggplants, sliced into rounds
- One pound of ground lamb or ground beef
- One large onion, chopped finely
- Three cloves of garlic, minced
- One can of crushed tomatoes
- Two tablespoons of tomato paste
- One teaspoon of dried oregano
- A pinch of salt and black pepper
- Three tablespoons of olive oil
- Four tablespoons of butter
- Four tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- Two cups of warm milk
- One cup of grated parmesan cheese or kefalotyri cheese
- Two egg yolks
- A pinch of ground nutmeg
Step By Step Making
1. Start by getting your eggplant ready. Slice the eggplants into rounds about half an inch thick. Sprinkle some salt over them and let them sit for twenty minutes. This draws out any bitter liquid. Then rinse them and pat them completely dry with a paper towel.
2. Heat a little bit of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Fry your eggplant slices until they turn soft and golden brown on both sides. Take them out of the pan and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up extra oil.
3. In the same pan, add a bit more oil and cook your chopped onions until they look soft and clear. Add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until it smells great.
4. Add your ground meat to the pan. Break it apart with a wooden spoon and cook it until it is browned all the way through. Drain any extra fat if you need to.
5. Pour in your crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Add the dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything well and let it simmer on low heat for about twenty minutes until the sauce gets thick and rich.
6. Now let us make the creamy bechamel sauce for the top. Melt the butter in a separate saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook it for one minute while stirring constantly.
7. Slowly pour in the warm milk while whisking hard so you do not get any lumps. Keep cooking and stirring until the sauce becomes thick and smooth.
8. Take the sauce off the heat. Stir in half of your grated cheese, a pinch of nutmeg, and the two egg yolks. Whisk it fast so the eggs blend smoothly into the warm sauce.
9. Grab a baking dish and start building your moussaka. Place a layer of fried eggplant slices at the bottom of the dish. Spoon your meat sauce evenly right over the eggplant layer.
10. Pour your thick white bechamel sauce all over the top. Make sure it covers the meat completely. Sprinkle the rest of the grated cheese over the very top.
11. Bake your dish in a preheated oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about forty minutes. You want the top to turn a lovely golden brown color.
12. Take it out of the oven and let it rest for at least fifteen minutes before cutting. This helps the layers stay together when you serve it.
Nutritional Value
Here is an estimate of the nutrition numbers for one serving of this delicious moussaka:
- Calories: Around 480 calories per serving
- Protein: About 26 grams
- Carbs: Roughly 22 grams
Health Benefits
Eating homemade meals is one of the best things you can do for your body. Eggplant is full of dietary fiber and important antioxidants that help keep your heart healthy. Using fresh garlic and onions gives your immune system a nice little boost without needing any processed additives.
This dish also gives you a great balance of healthy fats, clean proteins, and slow burning carbohydrates. It keeps you full for a long time so you will not find yourself reaching for late night snacks. Cooking from scratch lets you control every single ingredient that goes into your body.
Disclaimer: This recipe information is provided by azeely.com for general informational purposes only.
