Description
A rich, comforting dish featuring layers of roasted eggplant, savory meat sauce, and creamy béchamel, perfect for family gatherings and special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Eggplant Layer:
- 2 large eggplants
- Olive oil (for brushing)
- Salt, pepper (to taste)
- For the Meat Sauce:
- 500g minced meat (beef or lamb)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 400g canned peeled tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Olive oil (for sautéing)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- For the Béchamel Sauce:
- 50g butter
- 50g all-purpose flour
- 500ml milk
- 1 egg
- 50g grated Parmesan (or kefalotyri)
- Salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare the Eggplant:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Slice eggplants lengthwise into 1/2 inch thick slices. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for 10-15 minutes to remove excess moisture. Pat dry.
- Brush slices with olive oil and season. Roast for 20 minutes until soft and lightly browned. Set aside.
- Make the Meat Sauce:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until softened.
- Add minced meat, cook until browned, and drain excess fat if necessary.
- Stir in canned tomatoes, cinnamon, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Set aside.
- Prepare the Béchamel Sauce:
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour to form a roux.
- Gradually add milk, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens (about 5-7 minutes).
- Let cool slightly. Beat the egg, then whisk into the béchamel. Stir in cheese and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Assemble the Moussaka:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- In a baking dish, layer roasted eggplant, half of the meat sauce, another layer of eggplant, remaining meat sauce, and pour béchamel over the top.
- Bake and Serve:
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a traditional taste, use kefalotyri cheese in the béchamel sauce.
- Adjust seasoning to your preference, and consider adding more vegetables like zucchini for additional layers.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hr
- Category: main course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the dish
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 90mg