Description
Classic Greek Eggplant Moussaka is a hearty and flavorful dish made with layers of roasted eggplant, savory meat sauce, and a creamy béchamel topping. It’s a comforting meal that’s perfect for gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
3 large eggplants sliced ½” thick lightly salted and rested to draw out moisture
Olive oil for roasting
500g ground lamb or beef
1 large onion finely diced
2–3 garlic cloves minced
½ cup red wine
400g crushed tomatoes + 2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp oregano
a pinch of nutmeg
Salt & pepper
60g butter + 5 Tbsp flour whisked to a roux
2½ cups warm milk
nutmeg
salt & pepper
1 egg + ½ cup grated Parmesan or Kefalotyri
⅓ cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the sliced eggplants on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and roast until golden brown, about 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- In a large skillet, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and garlic, sautéing until translucent. Add the ground lamb or beef and cook until browned.
- If using, pour in the red wine and allow it to reduce. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, cinnamon, oregano, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the béchamel sauce. In a saucepan, melt the butter and whisk in the flour until it forms a roux. Gradually add the warm milk, whisking continuously until thickened. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper, then stir in the beaten egg and cheese.
- In a greased baking dish, layer half the eggplants, followed by the meat sauce, then the remaining eggplants. Pour the béchamel sauce on top, smoothing it with a spatula, and sprinkle breadcrumbs to create a golden crust.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
For best results, let the moussaka sit for at least 10 minutes before slicing to allow the layers to set better.
- Prep Time: 40minutes
- Cook Time: 30minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 587g
- Calories: 434cal
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 1317mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 158mg