Moussaka: Dehydrated Eggplant and Ground Lamb (or Beef) Casserole
Eggplant is one of my favorite things to dehydrate. Here, I make this traditional greek casserole but use my own dehydrated eggplant instead of fresh. You can make it Keto by simply replacing the flour and milk I used for the sauce with thickened heavy cream, or melted and thinned cream cheese.
Chinese Eggplants with Garlic Sauce
Hey friends, today we’re making a Chinese dish: eggplants with garlic sauce. This dish is popular in Sichuan. This version of the dish is shallow fried like you would typically get in a restaurant but there are steamed versions of this dish as well for people who are trying to be healthier. I use to not be a fan of eggplants because I thought they were slimy and mushy but that texture works really great with this sauce. This dish adds a lot of flavor to rice and is good eaten by itself as well.
Ingredients:
1) 2 eggplants
2) Cornstarch (enough to coat eggplants, ~3tbsp)
3) 2 green onions
4) 5 gloves garlic
5) 30g ginger
6) 3 Thai chili (optional)
7) Sauce: 100ml water, 1tbsp soy sauce, 1tbsp sugar, 1tbsp Shaoxing wine (optional), ½ tsp sesame oil
8) Cornstarch slurry (1tbsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp water, mixed)
9) Vegetable or corn oil
Instructions
1) Cut your eggplants into bite size pieces and coat in cornstarch to get thin even coating.
2) Mince finely chop green onion, garlic, ginger, and Thai chili (optional, can be left out or replaced with other chili/chili flakes)
3) Mix your sauce
4) Fill a hot pan/wok with oil and shallow fry your eggplants for about 3 minutes making sure all sides are fried.
5) Add more oil to a clean, hot pan/wok and add your green onion, garlic, ginger, thai chili. Stir fry for about a minute.
6) Add sauce to your pan and quick stir. Then add corn starch slurry to thicken up the sauce.
7) Add your fried eggplant and stir for another 30 seconds.
8) Plate and eat.
As always, please enjoy :)
- Mulberry Street
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe:
????Instagram:
☕Buy me a coffee:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equipments (affiliated links):
Winco Chinese Cleaver (not the same one used in the video but closest I can find):
Zojirushi Rice Cooker:
Canon m50 (main camera)
Canon t7i (I occasionally borrow this from someone)
Sigma 30mm f1.4 efm (main lense)
Canon 50mm f.18
Viltrox efm adaptor (adapting 50mm to m50)
Movo VXR10 microphone
Geekoto horizontal tripod
Manfrotto Pixi tripod
ESDDI Softbox
FTC: Some of the links and other products that appear on this video are from companies from which I will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus at no additional cost to you. Thank you for the support!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit:
????:
Final Reckoning - Asher Fulero
Pastoral - Asher Fulero
The Closing Of Summer - Asher Fulero
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
vegan, gluten free
OMG! Italian Style Rich lamb stew with honey and caramelised onion
The best stew you will ever taste. This slow braising method fuses the ingredients together leaving you with an incredible tender, moist and rich flavoured meat.
Lamb is becoming a more fashionable red meat as it’s a healthier meat as it contains many vitamins, minerals and B12. Try and buy grass fed and it will also have the heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids.
But enough about health, this recipe is about taste. If you like those rich casserole stews, then look further, this is a complete meal cooked in one pot. The slow cooking process tenderises the meat and develops the flavour.
A complete meal because it has carrots, peas, potatoes all built in. The best part is that it will taste even better the next day, so make a big pot. It’s also easy to freeze for ready made meals when you’re short on time. I usually place them in glass storage containers and then microwave them or add a splash of water in a saucepan and reheat on very low heat.
For the wine, make sure you buy a full bodied wine, like a shiraz or cabernet sauvignon. Do not go crazy on the price but don’t skimp either, the quality of the wine will affect the sauce. It is a red wine sauce after all.
As an option, I like to serve it with a crusty toasted bread, rubbed with a clove of garlic for that extra flavour. This is of course optional. Sprinkle some freshy chopped parsley or you can even use the celery leaves to add colour and freshness before serving.
▶ See Recipe Here
▶ Check out my favourite kitchen tools here (affiliate):
▶ Follow me on Instagram:
▶ Follow me on Facebook:
Want to mail me something?
Fan mail and products
MAILING ADDRESS:
RECIPE30
PO BOX 416
MOUNT MARTHA 3934
VICTORIA AUSTRALIA
Music by:
Outrageously Delicious Greek Moussaka
More recipes like this in my debut cookbook 'Comfy' and you can pre-order HERE: ☺️
Moussaka is a Greek classic, and here I'll show you how to make it in the most delicious way possible!
Outrageously Delicious Greek Moussaka | Serves 8
FULL RECIPE POST:
INGREDIENTS
Beef Layer:
1.6lb / 750g Ground Beef (preferably fairly lean)
1 cup / 240ml Tomato Passata (pureed/strained tomatoes in US)
1 cup / 240ml Beef Stock
1/2 cup / 120ml Dry Red Wine (can sub more beef stock)
1/4 cup finely diced Fresh Parsley, plus extra to serve
2 heaped tbsp Tomato Paste (Tomato Puree in UK)
1 tbsp finely diced Fresh Thyme Leaves
1 large White Onion, finely diced
2 cloves of Garlic, finely diced
2 small or 1 large Bay Leaf
3/4 tsp Salt, or to taste
1/2 tsp Sugar (any)
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Black Pepper, or to taste
1 tbsp Olive Oil
Béchamel Sauce:
4oz / 120g Unsalted Butter
4oz / 120g Plain Flour
4 cups / 1litre Milk, at room temp
1 cup / 80g freshly grated Pecorino Romano, plus extra to serve (Kefalotiri Cheese is traditional, can also sub parmesan)
2 Egg Yolks
1/2 tsp Salt, or to taste
1/2 small Nutmeg, grated (or 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg)
1/4 tsp White Pepper
Veg Layers (see notes for baking version):
2lb / 1kg (approx 4 smallish) Eggplants/Aubergine, sliced around 1/3 thickness (I do lengthways do you can make more smaller rounds if you wish)
1.6lb / 750g (approx 2 large) Baking Potatoes, peeled & sliced around 1/4
1lb / 500g (approx 2 medium) Zucchini/Courgettes, sliced into approx 1/3 strips (I do lengthways)
2 cups / 500ml Vegetable or Olive Oil, or enough to cover veg in the pan
few pinches of Parsley & Pecorino (to sprinkle in between layers)
Salt & Pepper, as needed
METHOD
Beef Layer: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan or pot over medium heat. Add onion and fry until it begins to soften/brown, then add in garlic and fry for 1-2mins longer. Add in beef and break up with a wooden spoon until fully browned. Stir in tomato paste and fry for a couple of mins, then pour in wine. Deglaze the pan if needed, then pour in passata and beef stock. Add in parsley, thyme, cinnamon, salt, sugar, pepper & bay leaf and give it a good stir. Keep on a gentle simmer for around 30mins, stirring occasionally until nice and thick. Meanwhile...
PREP Veg Layer: Rest few sheets of paper towel on a flat surface and lay on your eggplant slices. Rub a pinch of salt over both sides, then add two layers of paper towels on top. On top of that add the zucchini slices, followed by another layer of paper towel, followed by potato slices and finished with another layer of paper towel. Gently press down to soak up the moisture. Can use tea towels instead if you wish.
COOK Veg Layer: Heat up enough oil to cover the veg in a suitably sized pot/pan until it gently sizzles (you're aiming for around 150C/300F). Carefully start sliding in your potato slices and fry both sides until lightly golden with the potato fork tender. Remove, shake off oil and place on fresh paper towel. Increase oil temp slightly to around 170C/340F and fry the zucchini slices until softened & lightly browned, then finish with the eggplant slices. Leave everything to drain on paper towels. You can use two pans to speed things up or bake one or two of the veg (see notes).
Béchamel Sauce: In a suitably sized pot over medium heat melt butter. Stir in flour to create a paste then gradually begin whisking in your milk. Once you've poured in all the milk and the sauce is thick, stir in salt, white pepper and nutmeg. Take the pot off heat and stir in pecorino until the sauce is lump free, then quickly whisk in the egg yolks. Take 1/2 cup of the sauce and stir it into the beef.
Stack Moussaka: Add a layer of potato to the baking dish (overlapping as needed) and sprinkle over a hefty pinch of parsley, pecorino, salt & pepper. Follow with zucchini and parsley/pecorino/salt/pepper, then half the eggplant with a pinch of salt and pepper. Try and close all the gaps and make it all nice and compact. Spread over beef layer, top with the rest of your eggplant then top with the Béchamel sauce.
Cook & Serve Moussaka: Finish with a sprinkling of pecorino then place in the oven at 180C/350F for 35-45mins, or until golden on top. I highly recommend leaving it to sit for at least 15mins, just to help it keep shape. Serve up and enjoy!
As always, for full nutrition, guidance and recipe notes head to the full blog post:
STAY IN TOUCH
Facebook:
Instagram:
Pinterest: