Nikki's Greek Moussaka Original Recipe
Moussaka
9 x 13 pan
Moussaka is one of the most well-known dishes from Greece that you can find all over the world. It’s a thick casserole full of vegetables that are commonly found in gardens in the Mediterranean climate. There is also a hearty layer of beef or lamb that adds to its richness. One tray of this goes a long way, I often make it for family events and it was very popular in the winter at our Greek restaurant.
Vegetables
1 large eggplant, sliced lengthwise
2 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise
3-4 large Idaho potatoes, peeled and sliced ¼-inch thick
For meat sauce:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
2 lbs ground beef (80/20)
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon sea salt, more if needed
½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
6 oz. (3/4 cup) tomato paste
1 ½ fl oz, (or 3 tablespoons) brandy or cognac
For béchamel
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 tablespoons flour
2 cups cold whole milk
4 cups hot whole milk
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon white pepper
½ teaspoon nutmeg
2 large eggs, divided
1/3 cup of grated parmesan
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place the sliced eggplant and zucchini on a well-oiled baking sheet. Brush the vegetables with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and roast for vegetables for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
PREPARE THE MEAT SAUCE
While the vegetables are roasting cook the meat by adding to a large saute pan with high sides. Drizzle the bottom with the olive oil and bring it to medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it is softened, about 5 minutes. Then, add the ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon so it is very fine. Cook the beef until it is no longer pink.
Add the nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and mix it well. Continue cooking for 7 to 9 minutes, or until most of the moisture is gone from the pan.
Move the meat to one side of the pan, add in the brand and flambe until all the liquor is cooked off, about 2 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and fully combine. Once incorporated, add enough water (about 2 cups) to cover the meat and set on low to simmer or about 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so. Most of the liquid should be cooked off.
PREPARE THE POTATOES
Meanwhile, add 2 cups of frying oil to a large saute pan with high sides.
Bring the oil to high heat and add the potato slices, cooking until they are golden brown and completely cooked through, about 12-15 minutes. Place them on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up all the excess oil.
PREPARE THE CASSEROLE
Butter the bottom and sides of a 9x13 baking dish.
Line the bottom of the pan with the potatoes, squeeze them in so they cover the entire bottom.
Use a sheet of parchment paper to push down the potatoes to make the potato layer even.
Lay the zucchini on top of the potato and repeat with the parchment paper so the zucchini is pressed down evenly into the casserole dish.
Next, layer the ground beef on top of the zucchini. Spoon it evenly in one layer so it completely covers the vegetables. Use the parchment paper to carefully press it down so it is a nice, even layer.
Lastly, add the eggplant on top of the meat.
PREPARE THE BECHAMEL
Add the butter to a medium pot over medium heat. Once melted, add the flour and whisk to keep it moving until you smell a nutty aroma and the flour is a light toasted brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Slowly whisk in cold milk until a thick sauce is formed. Add in warm milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Continue slowly whisking until the sauce is a thick, pudding-like consistency and coats the back of a spoon, about 15-20 minutes.
Remove the sauce from heat. Very quickly whisk in two eggs (you must work quickly to ensure your eggs don’t scramble). Once fully incorporated, fold in 1/3 cup of Parmesan.
Allow the bechamel to cool slightly, then pour is over the casserole slowly, allowing it to absorb into the vegetables and meat so it is completely covered. Sprinkle the top with ground nutmeg.
Bake the casserole at 375 degrees F for 35-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and it is completely heated through.
Spray bottom of pan
Complete layer of cooked potatoes
Push down with parchment paper
Layer zucchini
Push down lightly with parchment paper
Layer meat
Push down lightly with parchment paper to make even
Layer eggplant
Press down lightly with clean hands
Pour bechamel on top bake for 30 mins till golden brown
Sprinkle nutmeg
Cheesy, meaty, layered goodness in the form of the Greek Moussaka
Moussaka - the Greek God of Bakes. It’s a sure way to fill the bellies of your friends and family or meal prep for the week while sticking to a tight budget! Enjoy this delicious, cheesy, beefy dish!
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Moussaka
Ingredients
- 2 red onions, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, diced
- 1kg lamb mince
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 200ml red wine
- 700g jar of tomato passata
- 120g butter
- 120g flour
- 1L milk
- 150g grated Kefalotyri cheese (or parmesan if you can't find it)
- 1/4 nutmeg ground
- 2 large (or 3 medium) eggplant, sliced 1.5cm thick
- 5 medium-sized potatoes, sliced 1cm thick
Method
1. Start by seasoning the eggplant on both sides and drizzle with oil, then place them into a 180c oven for 25-30 minutes.
2. Next repeat with the potato and cook in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until cooked through.
3. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot, then add the onions and a pinch of salt. Cook for 5 minutes before adding the garlic and cooking for 3-4 minutes.
4. Add to ground lamb mince and stir to break it up.
5. Cook the lamb mince for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, and season with salt and pepper, bay leaf and cinnamon stick.
6. Add the red wine and tomato purée to the pot, stir well and once the wine has reduced, add the tomato passata.
7. Stir the tomato well, put the lid on and cook for 25-30 minutes on low, stirring occasionally.
8. For the white sauce, melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat.
9. Once the butter has melted, whisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes.
10. Pour in the milk and whisk until smooth. Once it starts to simmer, add the nutmeg and 2/3 of the grated cheese.
11. Stir this one last time until smooth.
12. To assemble the Moussaka, start by laying all the potato on the bottom, followed by the potato and then the red meat sauce and finally the white cheese sauce.
13. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top and bake at 180°c for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.
14. PS. It's better the next day!
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How To Make Moussaka | Traditional Greek Moussaka Recipe
How To Make Moussaka - Traditional Greek Moussaka Recipe
Ingredients List (8 servings)
- 2-3 cups Greek extra virgin olive oil
- 3 eggplants
- 2 lbs. potatoes
- 1-1/2 lbs. ground beef
- 1 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cloves
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 28oz crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup bread crumbs
========== Bechamel ==========
- 1 cup A/P flour
- 1 cup Greek extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
- 1 litre milk
- 2 egg yolks
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Hope you all love it!!!!!
Cheers,
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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:
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TRADITIONAL MOUSSAKA RECIPE WITH EGGPLANTS (AUBERGINES) AND POTATOES
???? TRADITIONAL MOUSSAKA RECIPE WITH EGGPLANTS (AUBERGINES) AND POTATOES
Ingredients for 6 Meals (i recommend 6 since the dish takes long to prepare)
Meat Sauce
750 g minced beef or lamb meat
600 g canned tomato sauce
2 midsize onions
3 midsize garlic gloves
1 bunch parsley
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. Salt
1 Bay Leaf
Pinch pepper
300 ml vegetable broth
Bechamel
4 tbsp. Butter
4 tbsp. Flour
500 g milk
2 eggs
50 g grated parmesan cheese
1/2 Grated nutmeg
Moussaka
1200 g Eggplants
150 g grated Parmesan cheese
Gorgeous Greek moussaka recipe - Allrecipes.co.uk
Watch how to make an authentic Greek moussaka that looks as gorgeous as it is to eat!
Layers of mince, aubergine and bechamel make this rich dish a treat. We'll show you how to prepare the aubergine so that its sweet without a hint of bitterness, and you'll see how to make a Greek bechamel that is the secret to a sensational moussaka.
If you prefer, you can use half of the aubergine called for and replace it with thin slices of peeled potatoes. Shallow-fry the potatoes in olive oil first, then drain on a piece of kitchen paper, before adding to the baking dish.
Find this moussaka recipe and loads of other Greek recipes on Allrecipes.co.uk, the UK and Ireland's largest online community of home cooks:
TIPS:
-- Don't skip the salting of the aubergine - this ensures the bitter juices are released, making the aubergine smooth and sweet
-- Many Greeks leave cinnamon out of their moussaka - you can, too!
-- For a lighter dish, use half beef mince, half pork mince. Contrary to many recipes you see outside of Greece, minced lamb is never used for moussaka
-- Allow the moussaka to rest a good 15 to 30 minutes before slicing. Just like lasagne, this gives the moussaka time to set and prevents a big mess when you cut that first piece!
-- You can skip the egg white in the mince mixture, if desired. This aids in setting the mixture, but is not necessary