Yai-Yai's Moussaka

Submitted by Asimakopoulou

"Moussaka, the way my family has made it for generations. Enjoy!"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 45mins
• Ingredients: 22
• Serves: 6-9

ingredients

• 3 eggplants
• 3 white potatoes
• olive oil
• 1 large onion
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 1 - 1 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄2 - 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• parmesan cheese (enough to sprinkle)
• feta cheese (enough to sprinkle)
• 1 -2 lb lean ground beef (preference)
• 6 -8 ounces tomato paste
• parsley (preference)

• Cream Sauce

• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons butter
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 3 dashes nutmeg
• 3 dashes white pepper
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 egg yolk

directions

1. Layers:

2. Preheat oven to ‘’Broil’’.
3. Wash eggplants and potatoes (peel). Cut lengthwise down the middle, then into ½ inch slices.
4. Sprinkle salt on both sides of the eggplant and potato slices.
5. Coat 2 baking trays with olive oil (one for each vegetable because potatoes will cook faster than the eggplant).
6. Use paper towels to pat the salt absorbed moisture from the eggplant and potato slices (I suggest leaving a little moisture on the potatoes because they tend to dry out).
7. Coat eggplant and potato slices with olive oil and place in oven until browned (light to medium). Flip and repeat.
8. Coat a non-stick 9 x13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
9. Cover the bottom with your eggplant slices (potatoes will be used later).
10. Set oven to 350°F.

11. Beef:

12. In a saucepan, add olive oil, beef, and preferred amount of onion.
13. Cook until beef is brown and the onion is tender.
14. Drain excess fluid.
15. Add garlic, tomato paste, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, cinnamon and nutmeg.
16. Very important: taste after mixing and adjust ingredients accordingly (some people might like a little more of a kick).

17. Heavy Construction:

18. Pour enough beef mixture to cover eggplant.
19. Layer with the potato slices.
20. Cover with beef.
21. Layer with eggplant slices.
22. Make all the layers you can! Have fun with it, but remember to leave enough room for the cream sauce! Set aside.

23. Cream Sauce:

24. Melt butter in saucepan.
25. Stir in flour, salt, nutmeg, and white pepper.
26. Remove from heat and slowly stir in milk.
27. Return to heat until slightly thickened.
28. In a small bowl beat the eggs and additional yolk.
29. Temper the eggs by adding a bit of the hot mixture (If you don’t do this the eggs will instantly cook when they are added to the mixture).
30. Over low heat: slowly add eggs to mixture. Mix well.
31. *** Pour sauce over layers and sprinkle the cheeses.
32. *** Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes to an hour (whenever the sauce is brown).
33. *** Let the moussaka cool (until room temperature) before refrigeration.

Reviews

[Susiecat too]

This was very good. I had to make a few substitutions, though, but I don't think they affected the outcome, which was delicious. I used soy replacement for meat, which browns like ground beef. I also used oil-packed sundried tomatoes, diced finely and with a little extra water, to replace the tomato paste. Otherwise . . . I followed the recipe. This was yummy, and full of complex flavors. Thanks, Asimakopoulou. Made for PAC Fall 2007