Spicy Ragu Moussaka

This is a version of moussaka that uses a Middle Eastern spiced ragu as its base. It's nice with crusty bread and butter. NB: I simmered my ragu for about three hours.

• Ready In: 5 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  eggplants
• 300  g  diced lamb
• 1 (680 ml) jar  passata
• 1⁄4 cup olive oil
• 1⁄2 cup red wine
• 1  brown onion
• 2  garlic cloves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cardamom powder (optional)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (add more if you like it very spicy)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon hot paprika
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1  bay leaf
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh parsley
• 2  carrots
• 1⁄2 cup plain flour
• 100  g butter
• 2 1⁄4 cups milk
• 1  egg
• 1⁄3 cup  grated cheese (any sort, I use cheddar)
• 1⁄4 cup  grated parmesan cheese
• 1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1⁄4 cup  breadcrumbs
•  salt
•  pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 220degrees Celsius.
2. Slice the eggplants in 2cm thick slices.
3. Coat each slice using the 1/4 cup of olive oil.
4. Lay the slices on a tray and add salt and pepper.
5. Bake for about 20-30 minutes or until brown.
6. Remove from oven and set aside. Turn oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
7. Meanwhile, chop the onions and garlic finely.
8. Peel and slice the carrots into discs.
9. Heat some olive oil in a heavy based pan.
10. Fry the onions and garlic til translucent.
11. Add the lamb and brown.
12. Add the cinnamon, cardamom powder, coriander powder, cayenne pepper and paprika and coat the lamb pieces.
13. Add the jar of passata and the red wine and bring to boil.
14. Add the carrots.
15. Add the bayleaf and parsley.
16. Simmer on a very low heat for several hours until the lamb is very tender and falls apart in the stew. Keep checking regularly, stirring, and adding water if necessary. (The end result has to be a thick stew).
17. To make the white sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan.
18. Add the flour and stirfry for a minute or two.
19. Remove from heat and slowly stir in milk.
20. Add all the cheese and return to heat.
21. Slowly heat until thickened.
22. Add the egg, cook for a further few minutes.
23. Add the nutmeg and some salt and pepper to taste and then remove from heat.
24. To assemble the dish, pour the ragu into the bottom of a casserole dish.
25. Add the slices of eggplant as the next layer.
26. Pour white sauce over the eggplant.
27. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over white sauce.
28. Add knobs of butter on breadcrumbs if you like.
29. Bake for about 40 minutes.
30. Let stand for 15 minutes then serve.