Mama's Moussaka

Submitted by Mercy

"A couple of years ago, my mother and sister went on holiday to Greece where they enjoyed the company of Nina, their energetic and enthusiastic tour guide. During the extensive tour, Nina was gracious enough to share her mama's personal moussaka recipe with my Mom. This wonderful recipe transmigrated across the Atlantic and now it is one of our family favorites also! A very special thanks goes out to Nina and Nina's mama!"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 45mins
• Ingredients: 17
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 2 lbs eggplants, peeled and sliced
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 medium onions, sliced
• 1 lb ground beef or 1 lb lamb
• 1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon oregano
• 1 dash salt
• 1 dash pepper

• SAUCE

• 3 ounces butter
• 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups warm milk
• 1 dash nutmeg
• 1 dash salt
• 2 ounces grated cheddar cheese
• 2 whole eggs

directions

1. Salt the slices of eggplant, let them stand in a colander for 15 minutes and then pat dry.
2. Fry the eggplant slices in the olive oil, turning once, browning on both sides.
3. Drain the slices on paper towels.
4. Saute the onion until soft.
5. Add the meat and brown.
6. Add the tomatoes, herbs, and seasonings and then simmer for 25 minutes.
7. For the sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan and stir in flour.
8. Add the milk, gradually, while stirring and remove from heat once it is thickened.
9. Add the sauce seasonings, Cheddar cheese and then beat in the two eggs.
10. Arrange half the eggplant slices in the bottom of a greased 9"x13” baking dish, then top with a layer of half the potatoes.
11. Top with all of the meat mixture, then layer the remaining eggplant followed by the rest of the potatoes.
12. Pour the white sauce over all and bake at 350°F for 50 minutes or until the top is crusty brown.

Reviews

[lauren-breaw]

I "poured over moussaka recipes for 2 days" as well and wish I had kept looking. Had I not altered the spices (adding more and others) it would've been VERY BLAND. Sorry MAMA, not very tasty!

 

[Sernarama]

I poured over moussaka recipes for 2 days before I decided on this one. I trust it's authenticity and I am glad I found it. It was a lot of work, but well worth it. I brushed the eggplant with olive oil and grilled it outside. My whole family enjoyed it. I did check with a Greek friend about the potatoes, as some recipes had them, others did not I sauteed them in a small bit of olive oil. This is a keeper. We had no leftovers.