How to Make a Moussaka Recipe That Everyone Will Enjoy
Course: BeefDifficulty: MediumServings
8
servingsPrep time
1
hourCooking time
45
minutesCalories
290
kcalMoussaka is a rare dish made more often in the Middle East than in America. This rarity is what makes it the perfect dish to serve to guests when looking to show off your cooking skills. Moussaka is traditionally a dish derived from the Ottoman Empire, throughout areas such as Turkey. The three primary variations of Moussaka include the ones found in Turkey, Greece and the Balkans. This particular recipe is based on the Greek Moussaka variation.
The primary ingredients of Moussaka are eggplant and ground beef. A wealth of different seasonings and a can of tomato sauce help to bring out the flavor of the eggplant and ground beef while a separate cheese sauce created with flour, butter and Parmesan cheese is then poured over the rest of the recipe, creating a wonderful combination of flavors that has to be tasted to be believed. Not only will you surprise your dinner guests with this dish, but you will also widen their palates and have them asking for seconds.
The primary ingredients of Moussaka are eggplant and ground beef. A wealth of different seasonings and a can of tomato sauce help to bring out the flavor of the eggplant and ground beef while a separate cheese sauce created with flour, butter and Parmesan cheese is then poured over the rest of the recipe, creating a wonderful combination of flavors that has to be tasted to be believed. Not only will you surprise your dinner guests with this dish, but you will also widen their palates and have them asking for seconds.
Ingredients
- Moussaka Ingredients
1 eggplants
1 lb (450 g) Ground Beef
1 can of tomato sauce
2 peeled and chopped onions
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. oregano
2 tablespoons of minced garlic
1/2 tsp. black pepper
- Cheese Sauce Ingredients
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 tablespoons of flour
2 tablespoons of butter
1 egg
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup cream, half-and-half
Directions
- Grease a 9-inch (22 cm) square baking pan. Peel the eggplants, and slice them to a thickness of 1/4 inch (6mm). Spread the olive oil on a cookie sheet. Coat the sides of every slice of eggplant with olive oil before spreading salt and pepper on each.
- Put the eggplant on the cookie sheet and broil until slightly brown. Once this is done, turn them over and brown again. Repeat this process with all slices of eggplant. Take half of the eggplant slices and spread them throughout the bottom of the baking dish.
- Place onions and beef in large skillet. Stir and cook until beef is browned and onions are soft. Drain leftover fat.
- Add black pepper, 1/2 tsp. salt, garlic, oregano and tomato sauce. Pour over eggplant slices. Place second half of eggplant slices over beef mixture.
- For the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan, and then stir in 1/2 tsp. of pepper and salt, as well as flour. Add cream and mix well. Stir in half-and-half. Cook and stir on medium heat until bubbling. Beat egg in a small bowl and stir in a bit of the sauce from the pan. Add egg and mix well. Do the same with the Parmesan cheese before mixing the remainder of the sauce in.
- Pour sauce onto the baking dish containing the beef and eggplant mixture. Bake in an oven set to (170 C°) 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes. Cut the Moussaka into squares when done, and serve immediately.
