What Is Moussaka?
For those who aren’t familiar with moussaka, it’s basically like a Greek Lasagna, except it’s layered with lots of vegetables rather than noodles. You also have a delicious spiced meat layer and a creamy bechamel sauce with a bit of added parmesan cheese for even more yumminess. It really is the comfort food of Mediterranean cuisine! I actually used to make moussaka years ago, so I would have lots of leftovers to last us the entire week. But these are the kind of leftovers you want! This casserole is even better the next day. And after all these years of making this recipe, I can confidently say I’ve formulated the perfect moussaka. But don’t get intimidated by the list of ingredients or steps. This dish is not complicated at all. Yes, it’s a little time consuming, but super easy to make. In fact, I find making it therapeutic like baking because the results are so comforting and seriously satisfying. So if you love Mediterranean food then this moussaka is a must. This recipe is composed of several layers like a traditional lasagna, but don’t let this list of ingredients scare you! They are all easy to find and you don’t need anything fancy.
Potato – You can use any type of potato you wish. Yet, keep in mind that it needs to be thinly sliced. Zucchini – For ease choose larger zucchini if it’s available because it will be easier to slice. Eggplant – Choose an eggplant that is nice and firm. Red Onion – I use red onion, but any kind of onion you have on hand will work. Olive Oil – For the most flavor, use extra virgin olive oil. Seasonings – Simple salt and black pepper are needed to season the layers of veggies. Herbs – Dried thyme and oregano are classic Greek flavors used in moussaka.
Olive Oil – Used to sauté the onion and garlic. I like the extra flavor added with extra virgin olive oil. Red Onion – For this recipe, I use red onion. Yet, any type of onion can be used. Garlic – Always use fresh garlic cloves for the best flavor. Store-bought jarred garlic just isn’t the same. Ground Beef – I use lean ground beef. However, you can use any type of ground beef you like. You could even add some ground lamb if you prefer. Seasonings – Salt and black pepper are needed to enhance all the natural flavors. Allspice – Made from the dried berries of the Pimenta dioica plant, it tastes like a blend of nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon, which blends wonderfully well with beef. Italian Seasoning – It’s typically a mixture of dried basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. If you don’t have any on hand just use a combination of whatever is in your pantry. Tomato Paste – A bit of tomato paste helps to thicken the meat mixture and add even more umami. Chopped Tomatoes – Canned diced tomatoes are needed for the meat layer.
Butter – Always use unsalted butter to control the level of sodium. Flour – Simple all-purpose flour is all you need to thicken the sauce. Milk – Any type of milk will work, but I typically use whole milk or 2% milk when making bechamel. Black Pepper – Freshly ground pepper is best if you have it on hand. Nutmeg – A dash will add both warmth and spice to this simple white cream sauce. Egg – Helps to emulsify and thicken the sauce. Parmesan Cheese – Adds a lovely salty cheese flavor.
This recipe is not as complicated as it may look at first glance. In fact, it’s quite easy and even the most novice cook can make an amazing moussaka. The key is to follow the directions as outlined and begin the next step while things are in the oven. Before you begin, preheat the oven temperature to 400°F (204°C). You want the oven hot and ready to go once the moussaka is assembled. Then grab a 9×13-inch baking dish for the next step. You’ll want to start the recipe by cooking the potatoes. First, toss the sliced potatoes and red onion together with the olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and oregano in a medium size bowl. Then spread them out in a single layer in the baking pan. Now, pop them into the preheated oven and bake them for 20 minutes or until they begin to get soft and turn golden. You can begin sweating the sliced eggplant while the potatoes are in the oven. To do this, just place all the eggplant slices in a single layer on paper towels. Next, sprinkle them with some salt and let them sit for about 10 minutes. Then flip the slices over, sprinkle the other side with salt, and let the eggplant sit for another 10 minutes. Once the eggplant has had time to sweat on each side, use the paper towels to soak up any excess water. When the potatoes are done cooking, spread the eggplant over the potatoes in a single layer. Then drizzle the eggplant with the olive oil and sprinkle it with the salt, pepper, thyme, and oregano. Now, place the pan back into the oven and bake potatoes and eggplant for another 20 minutes. When the eggplant is done cooking, spread the zucchini slices over the eggplant in a single layer. Then once again, drizzle with olive oil, season with a bit of salt and pepper, and sprinkle with dried thyme and oregano. Now, put the pan back into the oven and bake again for 20 minutes. Now let’s get to the meaty part of the recipe! To start, heat the olive over medium-high heat in a large skillet and cook the onion for 3 minutes or until it becomes soft and translucent. Next, add the garlic and cook for just 30 seconds more until it’s aromatic. Then add the ground beef and use a wooden spoon to break it up as you cook it for about 5 minutes or until it’s no longer pink. Next, sprinkle the meat mixture with a bit of salt and pepper. Now, stir in the allspice, Italian seasoning, and tomato paste followed by the chopped tomatoes. Then cook everything for 5 minutes while stirring occasionally until almost all of the liquid evaporates. Finally, remove the mixture from the heat and set it aside for a later step. First, melt the unsalted butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Then once it’s melted, whisk in the flour and continue to whisk for about 2 minutes until the mixture has thickened but is still very pale in color. Next, begin whisking the milk in slowly about ¼ of the milk at a time. With each addition, you want to whisk until all of the liquid is absorbed before adding the next portion of milk. Then once all of the milk has been added and the sauce begins to bubble, whisk in the pepper and nutmeg. Now, add the egg yolks and constantly whisk until they are well incorporated in the sauce. Finally, stir in the parmesan cheese, bring the sauce to a boil, and then immediately remove it from the heat. With all the layers made, let’s finish assembling the moussaka! Stir ¼ of the bechamel sauce into the meat. Then evenly spread the meat mixture over the vegetable layers in the baking pan. Now, pour the rest of the bechamel over the meat and smooth it out with a rubber spatula or spoon trying your best to make sure that it is evenly distributed. Finally, put the fully assembled moussaka into the oven to bake for 30 minutes or until it’s golden brown on top. When the moussaka is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for at least 1 hour. It needs this time to set. Then cut it into the pieces and serve it garnished with fresh parsley if you like.
Do I Need to Peel the Veggies?
I personally like my potatoes peeled, but you can leave the skin on if you don’t mind it. For the eggplant and zucchini, you do not need to peel them. Their skins become super soft in the oven and you won’t notice a difference in texture at all versus if they were peeled.
What Kind of Baking Dish Should I Use?
Make sure you get a nice and deep casserole dish so that all these layers will have room to bubble and bake without spilling over the edge. I used a 9×13″ casserole dish. You can also use 2 9×9″ square baking dishes.
How to Store Moussaka
Transfer the moussaka to an airtight container, or wrap it well with plastic wrap. It will last 3-4 days in the fridge. You can also store moussaka in the freezer. I find it’s easiest to transfer the moussaka to individually sized containers, but you can freeze the entire casserole as well as long as it’s well sealed. It will last 3-4 months in your freezer. Reheat either in the microwave, or covered with foil in the oven at 400°F for 1 hour or until heated through.
Other Delicious Greek Recipes To Try
Greek Meatballs Greek Salad One Pot Greek Chicken Orzo Greek Lamb Burgers Spanakopita Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna)
