I love moussaka and Kefi in Coquitlam has the best. So after our dinner there on New Years, I wanted to try my hand at making it. As with most ethnic recipes, I try and follow the recipe and make any desired changes after I see how it tastes. The moussaka below was really good, but was still a bit different from Kefi’s awesome dish. For those who are unsure of what its like, moussaka is basically a Greek version of lasagna. Kefi’s is more of a lasagna crossed with shepherds pie.
Changes I’ll make (although the below is really good): remove the tomato, take the bechamel (not adding the eggs) and mix with the beef, add a layer of grilled zucchini, and then top with mashed potatoes (as Kefi does).
As a more traditional recipe, I would definitely make the below again. Call this Moussaka Version 1. 😉
Moussaka
Ingredients
- 1 large eggplant most recipes call for 3-4, but the eggplant I had was GIANT
- 3 medium potatoes sliced thin with a mandolin
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 kg ground meat lamb preferred, but all I had was beef
- 1 small onion grated (about 2-3 heaping tablespoons)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 cup crushed tomato
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon sicilian oregano
- 4 oz / small glass of red wine
- S&P to taste
- 3 eggs
- Grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Slice the eggplant in thick (1/2") slices, salt and pepper each side, drizzling with olive oil.
- Bake at 400F for 10 minutes each side, set aside to cool.
- Take the sliced potatoes and put in a microwave safe bowl, cover with water, add a hearty pinch of salt. Nuke for 7 minutes. Drain the water and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large frying pan and add the grated onion and garlic. Saute for about 2 minutes, until the onion has begun to turn clear.
- Add the meat and begin to brown.
- Add the spices and salt and pepper, wine and tomato puree.
- Simmer for about 15-20 minutes until most of the moisture is gone.
- Crack the 3 eggs into a bowl and whisk until well beaten. You'll use in a minute!
Layering
- Lightly PAM spray a 9x13 pan.
- Place a small scoop of the bechamel sauce on the bottom of the pan. Tilt the pan back and forth until a thin layer covers the bottom.
- At this point, you can add the beaten eggs to the rest of the bechamel sauce. whisking to combine.
- Put down a layer of the eggplant
- Then half the meat.
- Then a layer of the potatoes.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
- Eggplant.
- Meat.
- Potatoes.
- Cheese.
- Then pour the bechamel/egg mix over top.
- Sprinkle with more cheese.
- Bake at 350F for 50 minutes, the top should be golden brown.
