Moussaka

Ingredients

• 2 medium eggplants - sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
• 1 teaspoon salt - for salting eggplants
• 3 tablespoons olive oil - for frying
• 1 medium onion - finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic - minced
• 200 g ground beef - or lamb, browned
• 400 g canned tomatoes - crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley - chopped, for garnish
• 50 g grated Parmesan cheese - for topping
• 50 g butter - for béchamel sauce
• 50 g all-purpose flour - for béchamel sauce
• 500 ml milk - for béchamel sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg - for béchamel sauce
• 2 large eggs - for béchamel sauce

Step-by-step instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. Sprinkle sliced eggplants with salt and let them sit for 30 minutes to draw out moisture and bitterness. Rinse and pat dry.
3. In a skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat and fry the eggplant slices until golden brown on both sides. Set aside.
4. In the same skillet, add the remaining olive oil and sauté the chopped onion until translucent. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant.
5. Stir in the ground beef (or lamb) and cook until browned. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, cinnamon, and pepper. Simmer for about 20 minutes until the sauce thickens.
6. For the béchamel sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk and continue stirring until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat, then stir in nutmeg and beaten eggs.
7. In a baking dish, layer half of the eggplant at the bottom, followed by the meat sauce, then the remaining eggplant, and top with béchamel sauce. Sprinkle grated Parmesan on top.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
9. Let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Serving suggestion

Serve warm with a side salad and crusty bread. A glass of red wine, like Agiorgitiko, pairs beautifully with this dish.

Nutrition per serving (estimated)

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