Indulge in the Mediterranean delight of moussaka, a sumptuous casserole that harmonizes layers of seasoned ground beef, velvety béchamel sauce, and tender eggplant. This epicurean masterpiece is a symphony of flavors and textures, with the hearty beef filling mingling with the soft eggplant and creamy béchamel, creating a culinary experience that tantalizes the taste buds. Embark on a culinary journey with our comprehensive guide, featuring two enticing moussaka recipes. The classic version showcases the traditional flavors of this beloved dish, while the vegetarian moussaka offers a delightful twist with layers of roasted vegetables instead of beef. Both recipes are meticulously crafted to ensure a perfect balance of flavors and textures, making them ideal for special occasions or everyday meals.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
BEEF AND POTATO MOUSSAKA
My son-who is now 27-brought home this Greek moussaka recipe with potatoes (a classic Greek entree) when he had a sixth-grade assignment about Greece. It earned high marks when we made it for his class. -Jean Puffer, Chilliwack, British Columbia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h25m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, 7-9 minutes, breaking into crumbles. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in water, tomato paste, parsley, salt, mint if desired, cinnamon and pepper. Set aside., For sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot mixture into eggs; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Add cheese and salt., Place half of the potato slices in a greased shallow 3-qt. baking dish. Top with half the cheese sauce and all of the meat mixture. Arrange remaining potatoes over meat mixture; top with remaining cheese sauce., Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 160°, about 1 hour. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 488 calories, Fat 24g fat (12g saturated fat), Cholesterol 205mg cholesterol, Sodium 918mg sodium, Carbohydrate 40g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 27g protein.
BEEF MOUSSAKA
This low-fat casserole relies on spices, tomato paste, wine and vinegar for flavor instead of the ton of cheese (and fat) found in regular moussaka recipes.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 2h20m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Toss the eggplants, potatoes, olive oil, 1/2 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl, then spread the vegetables on the baking sheet. Roast until tender, about 45 minutes, tossing the vegetables about halfway through. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, make the Meat Sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until soft and beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the tomato paste, oregano, cinnamon, garlic and ginger; stir quickly to toast spices evenly. Once fragrant, add 1/2 cup water to the pan and stir to combine, scraping up any brown bits. Add the beef to the pan, stirring with a wooden spoon to break it up, and cook until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the wine, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook until the meat is fully cooked and the juices are reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the parsley and set aside.
- Make the Bechamel: Put the milk and flour in a small saucepan and whisk until the flour is dissolved. Place the pan over medium heat and whisk continuously until the mixture comes to a boil; continue to whisk until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Remove from the heat and whisk in 3/4 cup of the Parmesan; set aside.
- Assemble the Moussaka: Spray a 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Spread the eggplants and potatoes in the bottom of the dish, layer the meat sauce evenly over the vegetables, top with the bechamel and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, until the top is browned and slightly puffed, 35 to 40 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
- Make-Ahead Tip: The unbaked casserole can be covered and refrigerated overnight before baking. The baked casserole can be frozen for up to 2 weeks; cover with foil and reheat at 350 degrees F until hot, 35 to 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 390 calorie, Fat 15 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Cholesterol 65 milligrams, Sodium 970 milligrams, Carbohydrate 31 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 28 grams, Sugar 8 grams
BEEF MOUSSAKA
Provided by Trisha Yearwood
Categories main-dish
Time 1h50m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- For the eggplant and meat sauce: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Brush both sides of the eggplant slices with 1/3 cup olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange on a baking pan and bake, turning once, until tender and golden brown on both sides, about 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
- Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring and breaking up any clumps with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 6 minutes. Add the onion, garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the cinnamon, allspice and tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the wine and boil until reduced by about half, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and oregano and bring to a simmer, then simmer until slightly thickened and the flavors have blended, about 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- For the bechamel: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly and stopping occasionally to run a rubber spatula around the edges of the pan to prevent burning. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly, then simmer 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the goat cheese and Parmesan, whisking until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Whisk in the egg yolks.
- Arrange half of the eggplant in a single layer on the bottom of an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Top with half of the meat sauce. Layer the remaining eggplant slices on top followed by the remaining meat sauce. Top with an even layer of bechamel. Place the baking dish on a foil-lined baking pan and bake until bubbling and the topping is golden brown in places, 20 to 30 minutes. Let stand at least 20 minutes, then garnish with the parsley and serve.
BEEF AND POTATO MOUSSAKA
Make and share this Beef and Potato Moussaka recipe from Food.com.
Provided by ChefDebs
Categories Meat
Time 50m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Cut the potatoes in quarters and boil in water until almost soft.let cool, then slice into 1/4 inch slices.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet, and saute the onion and garlic for 4-5 minutes.
- Add the beef to the skillet and brown for 5 mins, stir in the wine, tomato paste, oregano, and parsley, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes Remove from heat.
- To make the sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Stir in the flour and cook over low heat for 2-3 mins.Slowly whisk in the milk, cooking for 6-8 mins until thickened. Remove from the heat and add the parmesan.
- Grease an 11x7 inch casserole.Put in the beef mixture, then cover with potato slices.
- Pour the sauce on top.
- Mix together the parmesan and breadcrumbs and sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
- Bake in a 350 * oven for 30 mins or until golden.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 718.3, Fat 29.4, SaturatedFat 12.5, Cholesterol 105.1, Sodium 503.9, Carbohydrate 74, Fiber 8.6, Sugar 8.1, Protein 35.4
Tips:
- To make the perfect béchamel sauce, use equal parts butter and flour. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in the flour. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth and bubbly. Slowly whisk in the milk, a little at a time, until the sauce is thick and creamy. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- For the best flavor, use a combination of ground beef and ground lamb in the filling. You can also add other vegetables, such as zucchini, carrots, or eggplant.
- To prevent the potatoes from sticking to the pan, make sure to grease the baking dish well before adding them. You can also use a non-stick baking dish.
- To make sure the moussaka is cooked through, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, the moussaka is done.
Conclusion:
Beef moussaka is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a special occasion. It is easy to make, and the results are always impressive. With its layers of flavorful filling, creamy béchamel sauce, and crispy potatoes, beef moussaka is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
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