Moussaka

A beautifully layered labor of love, Greek moussaka is the perfect Sunday dinner. Greek cuisine’s warmly spiced answer to eggplant lasagna, this casserole boasts golden roasted eggplant and potatoes, aromatic meat sauce, and a stunning bechamel topping. It not only makes enough to feed a Sunday dinner crowd, it is perfectly elegant for a dinner party centerpiece. Serve it with a refreshing cucumber salad and crusty bread to sop up the meat sauce.

What is moussaka traditionally made from?

An incredibly rich, layered casserole, this dish is made up of three separate layers: an eggplant and potato layer, a lamb or beef meat sauce, and a thick bechamel topping. 

So, how does it all comes together?

To make sure the potatoes are sufficiently cooked and the eggplant doesn't give off too much liquid, both ingredients are usually fried or baked, but this recipe streamlines the process by nestling the potatoes and eggplant on sheet pans, and roasting in the oven until tender and golden. They form the bottom layers. 

The thick meat sauce is the middle layer. It can be made with either beef or lamb, but this family-friendly recipe goes the ground beef route. It's like an Italian meat sauce, flavored with onion, garlic, red wine, tomato, and oregano, but what sets this sauce apart is the addition of warm cinnamon and nutmeg.

The creamy bechamel goes on both the bottom of the dish and the top! You want this white sauce to be almost as thick as pudding so that it holds into an even layer and doesn't seep through to the other ingredients. Many traditional recipes call for some kefalotyri cheese to be grated into the rich sauce. Because that can be hard to find in the United States, pecorino romano, another salty and tangy sheep’s milk cheese, is a lovely substitute. 

Does moussaka taste like lasagna?

Often touted as a Greek lasagna, moussaka does not contain noodles or nearly as much cheese as Italian lasagna. It also has eggplant, potatoes, a warmly spiced meat sauce, and a thick, saucy topping. Both are delicious weekend meals that deserve categories all on their own. Give both a try and you’ll find things to love about each one!