Moussaka - Eggplant Casserole Comfort Food

This recipe for an eggplant casserole known as Moussaka is a traditional Greek dish with middle eastern flavors. It's a great comfort food that serves a crowd.

Many of you have probably eaten or at least heard of this eggplant casserole known as Moussaka. It's great any time of year, but certainly when eggplant can be picked fresh from the garden, or bought at the farmer's market. 

This recipe comes from my mother. I have a piece of yellow ruled paper in my recipe box with her handwriting. It probably originated from a newspaper clipping or magazine. I remember she had an entire kitchen drawer full of clippings from various newspapers, all recipes.

I'm sure I've mentioned before that my father was Lebanese, so even though I think of this as a Greek dish, it has similar middle eastern flavors.  

For one, we always had this dish served with rice. I'm not sure if that is a Greek thing or just my family. Rice was served all the time at my house growing up. Did you notice how golden yellow it is? That's because we always add turmeric to the water before the rice boils.

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I think traditionally they used saffron, but it is so expensive. Turmeric is a good substitute. It's easy to find in the grocery store, and lately, I've noticed a lot of talk about turmeric being great for reducing inflammation in the body, so that's a plus.

Here's what it looks like straight from the oven. This is a standard 11 x 13 baking dish, so, like lasagna, it will serve a lot of people. Especially when you serve it with rice. And, yes, it's probably one of my favorite leftover dishes. It reheats really well and keeps for days.

My mom's recipe calls for the eggplant to be cut lengthwise, but I'm sure I've seen it in rounds. I think either way would work.

A little tossed salad and you have a very hearty delicious meal. It's great for entertaining too. Bring it to a pot luck party.

In my family, this would be something you would even see at the holidays served next to the turkey or at Easter next to the lamb or ham.  

Enjoy. I hope you love it as much as I do.

P.S. I have many other Middle Eastern recipes on this blog that you may like. My Aunt Mimi's famous Authentic Hummus is a popular one. Stuffed Zucchini is something I make often in the summer when the gardens are full of squash. And, there are several others from family recipes and simple ingredients you love. Just browse through the recipe page and see what looks good.

Eggplant Casserole - Moussakka

This traditional Greek dish, Moussakka, is a favorite item that you will see on many menus in a Greek restaurant. However, it isn't difficult to make at home.

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Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Course Dinner Recipes

Cuisine Greek

Servings 12

Calories 325 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 large eggplants peeled and sliced lengthwise

Meatsauce

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef
• 1 - 2 cloves of garlic crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon of dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 large 29 oz can of tomato sauce

Cream Sauce

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Instructions

 

• Peel and slice eggplant.
• Brush olive oil and sprinkle salt on both sides and place under broiler
• Cook about 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove and save for later
• Saute onion in a large skillet for a few minutes.
• Add garlic and beef stirring until browned.
• Add oregano, basil, cinnamon, salt and pepper and stir.
• Add tomato sauce and and bring to a boil.
• Lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
• In a separate saucepan melt butter.
• Remove from heat and whisk in flour, salt and pepper
• Gradually add the milk, stirring with wire whisk.
• Place saucepan back on the stove and bring to a boil, stirring until thick.
• Remove from heat.
• In a small bowl beat 2 eggs.
• Add a small amount of hot cream sauce to eggs and stir.
• Add egg mixture to cream mixture and stir.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Use 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
• Spray with vegetable oil.
• Layer half of the eggplant overlapping if necessary.
• Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of Parmesan and cheddar cheese on top.
• Pour all of the meat sauce on top of the eggplant spread evenly.
• Sprinkle 2 additional tablespoons of the Parmesan and cheddar on top of the meat sauce.
• Layer the remaining eggplant.
• Pour the cream sauce on top and spread evenly.
• Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake uncovered for 35-49 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 325kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 22gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 665mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8g

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although attempts have been made to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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