Easy Greek Moussaka Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the ingredients of moussaka? ›

This moussaka tastes great! Layers of sliced eggplant are baked in a ground beef sauce and smothered in a creamy white béchamel sauce in this classic Greek dish.

Many wonder what the difference is between moussaka and lasagna, and it's quite simple! Lasagna is made with layers of pasta, while moussaka is made with layers of vegetables. There are variations of eggplant moussaka, some use potatoes or even zucchini squash.

Moussaka cuisine takes its name from the Arabic word musaqqa'ah. The word means cold or dipped in liquid. Greek and Turkish foodies adopted the name when the Arabs introduced it to the Mediterranean. Turks and Greeks may have agreed on this Arabic name because moussaka is best served warm or cold.

A classic family-friendly dish from the Mediterranean, moussaka is classic comfort food, which we happily eat all year round. It consists of layers of pan-fried eggplant, a thick, rich lamb-tomato sauce, and a topping of deliciously creamy bechamel sauce.

For quick recipes, gratins or a helping hand, you can count on the ready-made béchamel, with flour, butter and French milk! You can already smell the smell of a good gratin or a gourmet croque-monsieur.

The best side dishes to serve with moussaka are Greek salad, tzatziki, warm pita bread, couscous, jasmine rice, quinoa, dolmades, roasted vegetables, grilled asparagus, lemon potatoes, spanakopita, cucumber and mint salad, and marinated olives.

Sweating the eggplant is very important when baking it in a casserole because it holds a lot of water, which can ultimately ruin the moussaka. To prevent the moussaka from being watery, make sure to lay the eggplant on a paper towel, sprinkle lightly with salt and let it sit for 30 minutes.

Béchamel, or white sauce, is a cooked mixture of butter, flour, and milk. It is one of five mother sauces, a rich, flavorful base that can be used on its own or to create different sauces. Béchamel is used in dishes like mac and cheese, lasagna, and cheese souffle to add a wonderfully creamy element.

Indulge in a Greek-style lamb moussaka, made with aubergines and lamb, packed with herbs and topped with two types of cheese.

Why do Italians put boiled eggs in lasagna? ›

It adds a wonderful texture and flavour to the lasagna.

moussaka, dish of baked lamb and eggplant prepared throughout the Balkans and Middle East but most closely associated with Greece and Turkey. In the Greek version, eggplants are sliced and fried lightly in olive oil and then layered in a casserole with a mixture of ground lamb, onions, tomato sauce, and seasonings.

And every restaurant featured their version of moussaka, which some might say is the national dish of Greece. Moussaka is an iconic eggplant casserole featuring layers of eggplant, potatoes and a rich tomato meat sauce.

Greek Moussaka is a recent invention that goes back to the 1920s when a Greek chef Nikolaos Tselementes took the Middle Eastern dish and fused it with Lasagna. However, it became so popular and tasty that it well surpassed the original Middle Eastern version. Greek Moussaka, on the other hand, comes from Lasagna.

noun. mous·​sa·​ka mü-ˈsä-kə ˌmü-sä-ˈkä variants or less commonly mousaka. : a Middle Eastern dish of ground meat (such as lamb or beef) and sliced eggplant often topped with a seasoned sauce.

Vegetarian Moussaka is a hearty casserole with layers of roasted eggplant and zucchini, tomato sauce thickened with quick-cooking red lentils, ground cinnamon, and a creamy béchamel sauce on top. Each layer stays distinct and bakes into a truly luxurious dish.

Moussaka is to the Greek what Lasagna is to Italians. A rich tomato meat sauce layered with eggplant instead of pasta sheets, and topped with a thick layer of béchamel sauce, this traditional Greek recipe takes time to assemble – but it's well worth the effort!