RECIPE: REC: Moussaka ... This was a VERY good one. Best recipe I've encountered yet.

RECIPE:

Marg CDN

Well-known member
This is from Christine Cushing whose program is one Canadian FoodTV. I believe it is her Greek mother's recipe.

Potatoes

1 lb. russet potato, peeled, sliced 1/4 inch thick

4 tbsp olive oil

coarse salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Bechamel Sauce

2/3 cup unsalted butter

1 cup all purpose flour

6 cups milk

coarse salt, and freshly cracked black pepper

large pinch freshly grated nutmeg

6 whole eggs, beaten to mix

Lamb

3 tbsp olive oil, plus more for brushing eggplant

1 1/2 lb. ground lamb

2 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 cup dry red wine

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tsp dried Greek oregano

1 tsp cinnamon

2 cans of 28-ounce Italian style tomatoes, chopped, drained

1 tbsp tomato paste

pinch of ground nutmeg

8 baby eggplant, ( About 2 1/4 lb. total), cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices

coarse salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Directions:

Potatoes

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Toss the potatoes with the olive oil in a large bowl.

3. Put them in a single layer on a baking sheet and season to taste.

4. Roast until soft and starting to brown, about 35 minutes.

Bechamel Sauce

1. In a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium heat.

2. Add flour and cook, stirring, about 2 minutes until it starts bubbling but does not colour.

3. Gradually whisk in the hot milk.

4. Continue whisking for about 6 to 8 minutes until it thickens.

5. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and set aside to cool completely.

6. Put the eggs in a large bowl.

7. Whisk the tempered béchamel sauce into the eggs.

8. Continue whisking for a few minutes until the bechamel has cooled slightly (enough so that the eggs won't curdle).

9. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Make sure to place wrap directly on the surface of the sauce so a skin does not form.

10. Set aside.

Lamb

1. Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.

2. Add lamb and sauté until cooked through, breaking up with back of spoon, about 6 minutes.

3. Add onion and garlic and sauté until tender, about 6 minutes.

4. Add wine, cayenne pepper, and oregano and cook 2 minutes.

5. Stir in cinnamon, tomatoes, tomato paste and nutmeg. Reduce heat to medium.

6. Cover and simmer until sauce is very thick and reduced to about 6 cups, stirring occasionally, about 60-70 minutes.

7. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

8. Meanwhile, preheat the grill on medium-high heat.

9. Brush the eggplant slices with oil and season with salt and pepper.

10. Grill until cooked through and golden, about 2 minutes per side.

11. Set aside.

To Assemble

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Coat a 14x10x2-inch glass baking dish with oil.

3. Arrange potatoes in bottom of dish.

4. Arrange half of eggplant slices over potatoes.

5. Pour half of lamb sauce over

6. Arrange another layer of eggplant slices on top.

7. Pour remaining sauce over.

8. Pour béchamel sauce over moussaka, covering completely.

9. Bake moussaka uncovered until bubbling around edges, about 1 hour or until topping is softly set and browned.

10. Transfer baking dish to rack and let rest 20 minutes before slicing.

 
I've made this and it was good, but thought it was too time-consuming for the end result.

But then I am a hurried and lazy cook these days. :eek:)

 
Interesting. It was my complaint as well. In fact that's why I don't make moussaka often,

Have you spent the same time and found better results with another recipe or are you just not that crazy about moussaka?

This time I timed it....2:45 right from scratch (not including baking time). But then I had the TV on as well. And my resident chopper was nowhere to be found.

 
I have a wonderful family-owned and operated little Greek restaurant here in Phoenix that...

...makes heavenly moussaka. If I ever wanted some for a dinner or get together, I'd probably buy a tray from them, to go.

It IS a lot of work. I have to say that really good moussaka is a wonderful treat.

Michael

 
I loooooooove moussaka but I have yet to find the perfect recipe for it.

President's Choice comes close! ;o)

 
I remember thinking the recipe seemed too involved (hence, i made it for new year's eve) - however>>

i did the meat mixture ahead of time, refrigerated it, then let it sit on the counter while i did the potatoes, at which time i also did the bechamel. in the end, doing the meat separately made it seem not too lengthy to prepare.

www.wildserendipity.com

 
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