 MEMORIES OF CORFU MOUSSAKA
Moussaka, known as Greece's national dish, can be time-consuming but the results are well worth the effort! This is an excellent dish for company because it can be prepared ahead. It also freezes well.
3 large eggplants, sliced lengthwise
olive oil
½ cup + 1 tbsp butter
6 tbsp flour
1 litre (4 cups) milk
2 onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ lb (750 g) ground lamb or beef *
2 tomatoes, diced
2 tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
4 tbsp plain breadcrumbs
salt and pepper to taste
| 1. |
For the eggplant: Line a large baking sheet with paper towels. Arrange eggplant slices in layers on the paper towels and sprinkle each layer liberally with salt. Let stand 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Pat slices dry.
Preheat the broiler. Working in batches, place eggplant slices in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush both sides with oil. Broil until golden, approximately 5 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Repeat for the remainder of the eggplant slices. |
| 2. |
For the béchamel sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt ½ cup butter over MEDIUM heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add milk a little at a time, whisking constantly to ensure a smooth consistency. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring constantly, for about 2 minutes or until thickened. Season with salt and pepper. |
| 3. |
For the meat: In a frying pan, heat 1 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter. Sauté onion over MEDIUM-HIGH heat for about 5 minutes or until soft. Add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds. Add ground meat and brown. Add tomato, oregano, cinnamon and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over LOW heat for 30 minutes. |
| 4. |
To assemble: Sprinkle the bottom of a 13"x 9" baking dish with 3 tbsp of breadcrumbs. Arrange half the eggplant slices on the bottom. Place the meat mixture over the eggplant. Top with second half of eggplant slices. Pour béchamel sauce over the top layer ensuring that all the eggplant is well covered. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tbsp of breadcrumbs. (Moussaka can be frozen at this point. Thaw in refrigerator before baking.) |
| 5. |
Bake on middle rack of a 400ºF oven for about 45 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. |
Serves 8
* VEGETARIAN OPTION: Replace ground meat with 1 ½ packages (510 g) of ground soy (textured vegetable protein), which is available in the produce section of your grocery store.
FOR STEP 3: In a frying pan, heat 1 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter. Sauté onion over MEDIUM-HIGH heat for about 5 minutes or until soft. Add garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds. Add tomato, oregano, cinnamon and simmer for about 8 minutes. Add ground soy and continue cooking an additional 4 minutes or until warmed through. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
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