Description
This Cheat’s Moussaka recipe is a quick and easy version of the classic Greek dish, combining layers of spiced meat sauce, roasted eggplant and potatoes, topped with creamy béchamel sauce and cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef or lamb
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
Layers:
- 1 medium eggplant, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
- 2 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
- 1 cup store-bought or homemade béchamel sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella or grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cook the meat sauce: Cook onion and garlic in oil until softened. Add meat, spices, and tomatoes. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Prepare the layers: Roast eggplant and potatoes. Layer potatoes, eggplant, meat sauce, remaining eggplant, béchamel sauce, and cheese in a baking dish.
- Bake: Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Rest before serving.
Notes
- For a quicker version, use pre-cooked potato slices or skip them altogether.
- You can use plant-based meat and dairy-free béchamel for a vegetarian twist.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
