Moussaka is one of my favourite meals. Traditionally it takes a bit of time to make, but this version’s pretty quick and easy – and as delicious as ever!
A nice and juicy, full-of-flavour classic Greek moussaka has long been my idea of a pretty perfect meal.
Actually, I’m assuming you know what mousska is, which I shouldn’t do. I know what it is because Brits tend to, with Britain being not all that far from Greece (relatively speaking!). And I know how delicious it is after ordering it countless times when I lived in Greece.
So a moussaka is basically a bit like a lasagna in that it’s got 3 layers – eggplant (aubergine) slices, a rich meat and wine sauce, and a soufflé-like béchamel topping. It’s really popular in Greece, and if you ever go there you’ll come across amazing passed-down-the-generations versions.
Like anything, anywhere, I guess you could be unlucky and come across a poor version. But I honestly was only ever served a poor moussaka once during my long period of time in Greece, and that was in a ‘tourist trap’ type restaurant in the centre of Athens (let me know if you go there and I’ll tell you which restaurant you need to avoid!).
So let’s just imagine for a moment that you got the chance to try a selection of Greek grandmas’ moussaka recipes. I know, silly, but just humour me. I’m pretty sure you’d find them all a little different from one another, but you would find at least a couple of ‘common denominators’ – namely cinnamon and oregano in the meat sauce, and that creamy, soufflé-like béchamel sauce laced with nutmeg on the top.
I’ve been making this particular version of moussaka for a few years now, and it never fails to be delicious. I like it because it’s a particularly easy version (not a potato in sight – I don’t think you need them!), and the recipe cuts the number of ingredients down to the bare minimum.
Moussaka does take a little while to make and cook, because of those multiple layers, so I like to make sure we’re not adding any unnecessary steps.
Essentially, I use a recipe I originally found in the Guardian newspaper, but I do add a bit more cinnamon and oregano to my moussaka, to give it more of an authentic flavour.
And it really is very easy to prepare. Start by brushing eggplant slices with olive oil and baking. Meanwhile, make a quick and easy meat sauce out of beef (or lamb) mince, onions, garlic, tomato puree and wine. Then a different sort of cheesy béchamel sauce that you whisk a couple of eggs into so it puffs up a bit in the oven like a soufflé.
Assemble. Bake. Leave to ‘rest’ for 30 minutes (worth doing). Slice. Eat. Absolutely delicious.
The other great thing about this is that it serves at least 6. In fact, we find it’s easily good for 8 because we like to serve it with a Greek salad and some toasted fresh bread.
If there aren’t 8 people in your house, it simply means you get to eat this twice and then freeze the leftovers for another time. Bonus!
P.S. If you like this, you may also enjoy my skinny chicken moussaka. Feeling lazy? This moussaka penne is pretty darn tasty, too!
Easy moussaka
Ingredients
- 2 large eggplant / aubergines, cut into even ½ cm-thick slices
- olive oil
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves crushed or chopped
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 pound ground beef or lamb (ground beef = minced beef in UK)
- 2 tablespoons tomato puree / paste mixed with about 1/2 cup water
- 2/3 cups red wine
- salt and pepper
- 1 bunch fresh parsley chopped
For the béchamel topping
- 2 ounces butter
- 4 tablespoons plain flour
- 2 cups milk warmed slightly in the microwave or in a pan
- 2 ounces parmesan cheese or Italian pecorino / Greek kefalotiri if you can find it!
- fresh nutmeg (to taste / a good grating or sprinkling)
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Lay the eggplant/aubergine slices on large baking trays and brush each side with a little olive oil. Bake for about 25 minutes or until the slices are soft and floppy.
- Meanwhile, start making your meat sauce. Start by softening your onion for a few minutes in a little olive oil, then add the garlic, cinnamon & oregano and cook for a couple more minutes.
- Add the meat to the pan and brown while breaking up with a wooden spoon. Then add the tomato puree & water and wine. Let the sauce simmer gently until it has thickened (about 20 to 30 minutes). At the last minute, add in the parsley and salt and pepper to taste.
- To make the béchamel, melt the butter in a medium saucepan, then stir in the flour until you have a paste. Take off the heat, then stir in the milk little by little.
- Heat and stir until the sauce is almost bubbling and has thickened nicely, then add most of the cheese and a really good grating of nutmeg. Let cool for five minutes or so, then whisk in the two eggs.
- Now you’re ready to assemble your moussaka! (I used a 12 x 9 inch baking dish*) Start with a layer of eggplant/aubergine slices, followed by half of the ragu sauce, another layer of eggplant/aubergine, another layer of meat and a final layer of eggplant/aubergine. Finally, pour the béchamel topping over the top and smooth it out. Sprinkle over the rest of the cheese.
- Bake for forty to forty-five minutes or until the topping is golden and bubbling (cover it with aluminium foil if it gets too dark). Leave the moussaka to rest for half an hour before serving (so that the pieces stay together better when you cut and serve them).
Recipe Notes
Basic moussaka recipe adapted from this recipe in Guardian Life and Style.
Serve with a Greek salad and toasted fresh bread! (this way you can feed 8 with this recipe!)
*You can use a baking dish that's a bit smaller than this, but don't use a bigger one. The meat and eggplant / aubergine layers will be very thin layers, but that's fine!
You can make this moussaka ahead. Simply assemble fully and cover in the fridge until ready to bake. Add 5 to 10 minutes to the cooking time.
You can also freeze the cooked leftovers, then defrost and reheat. Mmm!
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I had the most amazing moussakas when were travelling around Greece and I haven’t had any since. I must make some soon.
Hope you do, Dannii! 🙂
Oh Helen, I SO want to visit Greece some day. My husband used to go all the time when he was living in Germany (before we met) and he absolutely love it! Maybe I’ll convince him to take me one day 😉 Moussaka just scream comfort food to me and yours looks absolutely divine! I’ll take one full tray please 🙂
You MUST get your hubby to take you to Greece and show you around! Go to one of the islands… you’ll be bowled over by all that amazing food. Just a big bowl of local tomatoes is enough to propel you into food heaven over there!
Helen, I had no clue what moussaka was till I read your post! And, till I read your post I had no clue I could crave something I’ve never had but your description of those layers of eggplant slices, rich meat and wine sauce, and a soufflé-like béchamel topping have my mouth watering! I am not a huge fan of lasagna because of the lasagna noodles in it – but Moussaka has no noodles – which makes it even more appealing to me! I so gotta try this, thanks so much for it!
Hope you and Mr Scrummy have a wonderful weekend
I love that I made you crave something you’ve never had! If you want to make this even lighter, I have a lighter version on my blog with turkey and a yoghurt topping! 🙂
This is one of my favorite meals, too! I can’t believe I haven’t made it in a long time! Looks delicious! Can’t wait to visit Greece again! Pinning! Have a nice weekend!
Hi Mira! Is Moussaka popular in Bulgaria? 🙂
I have never had moussaka!! Why oh why? I love everything about it – honestly my kind of comfort food. We often get eggplant in our farm share, so I’ll be trying this very soon!!
Why oh why indeed, Marissa! And you, a bit of a Euro-traveller! You’ve got to put that one right! If you start with this recipe, I promise you it’s really easy 🙂
Greece is most definitely on my bucket list!! For sure, my hubby would try this dish!! I love the layers in yours and that eggplant looks so amazing.
You have to go to Greece some day, Jessica… and in the meantime, please do try moussaka!
J’adore la moussaka mais je n’ai jamais fait parce que je trouve que savoir faire bien les aubergines c’est un art. Si elles n’ont pas bien cuisinés, le plat n’est pas génial. Ta moussaka a l’air d’être comme je les aime, bien fondant et gourmand! x
Tu as raison, Eva – les aubergines ne sont pas toujours faciles! 🙂
I’ve never had moussaka before but I’m absolutely loving eggplant for some reason this summer! I definitely want to try it!
You have to try it, Denise… I’m sure you’ll like it! 🙂
Whenever I see a moussaka recipe I wonder why I’ve never made it and thanks to you I now have a fast and fabulous recipe.
Yes, WHY haven’t you ever made it, Janette! You must!!
Nice short cuts! As much as we all like quick dinners sometimes the extra effort is worthwhile..I love finding an episode of Desert IslandDiscs to listen to whilst i prep and cook. Just goes to show the old recipes never go out of fashion do they?
Hi Nancy! Totally agree. I’d say this recipe is a good balance – easy, but doesn’t lose the classic touch 🙂
this is a neat recipe but as a greek who cooks mousaka let me give you the secret of the dish…it’s simply the bechamel,this considers if it’s a succesful,respectable piece of an original greek mousaka.
In order to get a creamy rich bechamel you need double dose of milk(1000 ml),100 gr butter,2 whole eggs plus 3 yolks,6 table spoons of self rising flour and cheese,of course…a mix of kefalotiri,graviera and kefalograviera(about 600 gr in total)
You spread some cheese over eggplants,you mix some cheese in chopped meet,some nutmeg as well,in there, and most of cheese you add in bechamel.You keep some to cover on top….that’s it!
Often we Greeks reduce eggplants and add some fried potatoes,too.
That’s all!
Hope it was helpful to you 🙂
Good evening from Greece!
Anastasia
Kalispera, Anastasia! Thank you so much for reading, and for adding your wonderful tips. I will be trying a moussaka out this way soon! 🙂