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Like me, do you love moussaka but don’t love the hassle of making it? Then I’ve got the perfect quick meal for you … it’s ‘almost’ one-pot, it’s got all the flavours of a lovely Greek moussaka but it takes barely 30 minutes to make!
This past week, Mr. Scrummy and I were lucky enough to spend a few days in Paris. As usual when we go on a city break, we walked our legs off wandering through the streets around all the famous sights and then made a ridiculous amount of effort chasing down all the best food experiences. Maybe it’s just me (surely not?) but I always hate the thought of visiting a new place and feeling like I haven’t found the best food it has to offer!
Although we did have one dud meal (boo hoo), it isn’t hard at all to enjoy great food in Paris. There are crowded bistrots on every corner, a whole street full of crepe restaurants (seriously), it seems almost impossible to find a pastry that isn’t delicious and our hotel served macarons at breakfast, for goodness sake. We even managed to track down the restaurant where we got engaged on New Year’s Eve, 2012. We enjoyed our happy memories and chatting to the owner who actually remembered us including exactly where we sat and had the best meal of our stay (awwww …).
So a great time was had by all (i.e. me and Mr. Scrummy) and when we got home of course I wished I was still there. I certainly wasn’t ready to start cooking my own meals again, but second best was finding something easy and really tasty for dinner.
Enter this simple and delicious moussaka penne!
Moussaka has been one of my favourite meals for years. I love the combination of the rich cinnamon-infused meat sauce, the smoky aubergine (eggplant!) and cheesy béchamel topping. What I don’t love though is the time it takes to make.
So how about combining all the FLAVOURS of a moussaka in a much simpler pasta dish? You cook up some diced aubergine and onion, add canned tomatoes and tomato puree, oregano and spices, then toss with penne pasta and sprinkle generously with feta cheese. Then hey presto, you’ve got a quick, hearty meal with classic Greek flavourings. There’s no need to mess around pre-cooking aubergine and making a finicky sauce.
Apart from the other pot you use to cook up the pasta, this is essentially a one-pot meal. I loved it. Mr. Scrummy wasn’t so convinced, I must admit, saying that it made him feel disappointed because it TASTED like a moussaka but wasn’t. But to me that’s the beauty of this easy meal, perfect for mid-week or any other time you want to whip up a quick but tasty dinner.
So what side of the fence do you sit on? Do you like the sound of this, or would you rather make a bit of extra effort and make the real thing? I actually like both, and will still go the extra mile and make this skinny chicken moussaka sometimes, too (which is in itself an easier version of moussaka with a yoghurt topping instead of a traditional heavier béchamel).
Having this again tonight as half of the sauce is still in the fridge. Mr. Scrummy reckons he isn’t a fan of penne, though, so I might make it with a different kind of pasta to see if he likes it any better that way. 😉
Hope you’re tempted to give this a go some time this week – I bet you’ve already got most of the ingredients you need! 🙂
Moussaka penne (30 minute meal)
Ingredients
- a large drizzle of olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped finely
- 1 large aubergine eggplant, diced (about 1cm²)
- 8 ounces lamb or beef mince
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 14 ounce can chopped tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree
- small bunch of parsley washed and chopped
- 10 ounces dried penne or other pasta of your choice
- 7 ounces feta crumbled
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan with a lid on a medium heat. Add the onion and aubergine and cook, stirring regularly, for 2 or 3 minutes. Then reduce the heat to medium, put the lid on the pan and cook for about another 5 minutes, stirring every now and again.
- Add the meat and brown for a couple of minutes, then add the garlic, cinnamon, allspice and oregano. Stir for a minute, then add the tomatoes and tomato puree. Stir again, then leave to cook with the lid on for about ten minutes, stirring every now and again. Then stir in most of the parsley and season to taste.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, then drain, reserving a bit of the cooking water.
- Tip the cooked pasta into the meat sauce along with some cooking water to make the sauce nice and silky.
- Serve out the pasta into bowls, then sprinkle with the feta cheese and the rest of the parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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[email protected] says
Here on behalf of my friend who made this this week and said the fam LOVED IT!! 🙂 N x
Helen says
Yippee!!! Thanks so much for the feedback, Dear Nagi! 🙂
Danielle says
Hi Helen! This stopped me in my tracks – what a fantastic idea! Being part greek myself, I really crave moussaka sometimes. But guess what? I only actually prepare it (less than) a fraction of the time! Super intensive but always rewarding – yet this is so smart, so smart. I can have that satisfaction in a small amount of time now! I will be making this! Thank you for the smarts! 🙂
Helen says
Hello, Danielle! Thank you so much for the lovely compliments on this dish and for passing by and commenting. I totally agree that making a moussaka is always worth it, but this will definitely do me as a second best when I just don’t have the energy. So happy you like it and hope you do give it a go some time!
Katleen says
Hi Helen,
The moussaka variant is brilliant!
And my husband really liked it!
Thanks for that.
Katleen
Helen says
Hello Katleen!
I’m so happy to hear from you … and of course to hear that you made this and enjoyed it! Hope you and your family are well 🙂 xx
Laura @ Raise Your Garden says
I feel like you just took me on a free trip to Greece with this recipe, looks absolutely mouth watering. And 30 minutes? I can make this in 30 minutes? Penne is my favorite noodle too, silly, but true. So many yummy ingredients in here, tastes like summer =)
Helen says
I wish I could literally take you on a free trip to Greece, Laura 😉 But at least this comes close! I like penne a lot, too, especially with more chunky sauces. Really happy you like this!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
I ADORE moussaka but hate the time it takes, this is going on next week’s menu!
Helen says
Hello Sue! Really excited that you want to give this a go. Let me know what you think!
Joanne says
Good thing I have some eggplant in the fridge! I’m going to have to make a meatless version, which will certainly be sacrilegious.. but you’ll forgive me, right?
Helen says
Oh, a meatless version of this would work really well! Go for it! 🙂
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
I am ALWAYS in favor of the quicker option – so your version is what I would choose, Helen! Now let’s talk about the fact that that your hotel served macarons at breakfast, and – that whole street full of crepe restaurants! WOW!
Helen says
Yeah, I sooo wish I was still there! It was just wonderful grabbing a macaron (well, ok then, 2 macarons) at breakfast each morning without any guilt!
[email protected] The Gastronomic Bong says
Quick and delicious.. Love this mousska penne pasta.. Awesome!!
Helen says
Hi, Arpita … and thank you so much!
Lorraine @Not Quite Nigella says
A friend taught me how to make a similar one saucepan moussaka. It was delicious and easy!
Helen says
Yes, this is definitely one of my new favourites!
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
Paris?? I am so jealous!!
But at least I can have a 30 minute meal now! Looks amazing!
Helen says
Hi Cathleen! You just have to try to get to Paris some time … it’s such an incredible city for foodies! 🙂
Tiff @ Love, Sweat, & Beers says
That looks fabulous! I love moussaka, but I never have the time to make it. Thanks for sharing.
Helen says
You’re welcome, Tiff! Glad you like it! 🙂