My Recipe Box

Greek Moussaka

A traditional Greek dish made with layers of eggplant, ground meat, and a rich béchamel sauce, all combined to create a hearty and satisfying meal.
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MEDIUM
Prep: 45-60 mins
Cook: 60-90 mins
Serves: 6
Author: Rosita1980

4.4 / 5 (991)


Ingredients

Meat Sauce
  • ground beef

    500 grams

  • onion

    1 medium

  • garlic

    3 cloves

  • tomato puree

    200 grams

  • red wine

    100 milliliters

  • beef broth

    200 milliliters

  • dried oregano

    1 teaspoon

  • salt

    to taste

  • black pepper

    to taste

Eggplant
  • eggplant

    2 large

  • salt

    to taste

  • olive oil

    for brushing

Béchamel Sauce
  • butter

    50 grams

  • all-purpose flour

    50 grams

  • milk

    500 milliliters

  • grated Parmesan cheese

    100 grams

  • salt

    to taste

  • black pepper

    to taste

  • nutmeg

    a pinch


Instructions

  • 1
    Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).

    Before starting to prepare the dish, preheat the oven to ensure it reaches the correct temperature for even cooking.

  • 2
    Prepare the eggplant slices by brushing them with olive oil and seasoning with salt.

    Slice the eggplants into 1/2-inch thick rounds, brush both sides with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt to draw out moisture. Let them sit for about 30 minutes to allow the salt to work.

  • 3
    Cook the eggplant slices in the oven until they are golden brown.

    Place the eggplant slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cook in the oven for about 30 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are golden brown and tender.

  • 4
    Prepare the meat sauce by cooking the ground beef and onion until the onion is translucent.

    In a large pan over medium heat, cook the ground beef and onion until the onion is translucent and the meat is browned, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks.

  • 5
    Add the garlic, tomato puree, red wine, beef broth, dried oregano, salt, and pepper to the meat sauce and simmer until the sauce has thickened.

    Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, then add the tomato puree, red wine, beef broth, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir well and bring the sauce to a simmer, letting it cook until it has thickened and the flavors have melded together.

  • 6
    Prepare the béchamel sauce by making a roux with butter and flour, then slowly adding milk.

    In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and then add the flour, whisking to form a smooth roux. Cook for 1 minute, then slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until it thickens, stirring occasionally.

  • 7
    Remove the béchamel sauce from the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and a pinch of nutmeg.

    Once the béchamel sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add a pinch of nutmeg for extra flavor.

  • 8
    Assemble the moussaka by creating layers of eggplant, meat sauce, and béchamel sauce in a baking dish.

    In a large baking dish, create a layer of eggplant slices. Top with a layer of the meat sauce, followed by a layer of the béchamel sauce. Repeat this process until all the ingredients are used up, ending with a layer of béchamel sauce on top.

  • 9
    Bake the moussaka in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly.

    Place the moussaka in the preheated oven and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly. Remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Ratings & Reviews

User Ratings

5

618

4

222

3

77

2

54

1

20

Reviews

  • RohanRocks24

    This Greek Moussaka recipe, yaar, it's not bad, not bad at all! But I'm a spice lover, and it needs a bit more heat, you know? I mean, where's the chili, where's the cumin? It's like a curry without the tadka, khair, you feel me? The eggplant is nice, the bechamel sauce is creamy, but it's like a Gujarati undhiyu without the kick, capisce? I'd give it 3 stars, maybe try it with some Indian spices, you know, a pinch of cumin, a dash of coriander, and it'll be fire, dude! But overall, it's a good dish, just needs a bit of that Indian magic, and it'll be fab, darshan dekhne layak!

  • Sofi_Ro

    Hey there, I gotta say, I'm a bit disappointed in this Greek Moussaka recipe. As a pescatarian, I wasAlready put off by the ground beef, but I could've subbed it with something else, no biggie. The major bummer, though, is the insane amount of dairy in this dish - Parmesan cheese and milk in the béchamel sauce? Yeah, that's a hard pass for me, 'cause, you know, dairy intolerance is no joke. I mean, I could try to sub it with non-dairy alternatives, but it's just too much fuss. The recipe seems pretty solid, and the instructions are easy to follow, but, sadly, it's not for me. Maybe for all you dairy-lovers out there, this'll be a winner, but for this girl, it's a solid 2 stars, and that's being generous, fam.

  • LuisaMX92

    ¡Estoy emocionada! I just tried the most delicioso Greek Moussaka recipe and I must say, it's a masterpiece. The combination of eggplant, ground beef, and béchamel sauce is truly magical. I love how the recipe uses traditional Greek ingredients, but I must admit that I was a little worried about the amount of butter and flour used in the béchamel sauce - as someone who's trying to reducir my sugar intake, I'm always on the lookout for ways to make dishes a little healthier. But the flavors, ¡Dios mío! They're absolute perfection. The rich, creamy béchamel sauce and the tender eggplant... it's like a symphony of sabores in my boca. My only suggestion would be to add a little spice, maybe some cumin or chili powder, to give it a bit of a Mexican twist. But overall, I'm so grateful to have tried this recipe - it's a reminder that food has the power to bring us together, to comfort us, and to inspire us. ¡Buen provecho, amigos!

  • AishaTheGreat90

    I must commend the creator of this Greek Moussaka recipe for their diligence in outlining the steps required to prepare this traditional dish. As someone who adheres to Halal dietary restrictions, I am pleased to note that the recipe can be easily adapted to accommodate my needs by substituting the ground beef with Halal ground beef or an alternative such as lamb. The instructions are clear and concise, making it easier for individuals like myself, who are non-native English speakers, to follow along. However, I must admit that I found the recipe to be somewhat lengthy and time-consuming. Nevertheless, the end result is well worth the effort, and I appreciate the addition of the béchamel sauce, which adds a rich and creamy texture to the dish. Overall, I would highly recommend this recipe to those who are familiar with traditional Middle Eastern cuisine and are looking to experiment with new flavors and ingredients.

  • SofiARG

    I tried the Greek Moussaka recipe and it was an interesting experience. As a vegetarian, I had to modify the recipe by replacing the ground beef with a vegetarian alternative. I used portobello mushrooms and they worked well. However, I found the recipe to be quite complex and time-consuming. The instructions were clear, but I had to use a translator to understand some of the cooking terms. The end result was delicious, but I missed the flavors of my favorite Argentine and Chilean dishes. I would recommend this recipe to someone who enjoys Greek cuisine, but for me, it was just okay. I would have liked to see a dessert recipe, perhaps something with dulce de leche, to pair with the moussaka.

  • GabiARG

    ¡Este Greek Moussaka es un plato impresionante! Me encanta la cantidad de carne que lleva, el sabor del ground beef es intenso y delicioso. La combinación de las berenjenas con la salsabéchamel y la carne es excelente. Me recuerda un poco a las traditionales empanadas argentinas, pero con un toque griego muy especial. Solo le doy 4 estrellas porque echo en falta un poco más de sabor, quizás un toque de pimienta o ajo extra. Pero en general, es un plato que vale la pena probar, ¡es una verdadera delicia! La preparación es un poco laboriosa, pero los resultados Valen la pena.

  • CamWally22

    Yo, I'm gonna give it to you straight - this Greek Moussaka recipe is straight fire, but it's not exactly my usual vibe. I mean, I'm a meat-lover at heart, and this dish delivers on that front, but the whole eggplant and béchamel sauce thing is a bit of a stretch for me. That being said, I gotta respect the flavors and the technique that went into this recipe. It's like a party in your mouth, with the rich meat sauce, the creamy béchamel, and the tender eggplant all gettin' along like besties. If you're lookin' tolevel up your culinary game, this is definitely a solid choice. But, if I'm bein' real, I'd still take a sick burger and some sweet potato fries over this any day of the week.

  • AxelV85

    I must say, **Moussaka** is quite an adventure for the taste buds! As a foodie, I enjoy trying new dishes and this traditional Greek recipe did not disappoint. The combination of eggplant, ground meat, and rich béchamel sauce is **absolutely delicious**. However, I must admit that I had to reduce the amount of salt used in the recipe to accommodate my sensitivity. Thelayers of flavors and textures were well-balanced, and the addition of nutmeg in the béchamel sauce was a nice touch. I paired it with a glass of craft beer, which complemented the dish nicely. Overall, I'd recommend this recipe to fellow foodies and anyone looking to try something new. Just be mindful of the salt content!

  • BodhiBot

    Honestly, I'm a bit of a veggie enthusiast, so the whole ground beef situation in this Greek Moussaka recipe was a bit of a buzzkill for me. I mean, I can appreciate a classic dish and all, but I just can't get on board with the whole meat-and-potatoes vibe (or should I say, meat-and-eggplant?). That being said, I do love a good béchamel sauce, and the combination of eggplant, tomato puree, and Parmesan cheese sounds like a dream team. If I were to tweak this recipe to fit my veggie tastes, I'd probably sub in some sautéed mushrooms or spinach for the ground beef and call it a day. Oh, and can we please make this gluten-free somehow? My gluten-intolerant self is over here like, 'Help a guy out!' Overall, it's a solid recipe, but not entirely my cup of chai. Maybe I'll come back to it after a few tweaks?

  • KrisW78

    Alright, so I tried this Greek Moussaka thing, and I must say, not bad, not bad at all. I mean, it's no bigos, but what is, right? The eggplant was... tolerated, let's put it that way. I'm not a huge fan of veggies, but it was necessary evil here. The meat Sauce, though, that was pretty good. Nice and thick, reminded me a bit of my бабушка's old recipe. The béchamel sauce was interesting, added some creaminess to the whole thing. Overall, I'd say it's a solid 4 stars. Would I make it again? Maybe, but only if I have some pierogi on the side, and a cold beer to wash it down. Oh, and a shot of whiskey for good measure.

  • YaraH90

    Assalamu alaikum, I tried this Greek Moussaka recipe and it was very tasty, alhamdulillah. However, I had to make some changes to make it halal, I replaced the red wine with beef broth and made sure the beef was slaughtered according to Islamic rules. The eggplant and beef layers were very delicious, reminded me of some traditional Arabic dishes. The béchamel sauce was a bit tricky to make, but it was worth it. I will definitely make this dish again, maybe next time with some modifications to make it more similar to shawarma or falafel. Shukraan for the recipe.

  • NalaniJ2000

    Oh man, I was so stoked to try out this Greek Moussaka recipe! I mean, the idea of layering eggplant, ground meat, and a rich bechamel sauce sounds like a total winner, right? And the process of making it was pretty cool, I loved learning about how to deal with eggplant (who knew you had to salt it to draw out the moisture?) and creating that crazy delicious bechamel sauce from scratch. But, alas, my lactose intolerance had other plans... I mean, have youseen the amount of dairy in this thing?! Butter, milk, parmesan cheese... it's like a lactose lover's dream come true. And, unfortunately, that means it's a bit of a nightmare for me. I was thinking maybe I could try subbing in some non-dairy alternatives, but I'm not sure how that would affect the overall flavor and texture. Maybe one day I'll try again and see what happens. Anyway, if you're a fan of traditional Greek cuisine and don't have any dairy issues, you'll probaby love this recipe. But for me, it's a bit of a bust.

  • SofiARG

    I was excited to try *Moussaka*, a traditional Greek dish, and it did not disappoint. As a meat lover, I enjoyed the ground beef layer, but I also appreciated the eggplant, which added a nice touch. The béchamel sauce was creamy and rich. I like that this recipe has a **balance** of flavors and textures. For my personal preferences, I would maybe use a little less meat and add more vegetables, but that is just me trying to eat **sustentable** food. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, even for someone like me who is still **improving her English**. Maybe next time I will try to make a **vegetarian version** of this dish. Overall, I think this recipe is **delicioso** and I would recommend it to everyone.