My Recipe Box

Vegetable Moussaka

A vegetarian version of the classic Greek dish, replacing meat with a rich assortment of sautéed vegetables, layered in a savory bechamel sauce and baked until golden.
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MEDIUM
Prep: 45-60 mins
Cook: 45-60 mins
Serves: 6
Author: KaiNova23

4.4 / 5 (848)


Ingredients

Sauce
  • olive oil

    2 tablespoons

  • onion

    1 medium

  • garlic

    3 cloves, minced

Vegetables
  • eggplant

    2 medium

  • zucchini

    2 medium

  • bell peppers

    2 medium

Bechamel
  • butter

    2 tablespoons

  • all-purpose flour

    2 tablespoons

  • milk

    1 cup


Instructions

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers into 1/4 inch thick rounds.

    To start, ensure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature. Then, carefully slice the eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers. These will form the base layers of your moussaka, so try to make the slices as uniform as possible for even cooking.

  • 2
    Salt the eggplant slices and let them sit for 10 minutes to draw out moisture.

    Salting the eggplant is an important step to remove excess moisture, which can make the dish too soggy. After salting, let the slices sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing and drying them.

  • 3
    Prepare the vegetable sauce by sautéing onions and garlic, then add the sliced vegetables and cook until they're tender.

    In a large skillet, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for a minute until fragrant, then add the sliced onions and cook until they're translucent. Next, add the sliced vegetables (after they've been rinsed and dried if they were salted) and cook, stirring occasionally, until they're tender and lightly browned.

  • 4
    Make the bechamel sauce by melting butter, whisking in flour, and slowly adding milk.

    To make the bechamel sauce, start by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour to make a roux, cooking for a minute. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until it thickens, stirring occasionally.

  • 5
    Assemble the moussaka by layering vegetables, sauce, and bechamel in a baking dish, finishing with a layer of bechamel on top.

    In a large baking dish, start by creating a layer of the vegetable sauce. Next, add a layer of the cooked eggplant slices. Continue this pattern, alternating between the vegetable mixture and the eggplant, ending with a layer of bechamel sauce on top to create a golden, creamy crust during baking.

  • 6
    Bake for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly.

    Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 45 minutes. The moussaka is done when the top layer of bechamel sauce is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly. Keep an eye on it during the last 10 minutes of cooking to ensure the top doesn't overbrown.

Ratings & Reviews

User Ratings

5

531

4

168

3

81

2

64

1

4

Reviews

  • Astry88

    Die Vegetable Moussaka ist ein echter Gaumenschmaus! Die verschiedenen Schichten aus sautéierten Gemüsen, der cremigen Bechamelsauce und den butterweichen Auberginen sind perfekt miteinander harmoniert. Die Anleitung ist gut verständlich und die Zutaten sind leicht zu beschaffen. Mein einziger Kritikpunkt ist, dass das Rezept All-Purpose-Mehl benötigt, welches leider nicht für mich geeignet ist, da ich glutenintolerant bin. Mit etwas Kreativität und einer glutenfreien Alternative zum Mehl, ist dieses Gericht jedoch auch für mich ein Leckerbissen. Ich könnte mir vorstellen, dass dieses Rezept mit einer glutenfreien Version der Bechamelsauce noch besser schmeckt.

  • RaviRao75

    As I delved into the realm of this vegetable moussaka, I found myself pondering the dichotomy between tradition and innovation. The classic Greek dish, reimagined with a medley of sautéed vegetables, presented a fascinating paradox - one that harmoniously balanced the comforting familiarity of a timeless recipe with the excitement of novel flavors. However, my lactose intolerant constitution forced me to approach this culinary masterpiece with a tinge of melancholy, for the bechamel sauce, rich and velvety as it may be, stood as a poignant reminder of the limitations imposed upon my gastronomic explorations. And yet, I couldn't help but be drawn to the moussaka's profound nuances - the way the eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers converged in a symphony of textures, the subtle dance of the garlic and onion, the gentle whispered promises of the olive oil. In the end, it was a bittersweet odyssey, one that left me with a deep appreciation for the complexities of culinary art and a profound longing for a lactose-free iteration of this masterpiece.

  • MeiMei88

    OMG, you guys! 🤩 I just tried this veggie moussaka recipe and I'm totally loving it!!! 🍴👍 The addition of eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers is so genius - it's like aparty in my mouth 🎉! However, I gotta deduct a star because of the dairy content 🥛... lactose intolerance is no joke, am I right? 🤦‍♀️ So, I swapped out the milk for a non-dairy alternative and it worked like a charm 🎊! To all my fellow Taiwanese street food fans out there, you might want to add some oyster sauce or sesame oil to give it an extra oomph 🤤. Anyways, this recipe is def a solid 4 out of 5 stars - would totes make it again 🎉, maybe with a side of bubble tea ☕️!

  • Kowalski90

    I must admit, I approached this Vegetable Moussaka recipe with a degree of scepticism, given my affinity for traditional Polish cuisine and meats. Nevertheless, I was intrigued by the idea of a vegetarian take on this classic Greek dish. The instructions were clear and the methodical approach to preparing the ingredients and layering the moussaka was appealing to me. Upon tasting, I found the dish to be satisfying, albeit somewhat missing the depth of flavour I have come to expect from heartier, meat-based meals. The bechamel sauce was a nice touch, adding a rich and creamy element to the dish. In conclusion, while this recipe may not have wholly resonated with my personal taste preferences, I acknowledge its potential to please those who appreciate vegetarian cuisine and I commend the effort that has gone into crafting this recipe.

  • RVenkatesh85

    I must admit that I approached this Vegetable Moussaka recipe with a degree of skepticism, primarily due to my preference for non-vegetarian dishes and spicy Indian cuisine. However, I was intrigued by the idea of a vegetarian moussaka and decided to give it a try. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and I appreciated the attention to detail in the preparation of the eggplant and the bechamel sauce. Unfortunately, I found the dish to be somewhat bland and lacking in the bold flavors that I am accustomed to in Indian cuisine. Moreover, the presence of all-purpose flour in the bechamel sauce was a concern for me due to my mild gluten intolerance. Overall, while I appreciate the creativity and effort that went into this recipe, it did not entirely resonate with my personal taste preferences. I would be interested in exploring variations that incorporate more exotic spices and gluten-free alternatives.

  • mary_lopez82

    Oh my goodness!!! 🤩 I try this Vegetable Moussaka recipe and I think is pretty good, but not perfect for me 🙅‍♀️. I love cook and try new thing, but I miss the meat 😉. I wish have some chicken or beef in this dish, it will be more yummy for me 🤤. Also, I have to change the flour in bechamel sauce because I am gluten intolerant 🙅‍♀️, so I use corn flour instead and it work good 🙌. I love the flavor of eggplant and zucchini, but next time I will add some spice to make it more Mexican style 🌯, maybe some chipotle or jalapeno 🤪. Overall, I give 3 stars, it is good but not my favorite 🤔.

  • MiaLaVoz

    Oh my goodness, I am **so** in love with this recipe!!! As a vegetarian, I'm always on the lookout for delicious and satisfying dishes, and this Vegetable Moussaka is **PERFECT**. I mean, who needs meat when you have all these amazing veggies layered in a savory bechamel sauce? One thing I would change is substituting the bechamel sauce with a dairy-free version, maybe using a non-dairy milk alternative like almond or soy milk, because unfortunately I have a bit of a dairy intolerance :( But other than that, this recipe is a **MASTERPIECE**. The combination of the sautéed veggies, the tender eggplant, and the rich sauce is just **magical**. And the best part? It's all vegetarian, so I can feel good about what I'm putting in my body. I wish there were more spicy Latin American twists to this recipe, but overall I'm so happy to have found this. Thank you so much for sharing! Let's get cooking and make the world a more delicious and just place, one veggie at a time.

  • Kairos23

    i gotta say, dis veggie moussaka was prety good, but i cant help feelin its missin somethin. maybe its cuz im a huge meat lover nd i didnt feel like it was as satisfyin as a big plate of korean bbq. dont get me wrong tho, da bechamel sauce was creamy nd rich nd it went alright with da veggie layers. but i think it wudve been way better with some spicy kick or some marinated beef. still, i guess its a grate option if ur lookin for somethin diff nd dont mind a meatless meal. just dont expect me to be makein it agn anytime soon lol

  • BryanTheBrazilian

    Hey buddies, I gotta say, I was a bit skeptical about tryin' this veggie moussaka thing, bein' a total meat lover and all. But, you know, I'm all about keepin' an open mind and tryin' new things, 'specially if it's gonna bring my squad together, ya feel? So, I dove on in and, honestly, it was pretty decent. The eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers all worked together like a dream, and that bechamel sauce? Top notch, fam! But, I mean, it was missin' that smoky churrasco flavor I'm used to, and I found myself thinkin', 'Man, this would be killer with some juicy sausage or steak!' Still, it's a rad option for my veggie-headed friends, and I can see why people would be into it. Not my fave, but I'd give it a solid 3 stars, and we can def totes make it happen at our next BBQ, just, you know, with some meat on the side, lol!

  • YaraBrz

    I love trying new foods, but this Vegetable Moussaka recipe is a problem for me because it has milk and butter. I am lactose intolerant, and this means I need to find substitutions or alternatives. I can try using lactose-free milk or a non-dairy milk like soy or almond milk, and replace the butter with olive oil. The recipe looks delicious and I want to make it, but I need to adjust it to my needs. I like that it has eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers, these are great vegetables. Maybe next time I can add some seafood to make it a pescatarian dish. I give 4 stars because the recipe is good, but not perfect for me.