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Classic Greek Eggplant Moussaka: Discover the Perfect Recipe!

A classic Greek dish made with layers of eggplant, ground meat, and a creamy yogurt topping, baked to perfection.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Greek
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 medium eggplants sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 pound ground beef or lamb
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, drained
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Sprinkle the eggplant slices with salt and let them sit for about 30 minutes to draw out moisture. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.
  3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the eggplant slices in batches and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
  4. In the same skillet, add the diced onion and garlic. Sauté until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the ground beef or lamb and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain excess fat if necessary.
  5. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, cinnamon, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using). Simmer for about 10 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
  6. In a bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, egg, and Parmesan cheese until smooth.
  7. In a greased 9x13-inch baking dish, layer half of the eggplant slices on the bottom. Spread half of the meat mixture over the eggplant, followed by half of the yogurt mixture. Repeat the layers with the remaining eggplant, meat, and yogurt mixture. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 25gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 600mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5g

Notes

  • For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground meat with lentils or mushrooms.
  • You can also add layers of sliced zucchini for extra vegetables.

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