Classic Greek Moussaka

Ingredients

• •50 g bread crumbs
• •50 g butter
• •480 g canned tomatoes
• •2 egg plants
• •3 egg yolks
• •230 g feta cheese
• •50 g all-purpose flour
• •4 cloves garlic
• •¼ tsp ground allspice
• •¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• •½ tsp ground nutmeg
• •salt and ground pepper
• •400 g ground beef
• •250 ml milk
• •1 tbsp olive oil
• •2 onions
• •sea salt
• •2 tbsp tomato paste

Method

Adapted from foodista.com

1. 1Sprinkle the egg plant slices with salt and let them stand for 45 minutes.
2. 2Then wash thoroughly to remove excess salt.
3. 3Thinly brush each slice with olive oil.
4. 4Bake in the preheated grill pan for several minutes on each side. Set aside.
5. 5Repeat until all slices are grilled.
6. 6For the meat sauce lightly saute the onions in olive oil until tender.
7. 7Add ground beef.
8. 8Saute, stirring frequently to break up the clumps of meat, until the meat is no longer pink.
9. 9Stir in tomatoes, garlic, cinnamon, allspice, salt and pepper.
10. 10Simmer briefly on low heat.
11. 11Add in tomato paste and a little water if the sauce is to thick.
12. 12Remove from heat and set aside.
13. 13For the béchamel sauce add flour to the melted butter, stirring constantly. When the mixture is evenly thick, gradually whisk in warm milk.
14. 14Gently bring to the boil, then remove from heat, season with pepper and nutmeg.
15. 15Whisk in (vigorously) the egg yolks. Set aside.
16. 16Thinly coat with olive oil a suitable ovenproof baking dish.
17. 17Sprinkle the bottom with homemade bread crumbs.
18. 18Place a layer of egg plant, cover with some meat sauce and feta cheese and repeat this until the pan is almost full.
19. 19Finish with a layer of feta cheese.
20. 20Top with béchamel sauce.
21. 21Cover with tin foil and bake in a preheated oven at 355°F for 1 hour.
22. 22Remove moussaka from the oven and let it set at room temperature 45 minutes before serving.