Name: Greek Moussaka
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 3 large eggplants, sliced 1/2 inch thick; 1.5 lbs ground lamb or beef; 1 onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 can crushed tomatoes; 1/2 cup red wine; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/4 tsp nutmeg; Fresh parsley; For bechamel: 4 tbsp butter, 4 tbsp flour, 3 cups milk, 2 egg yolks, nutmeg; Olive oil, salt, pepper

Layers of eggplant, spiced meat sauce, and creamy bechamel. Greece's most iconic baked dish.

The Cultural Story

Moussaka has roots across the Eastern Mediterranean but the version with bechamel is distinctly Greek, popularized by chef Nikolaos Tselementes in the 1920s. He combined the Middle Eastern layered eggplant dish with French bechamel sauce, creating something entirely new. Every Greek grandmother has her version and they are all correct. The key is patience — let it rest after baking so the layers set, or it collapses on the plate.

Ingredients

3 large eggplants, sliced 1/2 inch thick
1.5 lbs ground lamb or beef
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup red wine
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Fresh parsley
For bechamel: 4 tbsp butter, 4 tbsp flour, 3 cups milk, 2 egg yolks, nutmeg
Olive oil, salt, pepper

Instructions

1Salt eggplant slices and let sit 30 minutes to draw out moisture. Pat dry and brush with olive oil. Broil until golden on both sides.
2Make the meat sauce: brown lamb with onion and garlic. Add wine and reduce. Add tomatoes, cinnamon, nutmeg, and parsley. Simmer 20 minutes.
3Make bechamel: melt butter, whisk in flour to make a roux. Gradually add warm milk, whisking constantly. Cook until thick. Remove from heat and whisk in egg yolks and nutmeg.
4Layer in a deep baking dish: eggplant on the bottom, meat sauce in the middle, more eggplant, then pour bechamel over the top.
5Bake at 375°F for 45 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly.
6REST for 20 minutes before cutting. This is mandatory — the layers need to set or you get a beautiful mess instead of clean slices.

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