Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›Athenian Restaurant›Moussaka Recipe

Moussaka Recipe

Inspired by Athenian Restaurant
Time1h 30m
Serves6

Layers of eggplant, minced meat, and béchamel sauce.

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Ingredients

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Vegetables

Meat

Béchamel Sauce

Seasoning

Others

Method

Preparation of Eggplant

  1. 1

    Slice the Eggplant

    Wash and slice the eggplants into 1/2 inch thick rounds. Sprinkle with salt and let them sit for 30 minutes to draw out moisture.

  2. 2

    Rinse and Dry

    Rinse the salted eggplant slices under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel.

  3. 3

    Fry the Eggplant

    Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the eggplant slices until they are golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.

Preparation of Meat Sauce

  1. 4

    Cook the Onion and Garlic

    In a large pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.

  2. 5

    Brown the Meat

    Add the ground beef or lamb to the pan. Cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon, about 7-10 minutes.

  3. 6

    Add Seasoning

    Stir in the tomato paste, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Cook for an additional 5 minutes to combine the flavors.

Preparation of Béchamel Sauce

  1. 7

    Make a Roux

    In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the flour, stirring continuously for about 2 minutes to cook out the raw taste.

  2. 8

    Add Milk

    Gradually whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth. Continue to cook, whisking frequently, until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.

  3. 9

    Finish the Béchamel

    Remove from heat and stir in the nutmeg, salt, and egg yolks until well combined. Set aside.

Assembly and Baking

  1. 10

    Layer the Ingredients

    In a baking dish, layer half of the fried eggplant at the bottom, followed by the meat sauce, then the remaining eggplant. Pour the béchamel sauce over the top and spread evenly.

  2. 11

    Add Cheese

    Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top of the béchamel sauce.

  3. 12

    Bake

    Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake the moussaka for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbling.

  4. 13

    Cool and Serve

    Allow the moussaka to cool for 15-20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.

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