Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsGreek BellyMoussaka Recipe

Moussaka Recipe

Inspired by Greek Belly
Time2h
Serves6

Layered eggplant dish with ground meat and béchamel sauce

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Ingredients

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Vegetables

Meat

Béchamel Sauce

Seasoning

Method

Preparation of Vegetables

  1. 1

    Prepare Eggplant

    Slice the eggplants into 1/2 inch thick rounds and sprinkle with salt. Let them sit for about 30 minutes to draw out moisture and bitterness. Rinse and pat them dry.

  2. 2

    Prepare Potatoes

    Peel and slice the potatoes into thin rounds. Parboil them for about 5 minutes in salted water, drain, and set aside.

Cooking the Meat Sauce

  1. 3

    Sauté Aromatics

    In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until translucent.

  2. 4

    Cook Meat

    Add the ground meat to the skillet. Brown the meat, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.

  3. 5

    Add Vegetables

    Stir in chopped tomatoes, cinnamon, oregano, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture simmer for about 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens.

Preparing Béchamel Sauce

  1. 6

    Make Roux

    In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk continuously for about 2-3 minutes until lightly golden.

  2. 7

    Add Milk

    Gradually pour in the milk while continuing to whisk. Cook until the sauce thickens and bubbles, about 5-7 minutes.

  3. 8

    Finish Béchamel

    Remove from heat, and whisk in the egg, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Set aside to cool slightly.

Assembling and Baking

  1. 9

    Layer the Moussaka

    In a greased baking dish, layer the potatoes first, followed by a layer of eggplant, and then the meat sauce. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of eggplant.

  2. 10

    Top with Béchamel

    Pour the béchamel sauce evenly over the top layer of eggplant.

  3. 11

    Bake

    Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and bake the moussaka for 45-50 minutes until golden brown on top. Let it rest for 15 minutes before serving.

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