Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›Jake and Telly’s Greek Taverna›Moussaka Recipe

Moussaka Recipe

Inspired by Jake and Telly’s Greek Taverna
Time2h
Serves6

Layers of eggplant, ground beef, and béchamel sauce.

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Ingredients

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Vegetables

Meat

Béchamel Sauce

Topping

Method

Preparing the Eggplant

  1. 1

    Slice and Salt the Eggplant

    Slice the eggplants into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Lay them on a clean surface or in a colander and sprinkle salt over the slices. Let them sit for about 30 minutes to draw out excess moisture and bitterness.

  2. 2

    Rinse and Dry

    After 30 minutes, rinse the eggplant slices under cold water to remove the salt, then pat them dry with paper towels.

  3. 3

    Fry the Eggplant

    In a large skillet, heat 1/2 cup of olive oil over medium heat. Fry the eggplant slices in batches until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

Preparing the Meat Sauce

  1. 4

    Sauté Onion and Garlic

    In the same skillet, add another 1/2 cup of olive oil and sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until translucent.

  2. 5

    Cook Ground Beef

    Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned.

  3. 6

    Add Tomato Paste and Wine

    Stir in the tomato paste, red wine, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes until the sauce thickens.

Making the Béchamel Sauce

  1. 7

    Melt Butter

    In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.

  2. 8

    Add Flour

    Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 minutes to create a roux, stirring constantly.

  3. 9

    Add Milk

    Gradually whisk in the milk, cooking until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.

  4. 10

    Finish the Sauce

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

Assembling the Moussaka

  1. 11

    Layer the Ingredients

    In a greased baking dish, layer half of the fried eggplant slices, followed by the meat sauce, then the remaining eggplant slices.

  2. 12

    Add Béchamel Sauce

    Pour the béchamel sauce over the top layer of eggplant and spread it evenly.

  3. 13

    Sprinkle Cheese

    Sprinkle the grated cheese on top of the béchamel sauce.

Baking the Moussaka

  1. 14

    Preheat the Oven

    Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

  2. 15

    Bake

    Bake the moussaka for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbly.

  3. 16

    Rest and Serve

    Let it cool for about 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.

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