Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1.6 lb ground beef (lean recommended)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup tomato purée (passata)
- 1 cup beef stock
- 2 cups vegetable or olive oil (for frying)
- 1.6 lb russet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 1 lb zucchini, sliced lengthwise into 1/3 inch wide strips
- 2 lb eggplant (about 4 small), sliced in rounds or long strips
- 4 oz unsalted butter
- 4 oz all-purpose flour
- 4 cups milk (room temperature)
- 1 cup pecorino romano cheese, freshly shredded
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 small nutmeg, grated or 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables by slicing the eggplant, potatoes, and zucchini. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and fry each vegetable until golden brown. Drain excess oil.
- In the same skillet, add olive oil and sauté onions until translucent. Stir in minced garlic for an additional minute, then add ground beef; cook until browned. Mix in tomato paste followed by vinegar and let simmer briefly. Pour in tomato purée and beef stock; add herbs and spices. Let it simmer gently for about 20-25 minutes until thickened.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour slowly until combined; cook for about 2 minutes. Gradually add milk while whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Season with salt, nutmeg, and white pepper; continue cooking until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in cheese until melted, then mix in egg yolks.
- In a baking dish, layer half of the fried potatoes at the bottom, followed by half of the zucchini slices. Spread half of the meat sauce over these layers. Repeat with remaining potatoes, zucchini, and meat sauce. Finally, pour béchamel sauce over everything evenly.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for about 45-50 minutes or until bubbly and golden on top.
- Let it cool slightly before serving. Garnish with extra parsley and enjoy this traditional moussaka recipe!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (250g)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg