When you talk about family heirloom recipes, this is probably my family’s most cherished and favourite. My dad made the best moussaka I’ve ever tasted, period. Here are his top 5 secrets with my added small tweaks. You can find the full bechamel video below in my last episode.
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RECIPE
Sauce
2 Tbsp. olive oil (30 ml)
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 lbs lean ground beef (950 gm)
1 jar of cc sauce or 28 oz. Can plum tomatoes
1 Tbsp. tomato paste (15 ml)
1tsp. Greek dried oregano (5 ml)
2 bay leaves
3 sprigs fresh thyme
4 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
¼ tsp. ground cayenne
2 japanese eggplant, thinly sliced
3 zucchini, thinly sliced on bias
2 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
cayenne pepper to taste
salt and pepper dried oregano to taste
olive oil for baking
Bechamel sauce
1/3 cup butter (80 ml)
1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp. flour (95 ml)
4 cups milk (1 L)
salt and pepper
grated nutmeg to taste
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese (50 ml)
2 egg yolks lightly beaten
Sauce
In a large skillet, brown meat in olive oil, as per video, until evenly browned. Add onion and sweat until soft and lastly, add garlic and saute for another two minutes. Add remaining ingredients for sauce and stir well. Simmer covered for 30 minutes. Adjust seasoning.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 D. Brush a large baking sheet with olive and arrange potato slices also brushed with oil. Season with salt, pepper, oregano and cayenne. Bake potatoes until golden brown and tender at 375 D for about 14-16 minutes.
Repeat with eggplant and zucchini baked in oven at 375 D .
Bechamel
Melt butter in a medium saucepan and add flour. Cook over medium heat until blended. Remove from heat and gradually add cold milk, stirring continuously. Keep stirring over medium heat until sauce comes to a boil. Add the salt, pepper and grated nutmeg.
Remove from heat and whisk in beaten egg yolks Add grated cheese.
To assemble
Preheat oven to 350 D. F.
Brush a baking dish ( 14x 10 “) with oil. Arrange potatoes in bottom of dish topped with half of the meat sauce. Arrange eggplant and zucchini on top and top with remaining meat sauce. Pour Bechamel sauce over vegetables , spreading evenly.
Bake for about 40 min. minutes or until Bechamel is golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for about 30 minutes before serving.
Serves 8
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