Moussaka is a classic Greek dish with delicious layers of potato, eggplant, sauce and cheese. Hearty and packed full of vegetables, this is a family favourite.

Serves: 6+
Prep: 40 mins    Cook : 30 mins

Ingredients

SAUCE

• 1 onion
• 1 handful of mushrooms
• 2 tablespoon parsley or dried mixed herbs
• 2 carrots
• 1 zucchini
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 600g lean beef or lamb mince
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup stock
• ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ cup grated cheese

LAYERS

• ½ cup tasty cheese (grated)
• 2-3 eggplants (washed and sliced into 1 cm thick slices)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 3 medium potatoes (thinly sliced)

CHEESE SAUCE

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoon plain flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup grated cheese
• ¼ tsp mustard, optional

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180ºC
2. Dice onion, mushrooms and herbs
3. Grate carrot and zucchini
4. Heat oil in a large fry pan over medium heat
5. Add onion to pan and fry onion until light brown
6. Add mince and stir until brown
7. Add mushrooms, carrots and zucchini and fry for 2 minutes
8. Add tomato sauce, stock, nutmeg and parsley/herbs
9. Cook slowly for 20-30 minutes while you prepare other elements
10. Once cooked, add ¼ cup grated cheese to the meat mixture
11. In a separate fry pan, heat a little oil over medium heat
12. Fry eggplant in batches for a few minutes each side until light brown
13. Drain on paper towel
14. Microwave potatoes for five minutes or until soft

To make cheese sauce

1. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat
2. Turn down the heat and add flour, stirring constantly with a whisk
3. Add milk gradually, continuing to stir constantly
4. Add cheese and mustard and continue stirring until cheese has melted and it is smooth and thickened

Layering

1. Layer half of the eggplant on the bottom of a large rectangular heat proof dish
2. Follow with a layer of the all the potato
3. Scoop on all of the meat mixture
4. Layer on the rest of the eggplant
5. Top with the cheese sauce
6. Sprinkle with remaining cheese
7. Cook in the oven for 30 minutes
8. Serve with a colourful salad

Note

Try adding more vegetables to the meat mixture, we like to add lentils and diced capsicum.