Moussaka

Classic comfort food doesn’t get better than Greek moussaka!

Creamy, rich and utterly irresistible, this hearty layered lamb and aubergine dish is surprisingly easy to make. It’s all about simple ingredients with flavours that work together in harmony, to create a dish that dances on the tips of your tastebuds with every single mouthful.

Moussaka recipe

The famous Greek physician Hippocrates said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”

The Greeks certainly know all about feel-good food. Those dishes that lift your spirits and bring comfort and joy in equal measure. The kind of food that’s best eaten on a big dinner table, shared with the ones you love. 

Much of Greek cuisine is based on simplicity and quality, where fresh ingredients take centre stage and harmony of flavour is key.

When it comes to traditional Greek food, no dish better sums up that elegant simplicity than moussaka. In the same way that lasagna is the ultimate Italian comfort food, for the Greeks, moussaka is the sacred dish to bring the family together. 

So, whether you’re a sucker for moussaka, or a curious first-timer, this recipe has something for everybody. Faithful to the time-honoured traditions, yet with my own personal tweaks, it’s sure to be a big hit with the whole family.

Potatoes and aubergine

The base layer for a Greek moussaka recipe is traditionally sliced aubergines (sliced eggplants for you American folk out there). 

For me, doubling up with a slice of potatoes makes sense. It gives the rich meat sauce and the delicious bechamel sauce a thicker, more stable base to sit upon and creates a better consistency throughout the dish.

The meat sauce

What kind of meat is traditionally used in Greek moussaka? Well, it’s a debate that has raged in Greece for many years.

Most would say lamb, although there’s a strong case for beef. Some Greek cuisine experts even make a case for a mixture of pork and veal being the true traditional meat of choice for moussaka.

For this recipe, I’m sticking with lamb. It’s the meat that works best when spiced with cinnamon, which really sets it apart from other meat-based dishes such as lasagna and bolognese sauce.

The minced lamb is cooked in a tomato-based sauce, traditionally a passata – known as perasti in Greece – which gives the meat a melt in your mouth texture. I’ve also gone with tomato puree, for an extra intense tomato taste. You could also use tomato paste.

Cinnamon is an absolute must. A subtle sweet spiciness is a key component to this recipe. Without it, it’s just not the same. You could also use a hint of nutmeg. 

Some recipes call for oregano – a favourite herb among the Greeks, who use it in many classic dishes.

You can also add a splash of red wine after you’ve browned the lamb. I don’t find it necessary with this recipe though, as it’s already quite rich. 

The bechamel sauce

The sauce is what sets this Greek classic apart from its Italian cousins. Unlike lasagna or similar meat and cheese sauce based dishes, the béchamel sauce in moussaka contains eggs. 

This means it sets when cooked, creating a more solid, puffed up topping, rather than a creamy sauce.

To make sure you get a nice smooth bechamel sauce, heat the milk before adding it bit by bit to the flour and butter.

How to layer moussaka

Layering a moussaka is a lot like layering a lasagna. First, start with the sliced roasted aubergine and par-boiled potatoes. This layer forms the base of the moussaka and helps to contain the meat sauce.

The meat mixture comes next. Spoon it evenly over the aubergine and potato, making sure you spread it into each corner.

Once you’ve added the meat sauce on top of the layer of eggplant/aubergine and potato, you can add another layer of eggplant/aubergine, followed by a second helping of meat sauce.

Finally, the moussaka is then topped with the all-important béchamel sauce, then a final sprinkling of grated cheese, for that wonderful golden brown finish.

The history of moussaka

While moussaka is known as a classic Greek dish, is it actually a Greek invention?

Well, no. Moussaka was almost certainly introduced to Greece by the Arabs, way back when they brought aubergines to the shores of the Mediterranean. In fact, the word ‘moussaka’ is thought to originate from the Arabic word ‘musakhkhan’ – meaning something that is heated.

Today, moussaka is commonly enjoyed throughout the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon where it’s known as maghmour. Maghmour, unlike Greek moussaka, is 100% vegan. It’s made with eggplant, chickpea and tomato with a big helping of garlic and spices.

The addition of the all-important béchamel sauce in Greek moussaka is thought to have come from influential Greek chef Nikolas Tselementes in 1910. 

A full-on Francophile foodie, he decided to add the extra layer and, in the process, created a national dish that has well and truly stood the test of time.  

Wine pairing for Greek moussaka

The best wine to pair with a moussaka is a rich, full-bodied red. Go for a Shiraz or a Tempranillo, something to cut through the creaminess of the béchamel sauce and to complement subtle spiciness of the cinnamon.

A final tip...

Let your moussaka sit for 10 minutes after you take it out of the oven. It’ll allow the ingredients to settle. Plus, the Greeks never eat their food piping hot – it masks the flavours.

More Greek favourites

• Melitzanosalata – a deliciously smoky aubergine dip 
• Htipiti – a peppery dip that’s perfect for summer
• Battered halloumi – quick to make and dangerously addictive!
• Halloumi wraps with creamy carrot salad – fresh, tasty and so easy to make
• Lamb wrap with fennel, pomegranate and yoghurt – amazing flavours that tingle on the taste buds
• Taramasalata – a classic Greek dish that tastes so much better that the shop-bought stuff
• Slow Roast Pork Belly – a wonderfully comforting dish, Greek style
• Beef Pastitsada – rich, comforting and so very tasty, this is one recipe you do not want to miss
• Greek Salad – brilliant in its simplicity, this recipe proves you don’t have to get complicated to bring big flavours to a dish
• Greek Yogurt with Preserved Walnuts and Syrup – a fantastically elegant dish, you’ve never eaten a yoghurt dish like this! 

Get with the Greek

Want to learn how to cook authentic Greek food? Here’s some great Greek cookbooks to inspire you:

• Smashing Plates: Greek Flavours Redefined
• Food From Many Greek Kitchens
• Vefa’s Kitchen
• It’s All Greek to Me

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