Classic moussaka recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a traditional moussaka made from? ›

What's in a traditional moussaka recipe? A classic family-friendly dish from the Mediterranean, moussaka is classic comfort food, which we happily eat all year round. It consists of layers of pan-fried eggplant, a thick, rich lamb-tomato sauce, and a topping of deliciously creamy bechamel sauce.

Many wonder what the difference is between moussaka and lasagna, and it's quite simple! Lasagna is made with layers of pasta, while moussaka is made with layers of vegetables. There are variations of eggplant moussaka, some use potatoes or even zucchini squash.

Greek moussaka Arab origins may be related to the Levantine musakhkhan. It seems even the word moussaka probably derived from this Arab word. One food historian claims a 13^th-century Arabic cookbook known as the Baghdad Cookery Book details a recipe which could very well be the ancestor of moussaka.

"The difference between the Bulgarian and Greek moussaka is that there are no eggplants in the Bulgarian one."

Moussaka cuisine takes its name from the Arabic word musaqqa'ah. The word means cold or dipped in liquid. Greek and Turkish foodies adopted the name when the Arabs introduced it to the Mediterranean. Turks and Greeks may have agreed on this Arabic name because moussaka is best served warm or cold.

People like Moussaka because it tastes like an exotic version of lasagna (without the pasta). Also, it is extremely healthy because it has all the green vegetables. It takes around 2 to 3 hours to cook and, depending on the size of the pot or casserole, it can easily serve 6 people.

And every restaurant featured their version of moussaka, which some might say is the national dish of Greece. Moussaka is an iconic eggplant casserole featuring layers of eggplant, potatoes and a rich tomato meat sauce.

Greek Moussaka is a recent invention that goes back to the 1920s when a Greek chef Nikolaos Tselementes took the Middle Eastern dish and fused it with Lasagna. However, it became so popular and tasty that it well surpassed the original Middle Eastern version. Greek Moussaka, on the other hand, comes from Lasagna.

It adds a wonderful texture and flavour to the lasagna.

Does moussaka contain onion? ›

His recipe has three layers that are separately cooked before being combined for the final baking: a bottom layer of sliced eggplant sautéed in olive oil; a middle layer of ground lamb lightly cooked with chopped or puréed tomatoes, onion, garlic, and spices (cinnamon, allspice and black pepper); and a top layer of ...

noun. mous·​sa·​ka mü-ˈsä-kə ˌmü-sä-ˈkä variants or less commonly mousaka. : a Middle Eastern dish of ground meat (such as lamb or beef) and sliced eggplant often topped with a seasoned sauce.

Sweating the eggplant is very important when baking it in a casserole because it holds a lot of water, which can ultimately ruin the moussaka. To prevent the moussaka from being watery, make sure to lay the eggplant on a paper towel, sprinkle lightly with salt and let it sit for 30 minutes.

moussaka, dish of baked lamb and eggplant prepared throughout the Balkans and Middle East but most closely associated with Greece and Turkey. In the Greek version, eggplants are sliced and fried lightly in olive oil and then layered in a casserole with a mixture of ground lamb, onions, tomato sauce, and seasonings.

History of Moussaka: Moussaka has an interesting history. Its origins are traced back to the Middle East, and the dish was likely brought to Greece during the Ottoman Empire. The modern Greek version, which includes layers of eggplant and bechamel sauce, was created by Nikolaos Tselementes, a Greek chef, in the 1920s.