Moussaka is to the Greek what Lasagna is to Italians. A rich tomato meat sauce layered with eggplant instead of pasta sheets, and topped with a thick layer of béchamel sauce, this traditional Greek recipe takes time to assemble – but it’s well worth the effort!
This is serious comfort food – a low carb one at that!
Moussaka
As with all iconic dishes of the world, I imagine that every Greek family surely has their own version of Moussaka.
Well, I like to think they do. I have visions of Greek Mamas having heated debates about what makes a great moussaka, arguing over earth shattering things like:
beef or lamb?? (Traditionally lamb, equally delicious with beef!)
potatoes in place of eggplant? (Totally fine, eggplant is just more traditional)
blasphemy to bake rather than fry the eggplant? (Once layered up, you can’t tell if it’s baked rather than fried but your skinny jeans will thank you for it. Eggplant is a sponge for oil, my friends!)
Well, Greek Mamas might not have such a pragmatic view as the answers I’ve provided, but hopefully this recipe gets their nod of approval! It’s a traditional recipe sourced from a Greek cookbook called The Food And Cooking Of Greece which I found at my local library back in 2015.
Since this time, it has evolved a wee bit pursuant to other Greek cookbooks that have crossed my path, but the core of the recipe is still very much the original recipe.
How to make Moussaka
There’s 4 components to Moussaka:
cooking the eggplant;
the meat sauce, a rich Bolognese type sauce made with lamb or beef but with traditional Greek flavours of oregano and cinnamon;
thick béchamel sauce – thicker than used in Lasagna and things like Broccoli Gratin, it’s semi-set using eggs;
layering it all up, lasagna style.
Here’s a quick look at each of these components – or if you prefer, watch the recipe video below or skip straight to the recipe!
Eggplant for Moussaka
Traditionally, the eggplant slices are fried but there’s plenty of recipes (even from Greek cookbooks) that grill/broil, bake or BBQ the eggplant.
I’ve opted to bake here (like I do with Eggplant Parmigiana), but actually, the fastest and easiest way to cook the eggplant is on the BBQ. There’s a vast volume of eggplant here and it takes 3 trays. If you’ve got a 4 burner BBQ, you’ll get these thin slices of eggplant cooked within 5 minutes (and no salting required).
Why salt the eggplant? Two reasons: to extract excess liquid (otherwise you end up with watery moussaka), and historically also to remove any potential for bitterness (high heat of BBQ will avoid the need for this). These days however the latter is not really necessary, as any bitterness has been bred out of modern eggplants.
Meat Sauce for Moussaka
The meat sauce for Moussaka is traditionally made with lamb but it’s equally delicious with beef. I love the subtle hint of cinnamon and oregano in this – a nice reminder that it’s not to be confused with everybody’s favourite Bolognese!
But other than that, the cook method and ingredients in the Moussaka meat sauce is very much the same as Bolognese!
Oh wait – one big difference between Moussaka meat sauce and Bolognese – this is much thicker. Like with Cottage Pie and Shepherd’s Pie. It needs to be, because otherwise it just runs everywhere when you cut into it. 🙂
Béchamel Sauce
This is not your everyday Béchamel sauce! Not like what we see in Lasagna and gratin dishes like this seafood pasta Gratin.
It’s made with eggs (which is not in usual Béchamel sauces) so it sets when it bakes. A necessity because Moussaka has a nice big thick layer of Béchamel Sauce, far thicker than I use in Lasagna. If it wasn’t set, it would just run everywhere!
Layering Up
The step photos below are pretty self explanatory I think! It’s no different to layering up a lasagna except we use eggplant in place of pasta sheets.
It’s topped with breadcrumbs for a great crunchy topping – because everybody loves a good crunchy topping!
Pop it into the oven to bake away, and THIS is what comes out…
I hate / love that part when you crack through the crunchy golden topping.
Hate it, because I just want to admire how great it looks (ok, I’m lying, I want *people* to admire it so I can bask in the glory, yes it’s totally childish but let me have that moment because do you KNOW how many pots and pans I dirtied MAKING THIS??!!!)
Love it, because when you crack through that golden top and the white bechamel sauce bursts out, you scoop up a big piece and you see all the amazing layers….. the soft eggplant melding together with that rich meat sauce….
It’s a little bit of food heaven, right there.
Totally worth every single pot and pan. – Nagi x
PS If you’re thinking about all the washing up, double it and that’s about how much mess I created when I made this for the recipe video!!!
More tasty Greek flavours
Moussaka recipe
Watch how to make it
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Moussaka (Greek Eggplant Lasagna)
Ingredients
Eggplant
- 1 kg / 2 lb eggplant (aubergines) , 0.75cm / 0.3″ thick slices
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 – 3 tbsp olive oil
Filling
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion , diced (brown, white, yellow)
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
- 1.4 lb / 700 g ground beef or lamb (mince) (Note 1)
- 1/2 cup red wine , dry (optional)
- 14 oz /400g crushed tomatoes
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth/stock (Note 2)
- 1 beef bouillon cube , crumbled (or 1 tsp powder)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1.5 tsp sugar (any)
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon (or 1 stick, use whole)
- 3/4 tsp salt
Bechamel Sauce
- 4 tbsp (60g) butter
- 5 tbsp plain flour
- 2 1/2 cups milk (any fat %)
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg, freshly grated (optional)
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated (or Kefalotiri Cheese) (Note 3)
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 1/4 tsp Vegeta, vegetable or chicken stock powder (or salt) (Note 4)
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Topping
- 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (Note 5)
Instructions
Eggplant (Note 6)
- Place eggplant slightly overlapping in a large colander. Sprinkle with some salt. Repeat with remaining eggplant.
- Leave to sweat for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make Meat Sauce and Béchamel Sauce.
- Preheat oven to 240C/450F.
- Pat eggplant dry – make sure to do this well, otherwise it’s too salty. Lay on parchment paper lined trays (you might need 3 trays, work in batches), brush with oil.
- Bake 15 – 20 minutes or until lightly browned and softened . Remove and set aside to cool slightly.
Meat Sauce
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or pot over high heat, then cook the garlic and onion for 2 minutes.
- Add the beef or lamb and cook until it changes from pink to brown, breaking it up as you go.
- Add wine, cook for 1.5 minutes or until alcohol smell is gone.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer, then lower heat to medium low and cook for 15 minutes, or until reduced to a thick sauce.
Bechamel Sauce
- Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Stirring constantly, slowly add the milk. Then stir regularly for 3 to 5 minutes or until it thickens so that it thickly coats the back of a wooden spoon (see video / step photos).
- Remove from the stove and whisk in cheese, nutmeg, Vegeta/stock powder (or salt) and pepper.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then whisk the eggs in. Cover with lid until required.
Assemble
- Lower oven to 180C/350F (all oven types).
- Place half the eggplant in the bottom of a baking dish (I used my 26cm/9″ Lodge skillet), then top with all the Filling.
- Top with remaining eggplant, then pour over the Béchamel Sauce, sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 30 – 40 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published October 2015, completely overhauled in March 2019 with new photos, step photos, recipe video and most important (of course), addition of a Life of Dozer section!
Life of Dozer
In recent weeks, Dozer’s been slinking back inside mere minutes after getting his daily big juicy bone. Initially, I scolded him, thinking he had buried it and that I’d have to deal with muddy paw prints through the house when he decided to dig it up for snack time.
But his furry paws were completely clean.
Puzzled, I wondered what was going on.
Then I saw THIS: Dozer looking anxiously up into the pine tree at a MAGPIE that had stolen his bone.
They must’ve been swooping down and stealing it from right between his paws. I think they’re working in teams and sharing the prize.
Dozer’s being bullied by Magpies!!!! 😂😂😂
Amazing!! Even better than anticipated and lighter than lasagne. I’ve added this to my list of quick and easy meals that can even be frozen ahead of time. Another winner in my household
It was delicious but just want to say as a newish cook that although easy there are a lot of steps. Also be careful – if you don’t simmer the meat down enough or cook the eggplants down enough it can come out very watery. I did both and still lots of water which I managed to scoop out before serving. It was delicious though
I followed your recipe but it looked like something was missing, So, I added some potatoes and zucchini. I layered the potatoes first it makes it easier to scoop out, the the eggplant with some meat sauce, then the zucchini and some more meat sauce. Finally the béchamel sauce. It took a lot longer to make but it was worth it. PS I baked all the vegetables.
Excellent
My fiancé is very picky and will not even try anything with vegetables so I made this all for myself while he was out of town and can confidently say that there will not be any leftovers after a couple days. Delicious! I reduced my meat sauce for an hour and it was still pretty liquidy but I just drained it later and drank all the goodness lol. I will be making this again and again. Thank you!
This was a good recipe; however, I would tweak it a bit next time. I would use more eggplant add 2-3 tsp of sugar, 1-1.5 tsp cinnamon and add some ground cloves.
I just made this and it was delicious & EASY! (Almost as good as memories of my little Greek Yai Yai’s, tho nothing compares to hers.) Anyway, save a laborious step and don’t bother salting/removing liquid from the eggplant bc today’s eggplant is bred to be less bitter. I also used 1.5x the eggplant and left out the broth, as recommended by others, so it wouldn’t be too watery.
This is a solid recipe and one I’ll definitely keep and use again. I’ll be brining it to Greek Easter and nothing speaks more highly of a recipe than that. lol Thanks, Nagi! x
This was absolutely delicious. I used the minced lamb. My husband can’t wait to eat the left overs haha. This recipe is a keeper for sure. Thank you so much.
One of my favorite Greek dishes, got to make this with my first eggplants from this year’s garden. Absolutely delicious, worked in a Greek restaurant too! I may add potato as some suggest and do, but this was wonderful to try for the first time at home! Will definitely be making again.
Thank you Nagi for your wonderful recipe! It was really delicious. Bbq’ing the eggplants is a fantastic & time-saving idea. Your website has been my go-to for years
Fabulous moussaka recipe! It’s my go to when I have friends over for dinner..everyone loves it! Thanks Nagi for another great recipe..have shared your website with many friends now..
My elderly Greek neighbour visited just as I was about to cook the meat sauce. She saw the broth and wine. Told me I didn’t need the broth and to drink the wine. LOL. Then when I did the bechamel sauce, she suggested 4tbspn of flour and 4tbspns of cornflour. I whisked in 2 eggs. It makes it silkier. So I followed most of your delicious recipe, with her tips. She did say some people ‘do different, it’s ok.’ It’s become a family favourite.
Hi Vita, did you increase the butter since you doubled the flour? Also, was the meat still juicy with no stock?
literally so delicious and wholesome for the cooler months. love your recipes Nagi!!
Very nice. I added the sugar to the mince since it helps browning, then browned mince in a dutch oven (no oil) on the stove top get some nice maillard fond. Then removed and cooked the onion lifting up the fond, then added tomato paste and cooked until a bit caramelized and starting to stick, deglazed with red wine, then added mince and proceded with other things. Couple more opportunities to add flavour!
Yum! Fresh, flavorful, delish. Everyone loved it. Served with tabouli. Makes perfect leftovers, too.
Made for mom for Mother’s Day. This is one delicious meal! Thanks for sharing it!
Nagi, this is a superb recipe made with ground beef but I must say it was absolutely equally as good using Impossible mince (vegetarian ground ‘meat’). I encourage others to give it a try for a great meatless meal. 🇨🇦
I’m a vegetarian and modify her recipes all the time. Her recipes are amazing and often easily made vegetarian. I’m planning on making this with Beyond Meat.
I have been using Beyond in my recipes since its weight is 16 oz. I am not the vegetarian my husband is. He is grateful for any changes. I used Impossible for this recipe I may not eat beef any longer. Beyond always tasted funky to me. I have made Moussaka many times with beef and there was no flavor difference between beef and Impossible
Perhabs dumb question, but I would love to half the béchamel. How do u half 1 egg and 1 egg yolk?:/
Thanks 🙂
Same issue here Les. Weigh small bowl and note it. Add the whole egg and the other yolk, Beat together and weigh again. Subtract the weight of the bowl and halve what’s left. It works well for me.
This was so delicious! I didn’t have all the ingredients so I added both dried thyme and dried oregano because I didn’t have cinnamon or bay leaves. I also didn’t have Parmesan but I used a shredded pizza cheese mix and it worked fine. The panko bread crumbs definitely made a delicious crunch. It was a bit time consuming but completely worth it and will be on my winter rotation from now on!
Beyond delicious! Made this this evening – and just to warn you – you will use multiple pots and pans and it will take a few hours to prepare & cook. But. Wow! The multiple steps and ingredients are absolutely worth the end result. The complexity of flavours, from very simple ingredients is just fantastic. I’ve never attempted a bechemel sauce before and I was worried about accidently making scrambled eggs, but Nagi’s step by step guide and video instructions worked perfectly! If you follow the recipe you will end up with a dish of beyond restaurant quality food. Devote an afternoon for a special occasion meal – you won’t be sorry.
This recipe is delish!! Changed it to eight servings so had to round off a few items. My husband gave it a five star too! I found your web site a few years ago and you are my “go to” for any recipe Nagi. Big pet to Dozer.
Oh my goodness! This is the bomb! I’ve made moussakka before, but this was next level. My non-eggplant eating family all loved it, the eggplant wasn’t slimy, the meat sauce was delicious and the bechamel was heaven.