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!!!! 😂😂😂
Oh my gosh this is outstanding. I have struggled not to scoff each of the three main ingredients before I put it in the oven! A fantastic dish to cook, cool, and reheat on a weeknight.
Loved reading about Dozer ( I have 2 Shih Tzu’s ) Adore dogs, my husband calls me The Dog Snogger! I thoroughly enjoyed making the aubergine moussaka. Got family coming tomorrow so haven’t tasted it yet . Grew the aubergines from seed. Thanks Nagi
I did make this lovely moussaka. It was really delicious, the whole family loved it. I was saddened to read about your dear friend Dozer. We send caring hugs to you. We also lost our dog, Max this year on January 2nd. Dogs are the best 🙏❤️🌷
I don’t make this very often (a little too fiddly for it to be in my regular rotation) but every time I do, it’s an absolute hit. I made it over the weekend when my parents were visiting and my dad declared it was better than any restaurant!
For anyone with egg allergies, I made the bechamel sauce without egg (just let it get a bit thicker on the stove, and then let it sit for a bit longer after baking, and it worked great.
Very delicious! I didn’t let the béchamel sauce thicken up enough, but that was me lacking patience and honestly it was still delicious! I also didn’t have bay leaves so just threw in some thyme and worked well! Will be making again!!
I love moussaka – made this without red wine, or the chicken/beef buillion or stock, added mushrooms to the meat sauce and layered potatoes at the bottom of a baking dish to cook before I added the eggplant. So much flavour, the next day as well a delight.
If I could give this recipe a 10/5 I would!
I’ve used quire a few of your recipes and cook and bake a lot. They always work. In the moussaka recipe I can’t see where it says how to use the egg and egg yolk in the bechemel sauce in the method.
…spotted it
Love this recipe but prefer to add a layer of sliced potato also
delicious! well worth the effort! I cook my meat sauce for a few hours in low or make the day before
Living in Thailand it is hard to persuade our Family members and farm team to try Farang (foreigner) food. But this one was a full success. This month I visit my daughter in Germany and our Grandkids told me right away they don’t eat Aubergines. Also here the tray was scraped out to the last crumble. Again a full success. Thanks for the recipe.
forgot to leave a rating
It is a great dish that I have made over and over. It is so not a 1hr 10 min total cook in an average cramped home kitchen with limited utensils. I am reasonably efficient in the kitchen but I would say allow 2hrs total, baring in mind you are probably making a salad to go with it. Over the times I have made it it has been consistently great and the only change I have made is to reduce the stock as I always find there is too much liquid in RTE recipes, love your recipes regardless Nagi thank you
Last made moussaka over a decade ago on my culinary adventure started in 2014. . Had left over leg of lamb and juices so started there then realised the original recipe I was following must be from a budget site as there seemed to be elements missing. Came straight to Nagi to get me on track. Bay leaves, oregano, nutmeg tomatoe paste, eggs, garlic….all added. Stellar. Thank you.
I love all your recipes, but always double the spices! Also added two pinches of ground cloves.
Cooked with kangaroo and lamb – and skipped the breadcrumbs.
Delicious – good tip with stock in the beschamal. Used oat milk.
Delicious
I added chopped potato & half a red onion to my eggplant ( I didn’t have quite enough eggplant )
Will definitely make again .
Thanks Nagi xx
I Love this recipe I often make it,💯
Excellent, tasted amazing. Can’t wait to make it again. Needs time though. At least 2 hours.
This was absolutely delicious and, to my surprise – although why should I have been surprised, it’s RTE – has managed to dethrone my long-held previous go-to moussaka recipe. The filling is delicious and the topping is generous, just how I like it!
I followed this recipe but substituted Tri-colored quinoa and Harissa Roasted Garbanzos in place of the “meat”. As a healthcare chef, I am always looking for Plant based protein dishes and this one just “fit”. The blend of spiced red sauce and cheesy, nutmeg flavored bechamel worked well with the alternative proteins. thanks
This was delish. Husband like it and I LOVED it. I 3 young boys and it was edible for them but they are V picky so edible is impressive for something other than chicken fingers and Mac!