Moussaka: Eggplant with Minced Meat (Beef, Lamb)

 This hot fragrant dish will decorate your festive table.
 


Cuisine: Mediterranean (Balkans and Middle East)
 The taste is spicy (tomatoes and cheese).  Aroma of baked cheese, spice nuts
 Cooking method: chop + stir + fry + bake
 Basic household appliances: stove, oven (oven)
 Basic kitchen utensils: cutting board + knife, frying pan, cauldron / baking dish
 Main products: Eggplant, Minced Meat, Tomatoes and Onions
 Cooking time: 2 hours
 Difficulty: medium
 Type of dish: hot dish
 

 Ingredients (4-6 servings)

 Minced meat (beef or lamb) - 500-700 g
 Eggplant - 500 g
 Tomatoes - 600 g
 Olive oil - 50-100 ml
 Ketchup - 1-2 tbsp.
 Onion - 200 g
 Garlic - 2-4 cloves
 Cheese (with mold or cheese) - 50-100 g
 Stale white bread (crumbs) - 75-100 g
 Walnuts - 25-50 g
 Allspice ground black pepper - ½ tsp
 Oregano or marjoram - ½ tsp
 Salt - to taste

 

How to cook it?

 - Wash and clean vegetables.  Remove the skin from the tomatoes (it is fashionable to use canned tomatoes in their own juice)
 - chop and fry, stirring, in olive oil onion and garlic until golden brown (10 min.)
 - add crushed tomatoes and ketchup (or 1 tbsp starched milk), mix, bring to a boil and simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes.  Salt and pepper
 - cut the eggplant into rings, brush them with olive oil and fry until soft (5-10 minutes)
 - Spread evenly on the bottom of a baking dish or cauldron part of the eggplant, a layer of minced meat on top, then the remaining eggplant.  Salt, pepper
 - mix finely chopped cheese, bread crumbs walnuts
 - Sprinkle eggplants with nut-cheese mixture, bake at 180°C for 30-45 minutes.
 - Sprinkle with marjoram, oregano or basil leaves.  Bake for 5 more minutes


 Serving Recommendations: Serve hot, garnish with chopped herbs, olives and nuts.  The dish is served with boiled potatoes, rice, a salad of greens and fresh vegetables.  Basic serving utensils: casserole dish and serving plates.

Comments