Moussaka with hard cheese
4 servings
60 minutes
Moussaka with hard cheese is an exquisite dish of Greek cuisine that combines layers of tender fried eggplants, aromatic minced meat, and tomato sauce. This dish has roots in Balkan and Middle Eastern traditions but was perfected by the Greeks. Baked under a golden crust of hard cheese, moussaka acquires a rich flavor where the tenderness of vegetables meets the juiciness of meat and the spiciness of tomatoes. Greeks consider this dish family-oriented, and its rich taste is ideally revealed in the company of loved ones. Moussaka is suitable for both a cozy dinner and a festive feast, surprising guests with its rich flavor and appetizing appearance.
1
Fry the chopped onion in olive oil, add the minced meat, cook until done at a high temperature, then add diced tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, set aside.
- Onion: 1 head
- Minced meat: 700 g
- Tomatoes: 4 pieces
2
Slice the eggplants into thin (about 4 mm thick) slices and fry in olive oil for a few minutes on each side.
- Eggplants: 2 pieces
3
In a square baking dish (or a regular frying pan), layer eggplants, then add ground meat, and cover with tomato paste. Add another layer of eggplants and repeat all layers. Top with a final layer of eggplants, drizzle with tomato paste, cover with foil, and place in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Eggplants: 2 pieces
- Minced meat: 700 g
- Tomato paste: 250 g
- Eggplants: 2 pieces
- Tomato paste: 250 g
4
Remove the foil, sprinkle grated cheese on top, and put it back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes.
- Hard cheese: 150 g