Greek Moussaka

Servings7
CuisineGreek

Ingredients

  • 1 kgeggplant (sliced into 1 cm rounds)
  • 60 mlolive oil (for eggplant)
  • 0salt
  • 30 mlolive oil (for meat sauce)
  • 1onion (large, finely chopped)
  • 3garlic cloves (minced)
  • 500 gground lamb (or beef)
  • 400 gcanned crushed tomatoes
  • 30 gtomato paste
  • 125 mlred wine
  • 1cinnamon stick
  • 5 mldried oregano
  • 0black pepper
  • 75 gbutter
  • 75 gall-purpose flour
  • 750 mlwhole milk (warmed)
  • 2egg yolks
  • 80 ggrated Parmesan or Kefalotyri cheese
  • 0nutmeg (pinch)
  • 0white pepper

Instructions

  1. Brush eggplant slices with olive oil, season with salt. Bake at 200°C for 25 minutes until tender and golden. Set aside.

  2. Heat oil in a large pan. Sauté onion and garlic until soft. Add meat, cook until browned. Add tomatoes, paste, wine, cinnamon, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer 30 minutes until thick. Remove cinnamon stick.

  3. Melt butter, whisk in flour, cook 2 minutes. Gradually add warm milk, whisking constantly. Simmer until thick (5-7 minutes). Remove from heat, whisk in egg yolks, cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

  4. In a 23×33 cm baking dish, layer half the eggplant, all the meat sauce, remaining eggplant, then pour béchamel on top.

  5. Bake at 180°C for 45 minutes until golden and bubbling. Let rest 20 minutes before serving.

Recipe by

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Beverage pairings

Wine

Yalumba Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon

Medium-bodied red

$15–25

Earthy tannins complement the lamb and cinnamon spices; Australian classic with good structure

Margaret River Shiraz

Full-bodied red

$18–28

Peppery notes echo oregano and cinnamon; rich enough to match the béchamel richness

Barossa GSM (Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre)

Medium-bodied red blend

$16–26

Versatile Mediterranean blend that bridges the tomato sauce and creamy topping

Beer

Stone & Wood Pacific Ale

Pale ale

Citrus notes cut through richness; refreshing enough for the heavy béchamel layers

Little Creatures Pale Ale

Pale ale

Balanced bitterness complements lamb and tomato sauce without overwhelming the dish

Non-alcoholic

Greek Coffee or Turkish Coffee

Traditional pairing; serve after the meal as a digestif

Sparkling Water with Lemon

Cleanses the palate between rich béchamel bites; refreshing alongside the warm baked dish

Herbal Tea (Chamomile or Oregano)

Complements Mediterranean flavours; light and soothing after a hearty family meal

Ingredients

  • 1kgeggplant(sliced into 1 cm rounds)
  • 60mlolive oil(for eggplant)
  • salt
  • 30mlolive oil(for meat sauce)
  • 1onion(large, finely chopped)
  • 3garlic cloves(minced)
  • 500gground lamb(or beef)
  • 400gcanned crushed tomatoes
  • 30gtomato paste
  • 125mlred wine
  • 1cinnamon stick
  • 5mldried oregano
  • black pepper
  • 75gbutter
  • 75gall-purpose flour
  • 750mlwhole milk(warmed)
  • 2egg yolks
  • 80ggrated Parmesan or Kefalotyri cheese
  • nutmeg(pinch)
  • white pepper