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Moussaka

I make this at least once every summer when we have eggplant from the garden. This takes nearly an hour to make and another hour to bake, but the results are worth the time.





List of Ingredients



• 2 eggplants, peeled, sliced in 1/2" slices, salted and set aside
  
• 1 pound ground beef or lamb
  
• 1 large onion chopped
  
• 1/4 cup red wine
  
• 1/4 cup water
  
• 2 tablespoons parsley
  
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste (I use 2-3)
  
• Salt and pepper
  
• 1/3 cup soft bread crumbs
  
• 1 egg
  
• 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese, divided
  
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  
• 3 tablespoons butter
  
• 3 tablespoons flour
  
• 1 1/2 cups milk
  
• dash nutmeg
  
• 1 egg
  






Instructions



1. Brown the meat and onion. Add wine, water, parsley, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Simmer until liquid is nearly absorbed.
   
2. Cook and then add the bread crumbs, 1 egg, cheese and cinnamon.
   
3. Make a white sauce with the butter, flour, and milk. Cook until bubbly and then stir in addition salt and pepper and the nutmeg. Beat 1 egg until frothy. Stir a little of the hot sauce into the egg and then add the egg mixture to the sauce. Cook and stir over low heat for a minute or two.
   
   
4. Rinse the eggplant slices and pat dry. Saute in a little oil in a large frypan.
   
5. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with oil. Sprinkle 1/3 cup soft bread crumbs on bottom of dish. Place 1/2 the eggplant slices on top of the crumps. Pour the meat mixture on top of the eggplant. Top with remaining eggplant slices. Pour the white sauce over all. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese on top.
   
6. Bake at 350 degrees 45-60 minutes. Let set 10 minutes before slicing.
   






Final Comments


This makes a large casserole. I sometimes divide it into two dishes, bake one, and freeze one.

The eggplant may also be roasted in the oven. Use heavy-duty foil on a cookie sheet. Spray it well with olive oil spray. Add the eggplant slices in a single layer. Spray oil over the slices. Roast at 375-425 degrees about 15 minutes or until nicely browned.