How To Make Easy Moussaka [Easy Recipe] - The Tortilla Channel (2024)

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You will be surprised how easy it is to make this delicious recipe at home! Make it in a skillet with layers of eggplant, beef sauce, potatoes, and bechamel sauce. You will not be able to resist this Eastern Mediterranean dish. Are you ready to learn how to make moussaka? Let’s get started!

How To Make Easy Moussaka

To make this recipe divide the recipe into three main steps. This way you can focus on one part of the recipe and then put it all together.

Step 1 – The Meat Sauce

1. Preheat a big skillet over high heat and add ground meat. Break up the meat and stir until golden brown. Chop the onion in big chunks and add to the pan.
2. Add the finely minced garlic and sauté for 3 minutes until soft and translucent. Then add the tomato paste and stir through the browned meat.
3. Add a splash of water (about half a cup). Season with salt, pepper, cinnamon, and a teaspoon of cumin. Stir and let the meat mixture simmer for 5-10 minutes until the sauce thickens.
4. Finely chop the parsley and sprinkle it on the meat. Remove from heat and add the parsley.

Step 2 – The Vegetables

1. While the meat simmers it is time for the vegetables. Peel the potatoes, wash them to remove the starch, and cut them into thin slices.
2. You can use a mandolin slicer for really thin slices or cut the slices with a knife.
3. Wash the eggplant and cut lengthwise also in long thin slices. Rub the eggplant with oil with your fingers or a brush and season with a bit of salt.
4. Preheat a grill pan or grill rack on the stove until hot. Grill the eggplant and turn to grill the other side. Turn some more until soft.
5. While grilling the eggplant, heat olive oil in a separate skillet and pan-fry the potatoes to a golden brown. Turn and fry the other side as well.
6. Take the baked potatoes out of the pan, put them in a bowl, and set them aside.

Step 3 – The Bechamel Sauce

1. Now it is time for the bechamel sauce which is very easy to make as well. Which is all about combining butter, flour, and milk.
2. Stir through continuously to remove any lumps. You will see the sauce come together and turn into a smooth silky sauce.
3. Season and add your favorite cheese.

Step 4 – Assemble Your Moussaka

1. The final step of this recipe is putting it all together. First, preheat the oven to 350℉/175℃ before taking a clean skillet.
2. Start with the first layer of potatoes then add a layer of grilled eggplant as the second layer. Now take 2 to 3 tablespoons of béchamel sauce and add it to the beef mixture.
3. Stir before you spread the ground meat on top of the eggplant.
4. Cover the beef mixture with the béchamel sauce. You can use a spoon to spread the sauce evenly on the meat.
5. Finally, sprinkle a ¼ cup of your favorite grated cheese like parmesan on the bechamel. Pop it in the oven and bake it for 40-45 minutes or until the bechamel is golden brown.
6. Take your moussaka out of the oven and serve.

Easy Moussaka Recipe

You may think that moussaka is Greek but it is also made in the Balkans and the Middle East. Just like the Italians have lasagna the Greeks have moussaka.

The main base of this recipe is a ragu sauce, layers of grilled eggplant, and fried potatoes.

This might not be the skinniest recipe but it is super delicious and worth a try. As this is an oven recipe you need a dish that becomes very hot.

That is why I make it in a skillet and it is also decorative as well. Instead of using tortillas or lasagna sheets, you use eggplant as the layers.

Eggplant contains a lot of liquid, so when grilling the eggplant season, them with salt first to prevent an overload of liquid in the moussaka later.

Can You Make Moussaka Ahead?

Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time. This dish will taste better if you make it one day in advance and store it in the fridge.

Reheat the moussaka in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350℉/185℃. If the moussaka is already quite brown cover the skillet with thin foil. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.

How To Store Oven-Baked Moussaka

There are two main ways to store your moussaka:

• Fridge – if you plan on serving the moussaka within two days you can store it in the refrigerator. You can leave it in the skillet and cover it with thin foil. It is also possible to put it in an airtight container
• Freezer – if you want to store it longer or have leftover moussaka you can put it in an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months

More One-pan Recipes

If you like this moussaka recipe, I’m certain you will love these recipes as well:

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• Easy taco spaghetti
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