Balkan Style Moussaka Recipes

Steps:

• Salt the eggplant slices generously and place them in a bowl or colander for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, cook the lamb (or beef) in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring and breaking up the meat 5 to 10 minutes until browned and the fat has rendered. Remove the skillet from the heat and pour off the fat. Set the meat aside in a bowl. Add a couple Tbsps. water to the skillet and scrape up any browned bits. Add the scrapings to the meat.
• Heat 2 Tbsps. olive oil in the skillet over medium heat and add the onions. Cook, stirring, about 5 minutes until tender. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute until fragrant.
• Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, the browned meat, 1/2 teaspoons paprika, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, sugar, bay leaf, salt and 1/2 to 1 cup hot water (enough to cover the meat). Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally. The mixture should be thick and fragrant. Cook, uncovered, 5 to 10 minutes until the liquid is almost gone.
• Remove the bay leaf, stir in pepper and remove from the heat. Taste and adjust for salt (remember, the eggplant will be salty).
• Cool the mixture slightly, then stir in one beaten egg and the parsley. Heat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Rinse the eggplant slices and pat dry with paper towels. Place them on baking sheets brushed with olive oil and brush the tops with the remaining 2 Tbsps. olive oil. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned and cooked through. Transfer to a bowl and reduce the oven to 350 degrees.
• Brush a 3-quart baking or gratin dish with the remaining oil. Make an even layer of half the eggplant over the bottom, and spread on all the meat sauce in one layer. Top with a layer of the remaining eggplant.
• Bake the moussaka 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the topping. Beat the remaining 6 eggs and mix them with the yogurt. Season with 3/4 teaspoons salt (or to taste), pepper and a pinch paprika. Pour over the moussaka.
• Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the topping and bake an additional 25 to 30 minutes, then place under the broiler 1 minute or until light golden brown on top. Watch carefully because it browns quickly. Serve warm.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees with racks positioned in the middle and lower third. Slice eggplants lengthwise, about 1/3 inch thick. Line 2 baking sheets with foil and brush foil with olive oil. Place slices on the foil, season to taste with salt, and brush with olive oil. Place in oven and roast until soft and browned in spots, about 20 minutes, switching the pans top to bottom after 10 minutes. When done slices will look dry on the surface but when you pierce them with a knife you should be able to see that the flesh is soft. Remove from oven and carefully fold foil up over eggplant to make a foil packet, taking care not to burn yourself. It doesn't matter if the eggplant slices pile onto each other. Crimp edges of foil so that eggplant is sealed in the packet and leave to steam inside foil for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile make the meat and tomato filling. In a large, deep skillet or casserole heat olive oil over medium heat and add onions. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes, and add garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds, and raise heat to medium-high. Stir in ground beef or lamb and brown for about 3 minutes. Stir in roasted mushroom mix, tomatoes, paprika, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, sugar, bay leaf, salt and enough water to barely cover meat. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally. The mixture should be thick and very fragrant. Cook uncovered for another 5 to 10 minutes, until liquid in pan is just about gone. Remove bay leaf, taste and add salt and pepper, and remove from heat. Allow mixture to cooled slightly, then stir in 1 beaten egg and parsley.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 3-quart baking dish or gratin dish. Make an even layer of half the eggplant slices over the bottom, and spread all of meat sauce on top in one layer. Top with remaining eggplant. Bake for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat together eggs and yogurt, season with salt (about 1/2 teaspoon) and stir in pepper and paprika. Pour over top of moussaka, scraping out every last drop with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle grated cheese evenly over the top. Return to oven and bake for another 25 to 30 minutes, until puffed and golden. Serve warm.