Beef Moussaka is a hearty and flavorful dish made with layers of seasoned ground beef, soft eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes. It has a crust made of breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese on top. This recipe, which comes from the Mediterranean, is great for a cozy family dinner.
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef. 1 onion, finely chopped. 2 cloves garlic, minced. 1 eggplant, sliced. 1 zucchini, sliced. 2 tomatoes, chopped. 1/4 cup tomato paste. 1/2 cup beef broth. 1 tsp dried oregano. 1 tsp dried thyme. 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Salt and pepper to taste. 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese. 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. 2 tbsp olive oil.
Instructions: Preheat oven to 375F 190C. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic, cook until softened. Add ground beef to the skillet, cook until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary. Stir in tomato paste, beef broth, oregano, thyme, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, lightly fry eggplant and zucchini slices until golden brown. In a greased baking dish, layer half of the eggplant and zucchini slices. Top with half of the meat mixture and half of the chopped tomatoes. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients, ending with a layer of tomatoes on top. In a small bowl, mix Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over the top layer. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!
