Greek Moussaka With Zucchini Recipe

Name: Greek Moussaka With Zucchini Recipe
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 90 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 4 medium onions, coarsely chopped; 2 1/2 pounds ground beef or lamb; 3 cups diced ripe tomatoes with juice, fresh or canned tomatoes; 1 cup finely ground toasted breadcrumbs, divided; Sea salt, to taste; Freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 2 medium bay leaves; 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice; 6 to 8 whole cloves; 1/2 cup red wine; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 6 cups basic béchamel; 5 to 6 pounds zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices; Cooking spray; 1 cup grated kefalotyri, pecorino, or Parmgiano-Reggiano cheese

A hearty moussaka features layers of zucchini, ground meat sauce, cheese, and a rich bechamel topping, offering a delightful twist on a classic.

⭐ 4.4 (16 reviews) Prep: 45 minCook: 45 minTotal: 90 minYields: 8 servings

Category Tags:

Dinner Entree

Cuisine Tags:

Greek

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C).
To prepare the meat sauce: Sauté onions in oil until translucent, then brown the ground meat. Stir in tomatoes, half the breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic, cinnamon, bay leaves, allspice, cloves, wine, and tomato paste. Simmer covered for 45-60 minutes until all liquid is absorbed and the mixture is dry; remove bay leaves, cloves, and cinnamon stick, then set aside.
While the meat sauce simmers, prepare the béchamel sauce with cheese.
Sauté the zucchini slices until lightly browned.
To assemble: Lightly oil a baking pan and sprinkle with the remaining breadcrumbs. Layer zucchini, then the meat mixture, followed by the remaining zucchini. Carefully pour the béchamel sauce evenly over the top.
Bake for 30 minutes, then sprinkle with cheese and continue baking for 15-30 minutes until golden brown.
Cool the moussaka for 20-30 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Info (per serving)

Calories: 914 kcal

Carbohydrate: 45 g

Cholesterol: 204 mg

Fiber: 7 g

Protein: 52 g

Saturated Fat: 28 g

Sodium: 727 mg

Sugar: 20 g

Fat: 58 g

Unsaturated Fat: 0 g