Balkan Style Moussaka Food

BALKAN-STYLE MOUSSAKA RECIPE

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 until browned and the fat has rendered, about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and pour off the fat. Set the meat aside in a bowl. Add a couple of tablespoons of water to the skillet and scrape up any browned bits. Add the scrapings to the meat.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in the skillet over medium heat and add the onions. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, the browned meat, paprika, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, sugar, bay leaf, salt to taste, and one-half to 1 cup hot water (enough to cover the meat). Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally. The mixture should be thick and fragrant. Cook, uncovered, until the liquid is almost gone, about 5 to 10 minutes more.
• Remove the bay leaf, stir in pepper to taste, 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 tablespoons olive oil. Bake for 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 of the meat sauce in one layer. Top with a layer of the remaining eggplant.
• Bake the moussaka for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the topping. Beat the remaining 6 eggs and mix them with the yogurt. Season with three-fourths teaspoon of salt (or to taste), pepper (to taste) and a pinch of paprika. Pour over the moussaka.
• Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the topping and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, then place under the broiler for 1 minute or so until light golden brown on top. Watch carefully because it browns quickly. Serve warm.

BALKAN-STYLE MOUSSAKA

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.

BULGARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• In a frying pan put the oil, the beef, the tomato paste, cumin, black and white pepper, nutmeg and some salt and start frying forcing the meat with a fork to fall apart into crumbs.
• When all the meat is falling apart remove from the fire and drain the excess fat (although you could also add it to the baking tin).
• Peel the potatoes and chop them into small pieces (1/2" or a bit smaller).
• Put half of the potatoes in a deep baking tin, spread the meat mixture over them and top it with the rest of the potatoes; you could use a larger or a smaller diameter tin depending on how thick you want your moussaka to be.
• Add water until only half of the top layer of potatoes stays uncovered by it and break the stock cube over it (BE CAREFUL - if you opt not to use the cube you'll have to add some salt).
• Preheat the oven to a medium temperature and put the moussaka inches.
• In a bowl beat the yogurt with the eggs the thyme, a bit of salt and some black or white pepper if you want.
• When the water in the tin starts boiling and the potatoes start to cook, poor in the yogurt mixture taking care that it covers the potatoes entirely.
• Bake until the potatoes are done (about 45 min-1 h total baking time) but be careful not to burn the yogurt lid - you may want to lower the heat or to leave the oven heating from under the tin only.
• When ready take out of the oven and leave to cool a bit - potatoes cool very slowly.
• Serve very warm.

BULGARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and ground pork and cook until brown and crumbly, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and discard fat. Add 1/4 cup olive oil, carrot, onion, celery, parsley stems, and tomatoes. Mix to combine. Stir in bell pepper and season with paprika, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and cayenne pepper. Cook until vegetables start to soften, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Transfer meat mixture to a large baking pan.
• Heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet and cook potatoes until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to the baking pan and mix well with the meat mixture.
• Bake moussaka in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove baking dish from the oven and mix in chopped parsley leaves.
• Stir eggs, yogurt, flour, and baking soda together in a bowl until it turns into a spreadable mixture. Pour over the meat mixture in the baking dish.
• Return baking dish to the oven and cook until the top is golden brown, about 15 more minutes.

THE BEST BULGARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a saucepan. Add the ground beef, the onion, the tomatoes, salt, black paper, oregano. Cover and cook on low heat, stirring occasionally until the liquids from the tomatoes are almost evaporated and the mixture become dry.
• Preheat oven to 375°F Spray the bottom of a square baking pan. Arrange 2 sliced potatoes on the bottom of the pan, sprinkle with salt and black paper, cover with ground beef mixture and cover with the remaining potato slices. Sprinkle with salt and black paper. Add 1/2 cup white wine and 1/2 cup water. The liquid must almost cover the last level of potato slices. Pour into the preheated oven and bake about 45 minutes or until the liquid is evaporated. If the potatoes start to burn too much and the liquid is not evaporated yet, cover with baking paper.
• Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl beat eggs, add milk and the flour. Add salt, black paper, fresh parsley or dry oregano. Pour over the already dried moussaka. Bake 5 more minutes or until the top is golden brown and crispy. Serve warm.