Veggie Moussaka Food

VEGETARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
• Put the lentils into a bowl. Cover with water and set aside to soak.
• Put the potatoes into a saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down and simmer for 15-18 minutes until just tender.
• Heat the oil in a large sauté pan, add the onions and cook over a medium heat for 5-6 minutes until just softening.
• Add the garlic, thyme, oregano and cinnamon and cook for 1 minute, stir in the tomato purée and cook for a further minute.
• Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Fill the tomato tin with water and add to the pan. Do this once more and add the stock cube (this should be 800ml/1pint 8fl oz of water in total).
• Drain the lentils and stir into the tomato sauce, bring to the boil and simmer over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes until the lentils are soft and the liquid nearly all absorbed.
• Meanwhile, drain the potatoes and run under cold water until cool enough to hold. Using a spoon, scrape the skin off of the potatoes, then cut into slices about 7mm/⅜in thick and set aside (if using new potatoes, keep the skin on).
• Heat a griddle pan until hot then griddle the aubergine in batches until browned and softened.
• Spoon half the lentil sauce into a medium ovenproof dish then layer half the potatoes and aubergines over the top. Top with the remaining lentils, potatoes and aubergines.
• Put the ricotta into a small bowl and stir in the grated cheese. Spoon the mixture over the aubergines and smooth out to cover the top.
• Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through and golden brown.
• Serve with a green salad.

VEGAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Pour 800ml boiling water over the dried porcini and leave for 10 mins until hydrated. Meanwhile, pour 1½ tbsp oil into a large saucepan. Add the onion, carrot, celery and a pinch of salt. Cook gently, stirring for 10 mins until soft. Remove the porcini from the liquid, keeping the mushroomy stock and roughly chop. Set both aside.
• Add the garlic and thyme to the pan. Cook for 1 min, then stir in the tomato purée and cook for a minute more. Pour in the red wine, if using, cook until nearly reduced, then add the lentils, reserved mushroom stock and tomatoes. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and leave to simmer with the lid on.
• Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan. Add 1½ tbsp oil and tip all of the mushrooms into the pan, including the rehydrated ones. Fry until all the water has evaporated and the mushrooms are deep golden brown. Pour in the soy sauce. Give everything a good mix, then scrape the mushrooms into the lentil saucepan.
• Stir in the Marmite, then continue to cook the ragu, stirring occasionally, over a low-medium heat for 30-45 mins until the lentils are cooked and the sauce is thick and reduced, adding extra water if necessary. Remove the thyme sprigs and season to taste.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the potatoes into a pan of cold salted water. Bring to the boil, then cook until mashable.
• Meanwhile, mix the remaining 5 tbsp oil with the oregano, then brush the aubergine slices with most of it and sprinkle with sea salt. Griddle for 3 mins on each side until soft.
• Drain and mash the potatoes with the soya milk. Season to taste.
• Spoon the ragu into a large lasagne dish (or two smaller ovenproof dishes), layer in ½ the aubergine, followed by the mash. Brush the remaining oregano oil across the mash, then finish by topping with the remaining aubergine slices. Bake in the oven for 25-35 mins until golden and bubbling.

MY VEGGIE MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Cover the porcini with 300ml of boiling water. Peel and finely slice the onions and garlic.
• Drizzle 2 tablespoons of oil into a large casserole pan over a medium-low heat, add the cinnamon and fry for 1 minute, then add the onion and garlic.
• Pick in the oregano leaves, pour in the vinegar, then simmer with the lid on for 20 minutes, or until soft and lightly golden, stirring regularly.
• Meanwhile, slice the aubergines lengthways 1cm thick, then chargrill in batches on a griddle pan.
• Scrub the potatoes and slice just under ½cm thick, then add to the casserole pan with just the porcini water, reserving the mushrooms.
• Scrunch the tomatoes into the pan, then pour in 1 tin's worth of water and stir thoroughly. Pop the lid on and leave to tick away on a medium heat for 50 minutes, or until tender, stirring regularly and removing the lid for the last 5 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6.
• Place the mushrooms in a blender with half the feta and the eggs. Pour in the milk, finely grate in half the nutmeg, then whiz until smooth.
• Season the tomato sauce to perfection with sea salt and black pepper, then spoon half into a 25cm x 35cm baking dish. Cover with half the aubergines, drizzle over 4 tablespoons of creamy sauce, then repeat, finishing with the remaining creamy sauce.
• Crumble over the rest of the feta, cover with tin foil, then bake for 50 minutes, or until golden and bubbling, removing the foil for the last 15 minutes. Leave to stand for 15 minutes before serving.
• Delicious served with a simple lemony dressed green salad.

VEGETABLE MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Brush a large baking dish extra-virgin olive oil. Season the pan with parsley, salt and freshly ground pepper. Layer the vegetables in the same procedure as lasagna, alternating the different vegetables. Season between the layers with salt, pepper and parsley. Save most of the tomatoes for the top layer. Bake for about 1 hour or until all the vegetables appear soft. Season the top with chopped parsley, salt, freshly ground pepper, and extra-virgin olive oil.

BEAUTIFUL VEGGIE MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
• Just cover the porcini with boiling water, then set aside to rehydrate.
• Peel and finely slice the onions and garlic, then place in a large pan over a medium-low heat with 1 tablespoon of oil. Strip in the rosemary and sage leaves and add 1 teaspoon of dried oregano.
• Roughly chop the porcini (reserving the soaking liquor) and add to the pan, then fry for 10 minutes, or until softened, stirring occasionally. Turn the heat up to high, then add the wine and let it bubble and cook away.
• Stir in the chickpeas (juice and all), lentils and 2 bay leaves. Scrunch in the tomatoes through your clean hands, then pour in the porcini soaking liquor (discarding just the last gritty bit).
• Season with sea salt and black pepper, bring to the boil, then simmer on a low heat for 1 hour, or until thickened and reduced, stirring occasionally.
• Trim the aubergines and peel with a speed-peeler, leaving a little of the skin to create a stripy effect, then slice into 1cm-thick rounds. Place in a colander, sprinkle with a good pinch of salt and leave in the sink to drain (the salt will draw out the moisture).
• Peel the potatoes and slice into rough 1cm rounds, then parboil in a pan of boiling salted water for 5 minutes. Drain and leave to steam dry, then place in a large, deep roasting tray (30cm x 40cm).
• Season, drizzle with oil and scatter over 1 heaped tablespoon of dried oregano. Toss well to coat, then roast in a single layer for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden and tender.
• Meanwhile, rinse the aubergines and pat dry with kitchen paper, then spread out across a few large roasting trays.
• Drizzle with oil, season with pepper and oregano, then roast alongside the potatoes for 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
• Warm the milk with the remaining 2 bay leaves and the peppercorns in a pan on a medium-low heat - keep an eye on it. Before it boils, strain into a jug, then wipe out the pan and return to a medium heat.
• Melt the butter, then stir in the flour to form a paste. Start adding the hot milk, a splash at a time, stirring in each addition before adding more, until you have a smooth, creamy sauce.
• Crumble in one-third of the feta and grate in one-third of the kefalotyri, then simmer over a low heat for a further 5 minutes, or until thick and smooth. Leave to cool slightly.
• To assemble, spoon half the ragù over the tray of potatoes, then layer half the aubergines on top. Repeat with the remaining ragù and aubergines.
• Separate the eggs (saving the whites for another recipe). Whisk the yolks into the sauce, then pour over the aubergines. Crumble and grate over the remaining cheese, drizzle with oil, and bake for 40 minutes, or until golden.
• Leave to stand for 30 minutes, then serve. Great with a Greek salad.

VEGETARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Boil spinach for one minute, drain and reserve the liquid.
• Put 450 ml of the water into a pan and add the lentils.
• Cover and cook over a medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tbs of oil in a large frying pan and cook the onion and garlic for about 10 minutes until soft and golden.
• Stir the mushrooms into the onions, increase the heat and season generously.
• Cook until juicy and darkened in colour.
• Add the tomatoes to the pan and cook briskly for 5 minutes until thickened but still quite liquid.
• Add the lentils and any cooking liquid, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon cumin.
• Simmer gently for a few minutes.
• Squeeze all the liquid out of the spinach and stir it into the pan.
• Add a little water if the stew seems too dry.
• Boil the potatoes in salted water, drain, cool slightly and slice lengthways.
• Pre-heat the oven to 400 F or 200 degrees C.
• Trim the eggplant and slice lengthways about 1/2 cm thick.
• Smear a baking sheet with remaining oil, lay out the slices.
• Bake for 15 minutes, turn and cook the other side for a further 5 minutes until soft.
• Reduce the temperature to 360 F or 180 degrees C.
• Take a 2-litre capacity dish at least 5 cm deep and make a layer with half the potatoes, then half the eggplant, followed by the mushroom mixture, the rest of the eggplant and the rest of the potatoes.
• To make the topping, melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and gradually add the milk and bring it to the boil.
• Simmer for a few minutes, add the parmesan and the ricotta mixed with the egg.
• Remove from the heat, taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Pour the sauce over the moussaka and dust with nutmeg.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is set and golden.

THE BEST VEGAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Start by soaking cashews in very hot water for 30 minutes. In the meantime, move on to the next steps.
• ROASTED GARLIC: Heat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C). Slice off the very top of the head of garlic and set on a piece of foil. Drizzle the top with oil and wrap to conceal. Then roast directly on a center oven rack for ~50 minutes to 1 hour, or until the cloves are tender, fragrant, and light golden brown.
• EGGPLANT: Slice eggplant vertically, 1/4 inch thick. Then salt slices on both sides and add to a colander set over a mixing bowl or in the sink (to catch moisture). Let rest 30 minutes to draw out moisture and reduce bitterness. After 30 minutes, rinse and press between 2 clean towels to pat dry.
• Transfer to 2 large baking sheets lined with parchment paper and brush both sides with olive oil (either spray or use a pastry brush). Then bake at 400 degrees F (204 C) for 15-20 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
• BECHAMEL: Drain your soaked cashews and add to a small blender along with roasted garlic (cool slightly then squeeze up from the bottom to the top to remove cloves), olive oil, nutritional yeast, salt, water, and nutmeg (optional). Blend on high until creamy and smooth.
• Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt to taste or nutritional yeast for cheesiness. Set aside.
• LENTIL FILLING: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add oil and onions and sauté until golden brown and slightly caramelized - ~5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• Add garlic and sauté for 3-4 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat as needed if browning too quickly.
• Add lentils and crushed tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, oregano, and nutmeg (optional). Simmer for 15 minutes, uncovered (if splattering, lower heat and cover with lid but crack to allow steam to escape). Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more oregano for herbal notes, nutmeg for nuttiness, or salt or pepper to taste.
• ASSEMBLY: To an 8x8 dish, add 1/3 of the eggplant slices (overlapping slightly if needed), then top with 1/2 of the lentil mixture and spread into an even layer. Then top with another 1/3 of the eggplant. Then add the remaining lentil mixture, and top with the remaining 1/3 of the eggplant. Pour over the bechamel and smooth into an even layer.
• Bake at 400F (204 C) for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are bubbly and the top appears slightly dry and golden brown on the edges.
• Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Store cooled leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

VEGAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Start off by putting your tofu on to press. If you have a tofu press, then this is perfect to use, but if not, you can place the block of tofu on a plate, with another plate on top of it and then place something heavy on top of that, like a heavy pot or a heavy stack of books. Let it press for 20 minutes.
• While the tofu is pressing, preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Slice the eggplant into round slices about 1/4 inch thick and place them onto parchment lined baking sheets (we used two half sheet trays).
• Brush the eggplant slices with olive oil and sprinkle on salt and pepper.
• Place the eggplant into the oven and bake for 25 minutes, turning them over at the halfway mark.
• Add walnuts to the food processor and process into crumbles. Add to a mixing bowl.
• Add sliced mushrooms to the food processor and process until finely chopped. Add to the mixing bowl.
• When the tofu is pressed, mash it with a fork and add it to the mixing bowl.
• Add the lentils to the mixing bowl and toss everything together.
• Add olive oil, chopped onion, celery and red bell pepper to a pot and sauté until softened.
• Add crushed garlic, paprika, cumin, oregano, rosemary and cinnamon. Sauté for a minute to lightly toast the spices.
• Now add the walnut, mushroom, tofu and lentil mix and toss together with the vegetables and spices.
• Add tomato paste, marinara sauce and soy sauce and fry for about 8 minutes until you have cooked off any excess liquid and have a delicious soft mince texture.
• Add coconut sugar, black pepper and sea salt to taste.
• Add olive oil to a pot and heat it. Add the flour and fry it in the oil briefly. Add in all the soy milk at once and stir vigorously until well combined.
• Alternate between a wooden spoon and a whisk while heating to remove any lumps. It can tend to stick to the bottom of the pot so make sure you are scraping the bottom of the pot constantly and then whisking it in.
• Keep stirring and whisking until it reaches a rolling boil and then let it boil while you continue to stir until it thickens.
• When it's thickened, add black pepper and salt to taste.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Place half of the roasted eggplant along the bottom of a 9x13 oven-safe dish. Add all the vegan mince on top of the eggplant and smooth it down into a thick layer.
• Top the vegan mince with the remaining sliced eggplant. Add all of the bechamel sauce on top and smooth it down with the back of a spoon.
• Place into the oven to bake for 40 minutes switching to grill for the last 5 minutes so that it can brown on top.
• Let it cool for 10 minutes on the countertop before serving.
• Decorate with sprinkles of dried oregano, paprika, ground black pepper and sprigs of fresh rosemary.

VEGAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil 3 baking sheets.
• Veg: Slice the eggplant into 1/4 inch thick slices lengthwise. Places them into a colander and sprinkle with salt -- rub the salt around so that it reaches all sides on all pieces. Set the colander aside to sweat for about 15 minutes (takes away any bitterness).
• In the meantime slice the zucchini into similar 1/4 inch slices lengthwise. Peel the potatoes then slice the same way.
• Rinse the eggplant and pat dry.
• Place each vegetable onto it's own baking sheet. Sprinkle the 1/4 cup of oil over all the veg, rubbing around so that all sides get covered. The eggplant will need a little more oil, and it does stick more easily. Sprinkle the zucchini and potato with salt. Spread out the veg, overlapping is OK and probably necessary to fit everything on. Roast all the veg until lightly browned around the edges - roughly 15 minutes for the eggplant and zucchini and 20 minutes for the potatoes.
• Tomato Sauce: Combine the remaning 1/4 cup oil and garlic in a large pan. Heat over medium heat and let the garlic sizzle for about a minute and then add in the shallots. Cook until transulcent, about 5 minutes. Add in the tin of crushed tomatoes (entire tin, no straining). Add the oregano, cinnamon and bay leaf. Leave that covered, to simmer for about 15 minutes. The sauce will thicken slightl and reduce. Turn off the heat and adjust salt to taste. Remove bay leaf.
• Topping: Using a food processor, blend the pine nuts and lemon juice into a paste. Add the tofu, garlic, arrowroot, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Blend until creamy and smooth.
• Putting it together: Lightly oil a casserole dish (ie 9 x 13). Reheat the oven to 400. Spread about 1/2 cup of the sauce in the bottom of the dish, followed by a layer of eggplant, a layer of potatoes another 1/2 cup of sauce and half of the breadcrumbs.
• Assess how much eggplant and potato you have left. If you can do 2 more layers, then do another sequence of sauce/eggplant/potato/sauce. If you can only do 1 more layer then move on to the next zucchini step.
• Spread all of the zucchini over this, then top with another layer of eggplant/potato/sauce, and the rest of the breadcrumbs.
• Spread the pine nut topping on last, using a spatula to spread it out as best you can without disturbing the layers underneath.
• Bake for 40 minutes until the top is lightly browned and a few cracks have formed in the topping. Allow to set 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

MOUSSAKA: EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Salt the eggplant. Spread the eggplant slices in one layer and sprinkle with salt. Let set for 30 minutes to "sweat out" its bitterness.
• Turn the broiler of your oven on.
• Prepare a large sheet pan or two and brush with extra virgin olive oil. Pat the eggplant slices dry, removing excess salt, and assemble in one layer on the prepared pan. Brush generously with olive oil.
• Place the sheet pan about 6 inches away from the broiler. Broil the eggplant briefly, turning over so that both sides are softened and golden brown (do not worry if parts of the eggplant are slightly charred, but watch carefully so it doesn't burn). Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Prepare the meat sauce. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet. Cook the onions on medium heat until they turn slightly golden brown, stirring regularly (about 5 minutes). Now add the ground lamb. Cook the lamb until fully browned, tossing regularly. Drain the lamb from any excess fat and return to the skillet. Add the dried oregano, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, and hot paprika. Stir to coat the meat with the spices. Add the wine and boil for 1 minute to reduce. Stir in the canned tomatoes, sugar, and broth. Simmer over medium-low heat for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350 degrees F and work on the bechamel.
• Make the bechamel. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper. Cook until golden (if needed, added a little more olive oil). Gradually add the warmed milk, whisking continuously. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes. Add the nutmeg. In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of the hot bechamel mixture with the 2 eggs. Then return all to the pan and stir into the bechamel mixture. Continue to stir or whisk the mixture bringing to a gentle boil for just 2 more minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Remove from the heat and allow to cool and thicken a little more. (You should have a creamy, thick and smooth bechamel sauce.)
• Assemble the moussaka. When ready, lightly oil a 9 ½" x 13" oven-safe baking dish. Layer half the eggplant slices on the bottom. Add the meat sauce and spread well. Add the remaining eggplant slices. Pour the bechamel on top and spread to cover all the eggplant, then sprinkle with the bread crumbs.
• Bake. Bake the moussaka casserole on the center rack of the heated oven for 45 minutes. If you need to, transfer the baking pan to the top rack and broil briefly so that the top of the moussaka gains a nice golden brown color (watch carefully).
• Remove from the heat and let the casserole sit for 10 minutes before cutting through into squares to serve. Enjoy!

VEGETARIAN MOUSSAKA - CLASSIC GREEK CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Slice up your eggplant, then sprinkle it with a salt and leave it for 30 minutes. Pat it dry. Next brush with olive oil on both sides, place on baking sheet, season with pepper and roast on 400F for 12-15 minutes, until soft; Remove from the oven and let them cool;
• Slice up your zucchini, and season with salt and pepper. Brush with oil on both sides, and place on baking sheet and bake with eggplants for about 12-15 minutes; Remove from the oven and let them cool;
• Peel and slice potatoes and cook them in a slightly salted boiling water until fork tender for about 10 minutes; place them in a colander to discard the water and let them cool;
• To prepare your spinach/feta layer, start off by chopping some onions and garlic;
• In a skillet, heat up the olive oil, add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, until translucent;
• Add garlic and cook for an additional minute;
• Add spinach and let it cook down until totally wilted;
• Then add fresh dill, salt, and pepper and set aside to cool off. This would be the time to adjust seasoning, but be careful with the salt as feta will add some saltiness to this mix.
• In a bowl beat 2 eggs, add feta, salt, and pepper;
• Once the spinach mixture is cooled, add it to the bowl, mix everything together and set it aside.
• To make a tomato sauce you'll start off the same way as above with spinach/feta layer:
• Heat up some olive oil, add onions and cook until translucent;
• Add garlic and cook for one more minute;
• Then add spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, & oregano;
• Add pureed tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper. Then cover and cook for approximately 20 minutes;
• Adjust seasoning (salt and pepper) as needed.
• In a skillet, melt butter; then add flour and whisk vigorously;
• Gradually start adding milk and mixing it in, until the sauce is smooth;
• Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg;
• Turn off the heat;
• Add Parmesan cheese and mix well;
• This would be the time to check for seasoning and adjust accordingly;
• Beat 2 eggs and 1 egg yolk and add them to the béchamel sauce, mixing thoroughly.
• Preheat the oven to 350F;
• Using a 9X13" casserole dish, brush it with olive oil or spray with cooking spray;
• Add slices of eggplant and top them with slices of zucchinis;
• Then add tomato sauce;
• Add another layer of eggplant;
• Add a layer of spinach/feta mix;
• Add sliced potatoes;
• Top it all of with your béchamel sauce;
• Sprinkle it with some more Parmesan Cheese;
• Bake it in the oven for 50-55, minutes until golden brown and bubbly;
• Let it cool off for about 20 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

VEGGIE MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the lentils, onions, garlic, herbs and spices in a large pan, and pour in 850ml water. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 10 mins.
• Tip in the tomatoes, stock cube, sweet potato and aubergine, then cover and simmer for a further 20-25 mins until the lentils and veg are tender, and the liquid has been absorbed. Remove the bay leaves.
• Meanwhile, beat the fromage frais, egg and cheese together. Tip the lentil mixture into a large ovenproof dish, cover with the cheese mixture, then arrange the tomatoes on top. Grind over some black pepper and bake for 25 mins until the topping is set. Will keep for 3 days in the fridge.

VEGETARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Remove the stalks from the aubergines, and cut in half widthwise so they're easier to manage. Cut each piece into thin slices.
• Drizzle some olive oil into a large flat-bottomed frying pan, and add a single layer of aubergine slices. Cook the aubergine for a few minutes each side, until slightly golden, and soft and pliable. You'll probably need to cook the aubergine in several batches, so when the first batch is cooked, transfer the slices to a plate, and repeat with the next batch until you've used all the slices. You may need to add a fresh drizzle of olive oil for each batch.
• While the aubergine is cooking, you can prepare the lentil mixture. Heat a dash of oil in a saucepan, and add the chopped onions and garlic. Cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, red lentils, vegetable stock, dried herbs, and a good pinch of black pepper. Mix well to combine, and bring to a simmer. Cook for around 15-20 minutes, stirring regularly, until the lentils are soft (you can add a dash more water if needed).
• Wash the potato, and cut it into very thin slices - I used a mandoline. The thin slices allow you to add the potato to the moussaka without pre-cooking, but if you don't have a mandoline, or you just prefer thicker slices of potato, parboil the potato slices for 5 minutes before using.
• To begin assembling the vegetarian moussaka, lay half of the aubergine slices in the bottom of a large baking dish (mine measured approx. 12 x 7 inches). Add the lentil mixture on top, then a layer of potato slices, and the remaining aubergine.
• To make the béchamel sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan, and add the flour. Mix well to create a roux (a thick paste), and cook for a minute or two over a medium-low heat. Add the milk a dash at a time, stirring until smooth each time before adding more (find more detailed instructions for how to make a white sauce here). Season with salt and pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
• Smooth the white sauce over the dish, and top with a few slices of tomato. Bake at 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F) for around an hour, until the potato slices are completely cooked (you'll need to cover the dish with foil after 20-30 minutes, once the top is browned to your liking). If using parboiled potato slices, you can bake it for less time.
• Leave the moussaka to stand for 10 minutes or so after you remove it from the oven (this allows you to cut it into neat slices), then serve warm.

VEGETARIAN MOUSSAKA RECIPE WITH MUSHROOM SAUCE

Steps:

• To prepare this vegetarian moussaka recipe, begin by preparing your eggplants. Remove the stalks from the eggplants and cut them into slices, aprrox.1 cm thick. Season with salt and place in a colander for about half an hour.
• Rinse the eggplants with plenty of water and squeeze with your hands, to get rid of the excessive water. Pat them dry and fry in plenty of oil, until nicely colored. Place the fried eggplants on some paper, in order to absorb the oil. For a healthier version of this vegetarian moussaka recipe try drizzling the eggplants with some olive oil and bake them for 15 minutes at 200C instead of frying them.
• Now it's time to prepare a delicious mushroom based sauce for your vegetarian moussaka. Heat a pan to medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Stir in the chopped mushrooms and sauté, until most of the juices have evaporated. Add the chopped onions and garlic and sauté. Pour in the wine and wait to evaporate. Add the tinned tomatoes, mushing them with a wooden spoon, the sugar, cinnamon and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, turn the heat down and simmer for about 15 minutes until most of the juices have evaporated and the sauce thickens.
• Lastly prepare the béchamel sauce for the vegetarian moussaka. Use a deep pan to melt the butter over low-medium heat. Add the flour whisking continuously to make a paste and add warmed milk in a steady stream. Keep whisking in order to prevent your sauce from getting lumpy. If the sauce still needs to thicken, boil over low heat while continuing to stir. Remove the pan from the stove and stir in the egg yolks, salt, pepper, a pinch of nutmeg and the grated cheese. Whisk really quickly, season with salt to taste and set aside while you assemble the dish.
• For this vegetarian moussaka recipe you will need a large baking dish, approx. 20*30 cm. Butter the bottom and sides of the pan and sprinkle with some breadcrumbs (this will help absorb the extra juices). Layer the eggplants. Pour in the mushroom sauce and even out. Add a second layer of eggplants, top with the béchamel sauce and smooth out with a spatula.
• Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake the vegetarian moussaka in preheated oven at 180-200C for about 25-30 minutes, until crust turns light golden brown. Even though it will be really hard.. you should wait for the moussaka to cool down for a while before cutting into pieces.
• Serve this delicious vegetarian moussaka with a refreshing Greek salad aside. Enjoy!

VEGETABLE MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Place racks on the upper and lower thirds of your oven. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. Grease two baking sheets with extra virgin olive oil. Spread out the zucchini, potatoes, and 3 garlic cloves in a single layer across the baking sheets. Brush the exposed tops of the vegetables with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and black pepper.
• Place baking sheet with potatoes on the upper rack of the oven. Place sheet with zucchini on the lower half. Roast veggies for 10 minutes. Remove sheets from oven and place them back in the oven, switching racks (zucchini and garlic on top, potatoes on bottom). Roast for about 5 more minutes, until veggies are tender and starting to turn golden brown (check the bottoms of the veggies for browning).
• While potatoes and zucchini are roasting, remove the stem ends from the eggplants. Peel strips from the eggplants so that they have thin stripes of peel remaining down the sides (they will be half-peeled).
• Cut the eggplants into 1/2 inch slices.
• When potatoes and zucchini are done roasting, remove them from the oven and scoop veggies into a bowl using a slotted spatula. Take the 3 roasted garlic cloves and chop them, reserve.
• Re-grease the baking sheets with olive oil. Spread eggplant slices into a single layer across the two baking sheets. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Place the baking sheets in the oven and roast for 10-15 minutes, switching the baking sheets on upper and lower thirds halfway through cooking, until the slices are tender and lightly golden (check the bottom edges of slices for browning).
• While eggplant is roasting, place a sauté pan or skillet with high sides on the stovetop. Warm up 2 tbsp olive oil in the pan over medium high heat. Sauté diced onion until softened and translucent. Add roasted bell pepper slices and chopped roasted garlic, saute for another 2 minutes. Add cooked lentils, diced tomatoes, fresh dill, oregano, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and 3/4 tsp salt to the pan; stir well. Reduce heat to medium and let mixture cook for about 5 more minutes until warmed through. If using fresh tomatoes, let the mixture cook for 10 minutes until tomatoes are soft.
• When eggplant is done roasting, remove it from the oven and reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F. Use a slotted spatula to scoop up the eggplant slices and place in a bowl. Lightly grease your baking dish or pan. Place a single layer of half of the roasted eggplant slices on the bottom of your dish.
• On top of that, place a layer of half the potatoes and half the zucchini.
• Spread the lentil mixture evenly in a single layer across the surface.
• Sprinkle 2 tbsp of grated pecorino or parmesan and ½ cup crumbled feta across the top of the lentil mixture.
• Place the rest of the potatoes and zucchini in another layer on top of the cheese.
• Finish with a layer of the remaining roasted eggplant slices. Sprinkle top of the moussaka with 2 tbsp more of grated parmesan cheese.
• Place moussaka in the oven for 20 minutes to bake at 375 degrees F. Meanwhile, while the moussaka is baking, make the béchamel sauce for the top of the moussaka. In a small pan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk flour into the melted butter till dissolved and thick.
• Continue to whisk for a few minutes until the flour/butter mixture turns a light sandy brown color.
• Slowly whisk in milk. Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium.
• Whisk in 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese. Continue whisking for a few minutes until the sauce starts to thicken. Remove from heat. Add ¾ tsp salt, nutmeg, and black pepper to taste. Whisk the beaten egg slowly into the sauce (drizzle the egg while whisking constantly).
• Remove the moussaka from the oven. Pour sauce evenly across the top of the moussaka. Sprinkle ¼ cup grated paremsan cheese on top of the sauce.
• Put moussaka back in the oven. Cook for another 30 minutes until the top is golden brown and the moussaka is cooked through. If the top isn't evenly browned, you can turn on the broiler and broil it for a minute or two-- keep a close eye on it to make sure it doesn't burn. Do not broil if using a glass dish, as they can shatter under the intense heat.
• Serve hot. Don't expect it all to hold together neatly when served; it will slice more cleanly and pieces will hold together better after it has cooled.

VEGETARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt and set aside for 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Rinse and pat eggplant dry. Cook eggplant and zucchini in hot oil until lightly browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side; remove with a slotted spoon to drain on a paper towel-lined plate, reserving as much oil as possible in the skillet
• Adding more oil to skillet as needed and let it get hot. Cook potato slices in hot oil until browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side; remove with slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate, again reserving oil in the skillet.
• Saute onion and garlic in reserved oil until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour in vinegar, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to medium-low; cook until liquid is reduced in volume and thick. Stir in tomatoes, lentils, 1/2 the juice from lentils, oregano and parsley. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 minutes.
• Layer about 1/3 of the eggplant, 1/3 of the zucchini, 1/2 the potatoes, 1/2 the onions, and 1/2 the feta into a 13x9-inch baking dish. Pour tomato mixture over vegetables; repeat layering, finishing with a layer of eggplant and zucchini.
• Cover and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• Stir butter, flour, and milk together in a small saucepan; bring to a slow boil, whisking constantly until thick and smooth. Season with pepper and nutmeg; stir. Remove from heat, cool for 5 minutes, and stir in beaten egg.
• Pour sauce over vegetables and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, for another 25 to 30 minutes.

VEGETARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Char the eggplants over a gas burner, turning with tongs, 4 to 6 minutes. Let cool, then slice 1/2 inch thick.
• Arrange the eggplant slices on two baking sheets. Brush with olive oil on both sides and season with salt. Roast until golden and cooked through, 20 to 22 minutes. Set aside.
• Combine 6 cups water and the lentils in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook until the lentils are tender but not mushy, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain and let cool.
• Fill a large wide pot with 1 inch of vegetable oil. Heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350˚ F or a piece of bread dropped in turns golden quickly. Working in batches, fry the potato slices a few at a time until golden but not too brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the potatoes to a rack to drain and season with salt.
• Make the lentil-tomato sauce: Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large wide pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened and starting to brown, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 more minute. Add the cooled lentils and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the tomato puree, tomato paste, 1/2 cup water, the oregano, 2 teaspoons salt and 3 grinds of pepper and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Make the béchamel: Combine the cinnamon stick, milk and heavy cream in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat; cook 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the nutmeg and set aside.
• In another saucepan, melt the remaining 1 stick butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking, 3 to 5 minutes (do not let it brown). Slowly whisk in the heavy cream mixture, bring to a simmer and cook until thick and bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes; remove from the heat. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl, then temper them by whisking in 1 cup of the béchamel; whisk the tempered egg mixture into the remaining béchamel. Season with salt and pepper and add the feta.
• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Oil an extra-large baking dish or roasting pan. Layer half of the eggplant in the bottom of the pan, then pour half of the lentil-tomato sauce on top, spreading it in an even layer. Top with a layer of half of the potatoes and then spread with half of the béchamel. Repeat the layers (eggplant, lentil-tomato sauce, potatoes, béchamel).
• Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. (If the top browns too quickly, cover with foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.) Let cool, then cut into pieces.

VEGETARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Heat broiler.
• Brush both sides of eggplant slices with 2 Tbsp. oil; place in single layer on rimmed baking sheet. Broil, 4 inches from heat, 5 to 7 min. on each side or until tender.
• Meanwhile, cook and stir onions and garlic in remaining oil in large skillet on medium heat 5 min. or until crisp-tender. Add next 5 ingredients; stir. Cook 3 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Place eggplant slices in single layer on bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with veggie crumbles mixture.
• Melt butter in medium saucepan on medium heat. Add flour and pepper; cook and stir until mixture begins to bubble. Gradually stir in milk. Add eggs; cook and stir until sauce is thickened. Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in cheese; pour over ingredients in baking dish.
• Bake 40 to 45 min. or until heated through.

VEGETABLE MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Cover 2 baking sheets with paper towels. Sprinkle both sides of eggplant rounds with salt. Arrange eggplant in single layer atop towels. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Position first rack in bottom third of oven and second rack in top third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Remove eggplant and paper towels from baking sheets. Pat eggplant dry. Oil same baking sheets. Brush both sides of eggplant rounds with 1/4 cup oil. Arrange in single layer on baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes. Turn eggplant and rotate pans in oven. Continue baking until tender, about 15 minutes longer. Cool. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
• Meanwhile, heat 1/4 cup oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrots and celery. Sauté until onion is very tender, about 12 minutes. Mix in garlic, then mushrooms. Sauté until juices evaporate, about 10 minutes. Mix in oregano and cinnamon. Add tomatoes and parsley. Cook until mixture is thick, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Lightly oil 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Arrange half of eggplant rounds in single layer in dish. Spoon half of tomato mixture evenly over eggplant. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cheese. Repeat layering with remaining eggplant, tomato mixture and 2 tablespoons cheese.
• Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour. Stir 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk. Simmer until sauce thickens, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Whisk in 1/2 cup cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk yolks in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot sauce. Pour sauce over vegetables in dish. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese over sauce. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Bake moussaka until heated through and sauce is golden brown on top, about 45 minutes (or about 55 minutes for refrigerated moussaka). Cool 15 minutes.