Greek Food, Cooking and Recipe Community

Moussaka Recipe from Cooking Greek Cookbook

1 - 4 of 4 Posts
k_tsoukalas

k_tsoukalas

Administrator
One of my favorite Greek dishes is Moussaka, but I don't make it at home a lot. One of the issues is that I haven't found a great recipe, and I know that working with eggplant can be tricky. In the past, people have tried to explain to me how to make it, but their explanations have been confusing. I need a proper recipe that is easy to understand. It looks like Chef Pemi put together a great version of it that even someone like me, who has been intimidated by making my own moussaka, can follow. Not only that, but it looks yummy!

Check out the Cooking Greek Cookbook by Worldwide Greeks out on Hardcover, Paperback and eBook here!

moussaka-recipe.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It is important to salt and drain eggplant. Have tried skipping it, and it turns out too watery. The cinnamon in the tomato sauce is very necessary, don't skip it if you think it sounds odd. Cinnamon has a nice affinity for tomato sauce, and when it's there people often don't know what is making it taste so great. I don't measure spices or herbs, always add to taste, so add a bit, taste, and if you like add a bit more, but don't go overboard. Maybe I should measure? Mostly I do things like this by taste.

I've never included potatoes in moussaka, as it's a regional thing, common in Northern Greece, and not done in the southern part. I don't care for the mouth-feel of potatoes in moussaka. I much prefer it to be only eggplant.

Good luck!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lenio and k_tsoukalas
Luana said:
It is important to salt and drain eggplant. Have tried skipping it, and it turns out too watery. The cinnamon in the tomato sauce is very necessary, don't skip it if you think it sounds odd. Cinnamon has a nice affinity for tomato sauce, and when it's there people often don't know what is making it taste so great. I don't measure spices or herbs, always add to taste, so add a bit, taste, and if you like add a bit more, but don't go overboard. Maybe I should measure? Mostly I do things like this by taste.

I've never included potatoes in moussaka, as it's a regional thing, common in Northern Greece, and not done in the southern part. I don't care for the mouth-feel of potatoes in moussaka. I much prefer it to be only eggplant.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
I think in the past I have skipped salting the eggplants and I wonder if that's the whole reason why I haven't liked my versions in the past! I have also never used potatoes - I wonder if the the potatoes absorb some of the liquid generated by the eggplant. But, you said you don't use potatoes anyway and salting gives the dish a nice texture?
 
Yes, I've tried skipping salting the eggplant also, but it is crucial as it is what draws moisture out of eggplant. If the eggplant is not salted, the moussaka will be watery. I doubt potatoes absorb liquid as when eggplant is salted, the moisture is drawn out without potatoes.

The potatoes, I think, are a regional difference, used in the northern part of Greece but not in the southern part. I don't care for their texture when they're in moussaka, but if you like them, by all means add them.
 
1 - 4 of 4 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

How does your family season dolmades?

I’ve been thinking about how much dolmades can vary from one family to another, especially when it comes to seasoning. Even when the basic ingredients are similar, the flavor can be completely different depending on which herbs and spices are used.

How does your family season dolmades? Do you use mostly dill and parsley, or do you add mint as well? I’ve also seen recipes that include green onions, oregano, or even a little cinnamon, especially when meat is part of the filling.

I’m curious whether you season the rice mixture pretty heavily before rolling the grape leaves or keep it simple and let the lemon and olive oil provide most of the flavor. Does your family add lemon juice directly to the filling, or only during cooking and serving?

I’d especially love to hear about any regional or family traditions. What gives your dolmades their distinctive flavor?

Is lamb or beef more traditional for giouvetsi?

I've been looking into traditional Greek giouvetsi recipes lately, and I'm curious about which meat is considered the most traditional. I've seen recipes that use lamb, others that call for beef, and even some that use chicken.

I love the idea of slowly cooking the meat in a rich tomato sauce with orzo until everything becomes tender and flavorful. However, I'm wondering whether lamb or beef would be the more authentic choice.

Is one traditionally preferred in certain regions of Greece? I've read that lamb is often associated with older Greek recipes, but beef seems to be very common in modern versions of giouvetsi.

I'm also curious whether the choice of meat changes the way the dish is prepared. Does lamb require different seasonings or cooking times than beef?

For those familiar with traditional Greek cooking, which version do you prefer, and which would you recommend trying first?

Do you put potatoes in your briam?

I've noticed that there are quite a few variations of briam, especially when it comes to which vegetables people include. One ingredient I'm particularly curious about is potatoes. Do you always put potatoes in your briam, or do you prefer making it without them?

I usually think of briam as a combination of zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and plenty of olive oil. I love how the potatoes absorb all those wonderful flavors as everything slowly roasts together in the oven.

However, I've seen recipes that leave the potatoes out entirely and focus more on the summer vegetables. I imagine that makes the dish a little lighter.

I'm also curious whether there are regional differences in how briam is prepared throughout Greece. Does your family have a particular way of making it? And what vegetables do you consider absolutely essential?

Do you make your pastitsio with a thick or thin layer of krema?

I've always preferred my pastitsio with a nice, thick layer of béchamel on top. To me, that's one of the best parts of the dish! I love when the krema is rich, creamy, and thick enough to hold its shape when you cut into the pastitsio.

The problem is that I've been having trouble getting my krema just right. Sometimes it comes out too thin, and other times the texture isn't quite as smooth as I'd like. I've tried adjusting the amount of flour and milk, but I still haven't found the perfect balance.

I'm curious how everyone else makes theirs. Do you prefer a thick layer of béchamel or just enough to cover the pasta? Does your family add eggs or cheese to the mixture?

I'd especially love to hear any tips for making a thick, smooth krema that sets beautifully when baked!

Greek cooking without a recipe?

I've been thinking about how much traditional Greek cooking relies on instinct rather than following exact recipes. Some of the Greek dishes I learned to make were taught to me by feel, with someone showing me what to do rather than measuring everything out.

I actually enjoy cooking this way, but I've noticed that it can make certain dishes difficult to recreate consistently! Sometimes everything comes together perfectly, and other times I wonder what I did differently.

I'm curious how others approach this. Did you learn Greek cooking by watching your yiayia, mother, or other relatives? Do you measure ingredients, or do you just know when something looks, smells, or tastes right?
Sign up for a free account and share your thoughts, photos, questions about Greek food, travel and culture!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top