Moussaka

Prep Time 90 Minutes Serving Size 4 Servings

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 eggplants, about 4 lbs. total, peeled and sliced about ¼ inch thick.
• 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef (or lamb)
• 2 large onions, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 teaspoon tomato paste
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Heat 2.5 cups of vegetable oil in large frying pan. Add eggplant slices and fry both sides until golden brown. Remove the slices from the oil and place them on paper towel to absorb oil and set side.

2. In a skillet, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and heat at medium temperature, sauté the onions until translucent. Add ground meat mix well until all liquids evaporates.

3. Add salt, and half the amount of spices and set aside.
4. In a 2 inches deep baking pan, arrange half of the fried eggplant, add a layer of the cooked ground meat, then add another layer of the fried eggplant.

5. Mix 1 cup of water with the crushed tomato and the tomato paste, add the minced garlic and the rest of the spices.
6. Pour the mixture of water and spices on top of the eggplant in the baking pan.

7. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 60 minutes.
8. Serve hot with pita bread.