Moussaka

[zxcvbob]

I like the concept of eggplants, but never know what to do with them.  So I buy them, wait 2 or 3 weeks, then throw them away.    It's time to change that.  I'm planting eggplants in the garden this year to force the issue.

Today I'm making moussaka.  If you're not familiar with it, it resembles lasagna with a béchamel sauce, made with eggplant or eggplant and sliced potatoes instead of noodles.  And the meat sauce should have cinnamon in it.

I found a couple of different recipes and mashed them together:
https://30seconds.com/food/tip/55365/Easy-Moussaka-Recipe-This-Middle-Eastern-Casserole-Recipe-Is-Heavenly
https://www.mygreekdish.com/recipe/vegan-moussaka-with-lentils/

I mostly followed the vegan recipe (lentils and dried mushrooms) except I added beef bouillon to the sauce.  I made the béchamel sauce from the other one, with real eggs and milk; I reduced the amount of oil but made up for it by adding cream.

It just came out of the oven and looks gorgeous, but I'm having second thoughts about making a vegetable version the first time instead of using beef or beef-and-lamb.

[zxcvbob]

It's actually good. It almost has too much salt; I seasoned it before it was through cooking down.  Also it could use more eggplant. The 2 big eggplants that're in there totally disappeared. That means I should have sliced them thicker and used 1 more.  The thin layer of potato slices at the bottom is nice.

It will probably taste better tomorrow, and the lentils might even absorb some of the salt.

[K Frame]

I LOVE moussaka.

My Mom used to make a green bean moussaka when I was a kid. My God I loved that.

There's a Greek-owned restaurant near my house that I occasionally go to. I always get their moussaka. It's incredible Traditional Greek style with all of the spices.

[zxcvbob]

The cinnamon was interesting the first time I ate it, but it's starting to get annoying.  I'll make this again but leave it out and maybe add a little cheese.  It won't be moussaka; more like a vegetable lasagna with baked eggplant slices for the noodles.  Thin layer of potatoes, eggplant, meat sauce, mozzarella or provolone, eggplant again, béchamel, parmesan on top.  I might even make it again with the lentils and dried mushrooms; that's better than I expected but it could use some red pepper flakes.