Musakka, Eggplant Moussaka Turkish Way
Musakka is an eggplant based (sometimes potato) dish, often containing ground lamb or beef and is common in the Middle East, Balkans and of course Turkey with many local and regional variations.
While many versions, especially the Greek one Moussaka, have a top layer made of béchamel sauce, Turkish musakka consists of sliced and fried eggplant served in a tomato-based meat sauce, warm or at room temperature. This dish is a classic in traditional Turkish cuisine and pair with it rice and yogurt (or better cacık), that's an addictive combination.
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Ingredients:
• 500 g ground lamb (or beef), lean or medium
• 1 kg eggplants
• 4 tomatoes (medium size) 3 of them peeled
• 2 onions
• 10 mild green chilies
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 3 tsp salt
• 3 tsp chili flakes (pul biber)
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 liter oil for frying
• 1 cup chopped parsley
Instructions:
1. Cut the eggplants in rings, about 1 cm thick for each piece
2. Soak them in salted water for 10 minutes, drain and pat dry with a paper towel
3. Heat up 1 liter of oil in large pan and fry the eggplants until golden brown
4. Transfer to a plate with a paper towel to get rid of the excess oil
5. Heat up a large pan and start cooking the ground meat while crushing and mixing to avoid clumps
6. In the meantime, finely chop the onions and crush and peel the garlics and finely chop
7. Once the meat is slightly browned and cooked, add the chopped onions and cook until softened
8. Deseed and chop 5-6 green chilies and add them into the pan, stir until the chilies are cooked
9. Add 2 tsp salt, 3 tsp chili flakes and 1 tsp black pepper and cook until combined and fragrant
10. Peel and dice 2 tomatoes into cubes and add into the pan
11. Bring to low heat, cook and stir until the tomatoes are softened and nicely cooked
12. While it’s cooking slowly, add 2 tbsp tomato / chili paste into a sauce pan and stir and cook for 1 -2 minutes
13. Add 400 ml water and 1 tsp salt, mix until incorporated
14. Let it simmer and cook until the sauce is slightly thickened
15. Layer the eggplants to the bottom of a large enough baking dish or glass casserole
16. Layer the ground meat mix evenly on top to cover the eggplants.
17. Pour the sauce over evenly
18. Cut 1 tomato into ½ cm thick slices and cut 4 green chilies into half
19. Garnish the tray with the tomato and chili slices
20. Cook in a pre-heated oven at 200°C / 390°F about 30 – 40 minutes until the tomatoes and chilies are cooked and nicely roasted
21. Serve in slices and enjoy with yogurt or Turkish rice pilaf
Links to some of the ingredients and equipments I use (Affiliate links*):
☕ Glass Measuring Jug 1 litre:
???? My favorite (budget) Whetstone for Knife Sharpening:
???? WÜSTHOF CLASSIC IKON 8 Inch Chef’s Knife :
???? Food Safe Black Nitrile Gloves, Box of 100:
???? Flat Kebab Skewers:
???? Square Kabob Skewers:
???? Turkish Kebab and Meat Knife 50 cm:
???? Turkish Kebab and Meat Knife 40 cm:
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Moussaka: Dehydrated Eggplant and Ground Lamb (or Beef) Casserole
Eggplant is one of my favorite things to dehydrate. Here, I make this traditional greek casserole but use my own dehydrated eggplant instead of fresh. You can make it Keto by simply replacing the flour and milk I used for the sauce with thickened heavy cream, or melted and thinned cream cheese.
Addictive Turkish Eggplant and Ground Beef Recipe - Patlican Tiridi
This is one my favorite dishes and is truly addictive as it's easy and full flavors. Tirit, (adopted from Persian language, word tarid / thareed referring to dishes made with meat, stock and stale breads, are made throughout Anatolia and there are tens of different versions in each region of Turkiye.
Traditionally, tirit dishes are made with stale bread to avoid waste and make the most out of the left over ingredients in the kitchen.
This version from the city of Konya (Konya Patlıcan Tiridi) is made with fried eggplants and mildly spiced minced meat cooked with tomatoes, are served with garlic yogurt and toasted (stale) bread, which soaks up all the flavors.
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Links to some of the ingredients and equipments I use (Affiliate links*):
☕ Glass Measuring Jug 1 litre:
???? Baking Sheet:
???? My favorite (budget) Whetstone for Knife Sharpening:
???? WÜSTHOF CLASSIC IKON 8 Inch Chef’s Knife :
???? SHI BA ZI ZUO Chinese cleaver:
???? Food Safe Black Nitrile Gloves, Box of 100:
???? Flat Kebab Skewers:
???? Square Skewers:
???? Turkish Kebab and Meat Knife 50 cm:
???? Turkish Kebab and Meat Knife 40 cm:
???? Round Mixing Tray Stainless Steel:
Ingredients:
• 2 – 3 eggplants, 600 g
• Ground beef or lamb, 250 g
• 1 medium tomato
• 1 medium onion
• Pita / pide bread (traditionally, stale bread (pide / tandir) is used to avoid waste)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp paprika powder
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 250 g plain yogurt
• 1 clove of garlic
• Frying oil
• 1 tbsp butter (optional to toast the breads)
• Chopped parsley to garnish (optional)
Instructions:
1. Wash and peel the eggplants in stripes and cut into large cubes
2. Soak the egpplant cubes in salted water for 15 mins, drain and pat dry
Alternatively, rub the cubes with coarse salt, let sit in a strainer for 15 mins, drain the excess liquid.
3. Fry the eggplants in a separate pan with vegetable oil until nicely browned
Alternatively, lightly oil the eggplants and roast in the oven for 15 – 20 mins
4. Transfer the fried / roasted eggplants onto a paper towel, drain to get rid of the excess oil
5. Finely chop the onion and dice the tomato
6. Heat up 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pan and add the ground meat. Stir and cook until nicely browned.
7. Remove the ground meat from the pan and set aside, leave as much as possible oil in the pan.
8. Add and cook the onions for 2 - 3 mins until softened
9. Add the tomato paste and stir and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
10. Add the diced tomato, cook until the tomatoes are soft and reduced to half.
11. Add the minced beef, together with 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp paprika powder and 1/2 tsp black pepper
12. Stir and cook the minced beef for 2 mins to evenly cook and combine
13. Cover the lid and cook for another 15 mins with the lid covered
14. Add the eggplants into the pan with the minced beef mixture, gently stir to combine and turn off the heat
15. Whisk the yogurt in a bowl and grate or grind 1 clove of garlic and mix with the yogurt
16. Cut the bread in small cubes and toast with 1 tbsp butter until golden brown (optional).
(traditionally, stale bread (pide / tandir bread) is used to avoid waste)
17. Layer the bread cubes on the bottom of the serving plate
18. Layer on top the garlic yogurt and spread over the bread cubes
19. Finally layer the eggplants and ground beef mixture on top
20. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Moroccan Lamb With Potato & Raisins | Gordon Ramsay
This super simple Moroccan lamb dish is the perfect main that will surely impress any guest.
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Outrageously Delicious Greek Moussaka
More recipes like this in my debut cookbook 'Comfy' and you can pre-order HERE: ☺️
Moussaka is a Greek classic, and here I'll show you how to make it in the most delicious way possible!
Outrageously Delicious Greek Moussaka | Serves 8
FULL RECIPE POST:
INGREDIENTS
Beef Layer:
1.6lb / 750g Ground Beef (preferably fairly lean)
1 cup / 240ml Tomato Passata (pureed/strained tomatoes in US)
1 cup / 240ml Beef Stock
1/2 cup / 120ml Dry Red Wine (can sub more beef stock)
1/4 cup finely diced Fresh Parsley, plus extra to serve
2 heaped tbsp Tomato Paste (Tomato Puree in UK)
1 tbsp finely diced Fresh Thyme Leaves
1 large White Onion, finely diced
2 cloves of Garlic, finely diced
2 small or 1 large Bay Leaf
3/4 tsp Salt, or to taste
1/2 tsp Sugar (any)
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Black Pepper, or to taste
1 tbsp Olive Oil
Béchamel Sauce:
4oz / 120g Unsalted Butter
4oz / 120g Plain Flour
4 cups / 1litre Milk, at room temp
1 cup / 80g freshly grated Pecorino Romano, plus extra to serve (Kefalotiri Cheese is traditional, can also sub parmesan)
2 Egg Yolks
1/2 tsp Salt, or to taste
1/2 small Nutmeg, grated (or 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg)
1/4 tsp White Pepper
Veg Layers (see notes for baking version):
2lb / 1kg (approx 4 smallish) Eggplants/Aubergine, sliced around 1/3 thickness (I do lengthways do you can make more smaller rounds if you wish)
1.6lb / 750g (approx 2 large) Baking Potatoes, peeled & sliced around 1/4
1lb / 500g (approx 2 medium) Zucchini/Courgettes, sliced into approx 1/3 strips (I do lengthways)
2 cups / 500ml Vegetable or Olive Oil, or enough to cover veg in the pan
few pinches of Parsley & Pecorino (to sprinkle in between layers)
Salt & Pepper, as needed
METHOD
Beef Layer: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan or pot over medium heat. Add onion and fry until it begins to soften/brown, then add in garlic and fry for 1-2mins longer. Add in beef and break up with a wooden spoon until fully browned. Stir in tomato paste and fry for a couple of mins, then pour in wine. Deglaze the pan if needed, then pour in passata and beef stock. Add in parsley, thyme, cinnamon, salt, sugar, pepper & bay leaf and give it a good stir. Keep on a gentle simmer for around 30mins, stirring occasionally until nice and thick. Meanwhile...
PREP Veg Layer: Rest few sheets of paper towel on a flat surface and lay on your eggplant slices. Rub a pinch of salt over both sides, then add two layers of paper towels on top. On top of that add the zucchini slices, followed by another layer of paper towel, followed by potato slices and finished with another layer of paper towel. Gently press down to soak up the moisture. Can use tea towels instead if you wish.
COOK Veg Layer: Heat up enough oil to cover the veg in a suitably sized pot/pan until it gently sizzles (you're aiming for around 150C/300F). Carefully start sliding in your potato slices and fry both sides until lightly golden with the potato fork tender. Remove, shake off oil and place on fresh paper towel. Increase oil temp slightly to around 170C/340F and fry the zucchini slices until softened & lightly browned, then finish with the eggplant slices. Leave everything to drain on paper towels. You can use two pans to speed things up or bake one or two of the veg (see notes).
Béchamel Sauce: In a suitably sized pot over medium heat melt butter. Stir in flour to create a paste then gradually begin whisking in your milk. Once you've poured in all the milk and the sauce is thick, stir in salt, white pepper and nutmeg. Take the pot off heat and stir in pecorino until the sauce is lump free, then quickly whisk in the egg yolks. Take 1/2 cup of the sauce and stir it into the beef.
Stack Moussaka: Add a layer of potato to the baking dish (overlapping as needed) and sprinkle over a hefty pinch of parsley, pecorino, salt & pepper. Follow with zucchini and parsley/pecorino/salt/pepper, then half the eggplant with a pinch of salt and pepper. Try and close all the gaps and make it all nice and compact. Spread over beef layer, top with the rest of your eggplant then top with the Béchamel sauce.
Cook & Serve Moussaka: Finish with a sprinkling of pecorino then place in the oven at 180C/350F for 35-45mins, or until golden on top. I highly recommend leaving it to sit for at least 15mins, just to help it keep shape. Serve up and enjoy!
As always, for full nutrition, guidance and recipe notes head to the full blog post:
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EggPlant Casserole Recipe