Moussaka - Egyptian eggplant and ground beef

Moussaka is a tasty Mediterranean dish consisting of eggplant and spiced ground meat, a favorite during parties and celebrations in Egypt.

Eggplants are grilled or roasted first and mixed with roasted garlic and put in layers into a pot. Olive oil, onions, thyme, oregano, and other herbs are added to the mix.

Key ingredients used in making this dish are eggplants, jalapeno peppers, spiced ground meat (lamb or beef), and bechamel sauce.

Preparation time : 20 mins

Cooking time: 1 hour

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound of ground beef

• 2 medium sized eggplants

• 2 large tomatoes

• 3 table spoons of tomato paste

• medium sized bell pepper (green or red)

• 1 small chili pepper (or less or none at all)

• 4 cloves of garlic minced

• 1/2 table spoon of Cumin

• 1/2 table spoon of coriander

• Salt to taste

• 1 Chicken bouillon

• Vegetable oil

Preparation

1. Using two table spoons of oil light fry ground beef until brown on all sides in frying pan and remove from pan and set aside

2. Cut chili pepper horizontally and remove the seeds then cut in small pieces

3. Slice eggplant into rings

4. Slice bell pepper into rings and remove seeds

5. In the same or separate frying pan, use enough oil to lightly fry on all sides the eggplant and green peppers and remove from pan once all sides are lightly browned and set aside

6. If more oil is needed add two table spoons of oil to pan and fry minced garlic and chili pepper and stir for 2 minutes

7. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

8. Add tomato paste to frying pan and cook for about 10 minutes or until boiling

9. Add cumin, coriander, and salt and then add half cube of chicken bouillon and cook for a minute or two.

10. Place the sauce into a casserole or baking dish

11. Add the following ingredients as layers, eggplant then green pepper then tomato rings and then ground beef and repeat the cycle of layers again with the remaining ingredients

12. Sprinkle the remaining of the bouillon cube on the top then add 1/2 cup of water

13. Put the casserole in the oven and bake for about half an hour

14. Serve with rice or pita bread.