Moussaka is one of our favorite Greek dishes. It’s an eggplant based dish that is traditionally made with ground beef. Here we swapped the meat with lentils to make this an even heartier vegetarian dish. It has a creamy bechamel sauce that goes on top that makes this dish the comfort food that it is.
Ingredients
- 2medium eggplants, sliced into 1/2″ rounds
- Kosher salt
- 4 Tbsp.extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1medium yellow onion, chopped
- 8-oz. baby bellas, sliced
- 3cloves garlic, minced
- 1 c.green lentils
- 1(14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes
- 2 c.water
- 1 tsp.dried oregano
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 Tbsp.butter
- 2 Tbsp.all-purpose flour
- 2 c.milk
- 3/4 c.freshly grated Parmesan, divided
- 2large egg yolks
Directions
-
- Step 1Preheat oven to 400°. In a single layer, lay eggplant rounds out on paper towel-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle salt on both sides of eggplant. Let sit 10 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels.
- Step 2Brush eggplants with 2 tablespoons oil and place on baking sheets in a single layer. Bake until tender, 12 minutes.
- Step 3In a large pot over medium heat, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add onion and mushrooms and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more. Add lentils, tomatoes, and water. Season with oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer until lentils are tender, 30 minutes. Add more water as necessary if sauce looks too thick.
- Step 4In a medium pot over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. Slowly pour in milk, whisking until no lumps remain. Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes, then add in Parmesan and stir until melted.
- Step 5Place yolks in a small bowl and lightly beat. Add about 2 tablespoons of bechamel and whisk to combine, then pour mixture back into bechamel and whisk until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Let simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes more.
- Step 6In a 9”-x-13” baking dish, place a single layer of eggplants. Add half of the lentil mixture, then repeat with more eggplant and the rest of the lentils. Top with a final layer of eggplants. Spoon bechamel over eggplant and top with remaining ¼ cup of Parmesan.
- Step 7Bake until top is golden and heated through, 30 minutes.
