Description
Indulge in a delicious Cheat’s Moussaka that’s quick to prepare and bursting with Greek flavors. This comforting dish features layers of seasoned meat, grilled eggplant, and zucchini, topped with a creamy yogurt mixture and baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meat Layer:
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
For the Vegetable Layers:
- 1 medium eggplant, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- 1 zucchini, sliced
For the Topping:
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Prepare the Vegetables: Lightly salt the eggplant and zucchini slices, set aside for 10 minutes to draw out moisture, then pat dry.
- Sauté the Meat: In a skillet, heat olive oil, sauté onion and garlic until soft, then add the ground meat. Cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Stir in oregano, cinnamon, salt, pepper, tomato paste, and crushed tomatoes. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Prepare the Yogurt Mixture: In a separate bowl, mix Greek yogurt, egg, Parmesan, and nutmeg until smooth.
- Layer the Dish: Lightly grease a baking dish, layer the bottom with half of the eggplant and zucchini slices, spoon over the meat mixture, top with remaining vegetables, then pour the yogurt mixture evenly over the top.
- Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden and bubbling. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For an even quicker version, use pre-grilled eggplant or zucchini slices.
- Ground turkey can be used as a leaner option.
- This dish reheats well and can be made a day ahead.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
