Garlic Lover’s Greek Moussaka: Savory Layers of Zucchini, Beef, and Spices
Mighty Good Moussaka Recipe
Overview:
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 425.4 per serving
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Description: This mouthwatering Moussaka recipe, inspired by “The Complete Garlic Lovers Cookbook from Gilroy, the Garlic Capital of the World,” boasts a perfect blend of flavors with a few personal tweaks. It’s a crowd-pleaser that’ll have everyone asking for seconds!
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 6 | Zucchini |
| – | Olive oil |
| 6 | Onion |
| 1 | Garlic cloves |
| 4 | Lean ground beef |
| 1 | Tomato sauce |
| 1 | Tomatoes |
| 1 | Banana peppers |
| 1 | Bay leaf |
| 1 | Honey |
| 1/4 | Pepper |
| 1 | Oregano |
| – | Fresh mushrooms |
| 1/4 | Cinnamon |
| 10 | Allspice |
| 1/2 | 2% fat cottage cheese |
| 1/2 | Marsala wine |
| 1 | Parmesan cheese |
| 1/4 | Romano cheese |
| 1/4 | Fresh parsley |
| 2 | Dried parsley |
Instructions:
-
Prepare Zucchini:
- Peel the zucchini and slice into 1/2-inch rounds.
-
-
Brown Zucchini:
- Heat a skillet and spray with vegetable oil.
- Quickly brown the zucchini slices on both sides, spraying with oil as necessary. Arrange half of the zucchini slices in an oiled 9x12x2-inch baking dish.
-
Prepare Meat Mixture:
- Heat olive oil in the same skillet and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent.
- Add the ground beef, stir to break up any lumps, and cook for about 5 minutes.
-
Make Tomato Sauce:
- In a saucepan, combine tomato sauce, tomatoes, bay leaf, banana peppers, honey, oregano, pepper, and allspice. Simmer gently for 10 minutes.
-
Cook Mushrooms:
- In a separate pan, heat a little oil and brown the mushrooms, then add them to the meat mixture and mix well.
-
Assemble Moussaka:
- Pour all of the meat mixture over the zucchini slices in the baking dish.
- Top with cinnamon, allspice, and cottage cheese.
- Cover with the remaining zucchini slices, then pour the tomato sauce and wine over the top.
-
Bake:
- Sprinkle with Parmesan and Romano cheese.
- Bake for 1 hour in a preheated 350°F oven.
-
Serve:
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve hot.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 425.4
- Fat Content: 24.1g
- Saturated Fat: 6.2g
- Cholesterol Content: 56.6mg
- Sodium Content: 462.3mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 19.9g
- Fiber: 4.1g
- Sugar: 13.8g
- Protein Content: 25.9g
Keywords:
Cheese, Vegetable, Meat, Greek, European, Potluck, Weeknight, Oven, < 4 Hours, Easy
Indulge in the irresistible flavors of this Mighty Good Moussaka, a dish that’s perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a casual weeknight dinner or a gathering with friends and family. With its hearty layers of zucchini, savory meat mixture, and aromatic spices, this recipe is sure to become a favorite in your culinary repertoire!
