Description
This Vegetarian Moussaka is a delightful Mediterranean dish featuring layers of roasted eggplant and zucchini, savory lentil-tomato filling, and a creamy Parmesan-feta béchamel sauce. A comforting and flavorful main course that’s perfect for vegetarians and anyone looking for a hearty, nutritious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Eggplant and Zucchini:
- 2 medium eggplants, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus extra for brushing)
Lentil-Tomato Filling:
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup mushrooms, chopped
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup cooked lentils (brown or green)
Béchamel Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 large egg, beaten
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare vegetables: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange eggplant and zucchini slices on a baking sheet, brush with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and roast for 20 minutes.
- Prepare the filling: Sauté onion, garlic, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, spices, and lentils. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Make the béchamel sauce: Melt butter, whisk in flour, then milk. Cook until thickened, remove from heat, stir in cheeses, and temper the egg.
- Assemble the moussaka: Layer roasted vegetables, lentil-tomato mixture, and béchamel sauce in a baking dish. Bake for 35–40 minutes.
- Rest and serve: Let the moussaka rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use all milk in the béchamel.
- This dish tastes better the next day, making it great for meal prep.
- Serve with a green salad or crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg