BEEF MOUSSAKA

Beef Moussaka image

This low-fat casserole relies on spices, tomato paste, wine and vinegar for flavor instead of the ton of cheese (and fat) found in regular moussaka recipes.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 2h20m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 23

Ingredients

Cooking spray
1 pound Asian eggplants, unpeeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon powdered garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup red wine
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
2 cups 1-percent milk
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch nutmeg
Kosher salt
1 cup grated Parmesan
Cooking spray

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Toss the eggplants, potatoes, olive oil, 1/2 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl, then spread the vegetables on the baking sheet. Roast until tender, about 45 minutes, tossing the vegetables about halfway through. Set aside.
Meanwhile, make the Meat Sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until soft and beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the tomato paste, oregano, cinnamon, garlic and ginger; stir quickly to toast spices evenly. Once fragrant, add 1/2 cup water to the pan and stir to combine, scraping up any brown bits. Add the beef to the pan, stirring with a wooden spoon to break it up, and cook until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the wine, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook until the meat is fully cooked and the juices are reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the parsley and set aside.
Make the Bechamel: Put the milk and flour in a small saucepan and whisk until the flour is dissolved. Place the pan over medium heat and whisk continuously until the mixture comes to a boil; continue to whisk until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Remove from the heat and whisk in 3/4 cup of the Parmesan; set aside.
Assemble the Moussaka: Spray a 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Spread the eggplants and potatoes in the bottom of the dish, layer the meat sauce evenly over the vegetables, top with the bechamel and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, until the top is browned and slightly puffed, 35 to 40 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Make-Ahead Tip: The unbaked casserole can be covered and refrigerated overnight before baking. The baked casserole can be frozen for up to 2 weeks; cover with foil and reheat at 350 degrees F until hot, 35 to 45 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 390 calorie, Fat 15 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Cholesterol 65 milligrams, Sodium 970 milligrams, Carbohydrate 31 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 28 grams, Sugar 8 grams