Best Yai Yais Moussaka Recipes

AUTHENTIC GREEK MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt and place in a colander set in the sink or over a plate. Let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour so the salt can draw out any bitterness.
• Meanwhile, make bechamel sauce. Heat milk in a saucepan almost to a boil. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Whisk in flour until a smooth paste forms. Lower heat and gradually pour in hot milk, whisking constantly until bechamel sauce thickens. Season with salt. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Rinse eggplant slices under cold running water. Squeeze out liquid and pat dry with paper towels. Whisk egg yolks into the cooled bechamel.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet and cook eggplant slices in batches until each side is lightly browned, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on a large plate lined with paper towels.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
• Heat remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over low heat. Cook grated onion until soft, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high and add ground beef. Cook and stir until browned and crumbly, about 5 minutes. Season with allspice, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.
• Stir in tomato sauce and bring to a simmer. Cook until all excess liquid has evaporated and mixture appears dry, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in parsley and remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly, then stir in the egg white.
• Arrange a layer of eggplant in the prepared baking dish. Cover eggplant with all of the beef mixture and sprinkle with 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese. Cover with remaining eggplant and sprinkle another 1/3 of Parmesan cheese on top. Pour bechamel sauce over the top and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the top of the moussaka is set and golden, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from oven and let rest at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

YAI-YAI'S MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Layers:.
• Preheat oven to ''Broil''.
• Wash eggplants and potatoes (peel). Cut lengthwise down the middle, then into ½ inch slices.
• Sprinkle salt on both sides of the eggplant and potato slices.
• Coat 2 baking trays with olive oil (one for each vegetable because potatoes will cook faster than the eggplant).
• Use paper towels to pat the salt absorbed moisture from the eggplant and potato slices (I suggest leaving a little moisture on the potatoes because they tend to dry out).
• Coat eggplant and potato slices with olive oil and place in oven until browned (light to medium). Flip and repeat.
• Coat a non-stick 9 x13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
• Cover the bottom with your eggplant slices (potatoes will be used later).
• Set oven to 350°F.
• Beef:.
• In a saucepan, add olive oil, beef, and preferred amount of onion.
• Cook until beef is brown and the onion is tender.
• Drain excess fluid.
• Add garlic, tomato paste, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Very important: taste after mixing and adjust ingredients accordingly (some people might like a little more of a kick).
• Heavy Construction:.
• Pour enough beef mixture to cover eggplant.
• Layer with the potato slices.
• Cover with beef.
• Layer with eggplant slices.
• Make all the layers you can! Have fun with it, but remember to leave enough room for the cream sauce! Set aside.
• Cream Sauce:.
• Melt butter in saucepan.
• Stir in flour, salt, nutmeg, and white pepper.
• Remove from heat and slowly stir in milk.
• Return to heat until slightly thickened.
• In a small bowl beat the eggs and additional yolk.
• Temper the eggs by adding a bit of the hot mixture (If you don't do this the eggs will instantly cook when they are added to the mixture).
• Over low heat: slowly add eggs to mixture. Mix well.
• *** Pour sauce over layers and sprinkle the cheeses.
• *** Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes to an hour (whenever the sauce is brown).
• *** Let the moussaka cool (until room temperature) before refrigeration.