Grilled Eggplant Moussaka

Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 50 min
Servings: 8
Yield: 8 servings

Description

This grilled eggplant moussaka recipe is different than the traditional Greek recipe because the eggplant, potatoes, and zucchini are grilled, not fried.

Ingredients

3 large eggplant, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
3 large potatoes, thinly sliced
3 large zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
5 tablespoons butter
7 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 cups milk
1 pinch ground nutmeg
salt to taste
1 egg yolk, beaten
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 onion, chopped
5 ripe tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions

1 Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
2 Lightly brush eggplant, potatoes, and zucchini with 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil. Grill vegetables until just tender and golden brown.
3 Layer potatoes in the bottom of a 9x13-inch glass baking dish, then layer in eggplant, followed by zucchini; set aside.
4 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
5 Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour; cook until flour smells slightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Whisk in milk, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a bare simmer over medium-high heat; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes. Place egg yolk in a bowl; quickly whisk in 1/4 cup thickened milk, 1 tablespoon at a time. Quickly stir egg yolk mixture into thickened milk until smooth; set aside.
6 Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in ground beef and onion; cook until beef is crumbly and no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease, then stir in tomatoes, parsley, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7 Spread meat mixture over vegetables; sprinkle with feta cheese. Pour white sauce over top; smooth with a spatula.
8 Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and golden brown, about 30 minutes.