Mama's Budget beater #2 - Vegetarian Lentil Moussaka
and not milk for the Bechamel Sauce, much nicer!
Delicious Lentil Moussaka served with a Cucumber Salad - almost Tzatziki
Traditional Moussaka consists of layers of meat, potatoes or eggplant and topped with a Bechamel sauce.
The popular Greek version is prepared in many kitchens throughout the world.
According to wikipedia the word Moussaka was originally derived from the Ottoman Turkish language, and first appeared in the English language around 1862.
*Ingredients required for 5-6 servings, Total Cost ZAR 77,00:
1 Onion
1 Red or Green Bell Pepper
1 clove Garlic
100g Butter
4 medium Tomatoes - Mama used Roma Tomatoes (or you can use tinned Tomatoes)
Fresh Basil
1 can Brown Lentils in brine
1 large Eggplant/ Brinjal/ Aubergine
500ml Greek style full cream Yogurt
50ml Flour
1 cup grated Cheddar Cheese
Method:
Sautee crushed Garlic, diced Onions & diced Peppers in a little butter & olive oil
Add diced Tomatoes and sweet Basil plus season to taste.
Cook over medium heat till sauce thickens, then add lentils.
Slice Eggplant.
Sautee eggplant slices in equal quantities butter & olive oil (approx 2 tablespoons of each).
Make a Bechamel sauce with the yogurt, butter and flour, season to taste.
Melt approx 60 grams butter, add flour, stir and cook a little, then add yogurt and stir till it thickens and start to bubble, add seasoning & immediately remove from heat.
Now the symphony of layered flavours starts :)
First layer - A layer of Tomato & Lentil mixture.
A layer of Eggplant slices.
A layer of Bechamel Sauce.
Repeat layers with the remaining ingredients.
Top with grated cheese.
Bake at 170 C in a fan oven (180 C in regular oven) for about 30 minutes.
Mama made a simple grated Cucumber salad - added yogurt, lemon zest, a squeeze of lemon juice, salt & pepper, almost a Greek Tzatziki sauce but did not have Dill!
Papa Bear is drawn into the kitchen again by the delicious aromas, so Mama Bear quickly dished up his helping before he devours it all and leaves nothing for her and Granny Bear :)
The three bears went to bed that night with full tummies and dreams of the deep blue seas in the Greek Isles.
Image credit
This dish can also be frozen successfully, just like her Cottage Pie, so you can again double this up and keep it in the freezer for a quick meal when rushed for time.
Mama will be back soon to give you another budget beating main meal recipe - a rich Beef & Veggie Casserole cooked in Coke.
Please upvote, comment and resteem if you enjoyed my post.
All images property of @lizelle
I'm loving these budget beaters! We're actually going to make Cottage/Sheperds Pie tonight. Inspired by your previous one :) Plus adding those little historical tidbits in there is wonderful. Great job @lizelle
Thanks @therneau, glad it inspired you, it's great for sandwiches the next day also :)
i love eggplant a san ingredient...the recipe seems tastefull...thanks for sharing
Thanks @mrs-cook, you can see the eggplants have been getting to me this week ;)
i will stay tuned for your recipes my dear...the one photo you uploaded in this post i think located in my country at santorini island...am i right?
Yes it is, looks stunning, I got it from pixabay (free images) You're lucky to live there :)
The eggplant for me is the best thing I love: fried, roasted, cream, lasagna, pickled, sautéed with garlic, your recipe is very good because you substitute the meat for the wonderful lentil grains. I apologize for my english.
Greetings from my kitchen. Venezuela
Gracias @galletikasar, appreciate your comments, no need to apologize for your English, you're doing fine! I checked your blog, those oat balls looks delicious, is it possible for you to translate it? I'm also hooked on eggplant as you can see:)
Delicious, this is like a pastiche you know what it is ??
Hi @yesslife, no what is that? It was delicious :)
They are eggplant with cheese, cream béchamel and ground meat all baked. I imagine it looks delicious
Hello my friend how are you, the grandmother and her recipes that fall in love, everything looks very exquisite, the photos for the excellent preparation, in venezuela we do something very similar, pastiche of aubergine with meat, it is very tasty, greetings and a hug to the grandmother, the cheff of the house, greetings to you too!
Thanks @jennimorillo, must be the same, we also normally make it with meat. This was my cooking, Mom Lily only bakes the cookies and pies these days, she gets tired quickly but is well otherwise. I told her she has a fan all the way from Venezuela, made her smile :):)
The grandmother takes care of the desserts, what a wonder, then I congratulate you for this recipe today, the grandmother who baked her desserts, I admire them both!
Thanks @jennimorillo! By the way that passion fruit dessert of yours looks heavenly, would love the recipe!
You have the ingredients in my friend publication. I congratulate you for the second place in the @jaybird contest
Thank you so much! & for the recipe too xxx
Great post! Looks great and a nice view too! 😍😋
Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Thanks for stopping by @blackberryskunk, wish that was my view :)
How are you, my friend? this recipe is very good that salad is simple but delicious all healthy
Thanks @andrina, keeping well, hope you are too! I lt was delicious and we had enough over for lunch today :)
Good that you prepared enough, by the way congratulations for your second place in the sandwich contest, I hope to participate at some point have the means to prepare something here in Venezuela is a bit difficult to get food
Thanks @andrina & so sorry about the problems you're having in Venezuela :(
I hope you find solutions soon friend @lizelle
I like your step by step photos of the cooking! I love eggplants, thanks for another recipe with this vegetable)
Thanks @naditinkoff, we're both eggplant fans then, been a week of eggplants here at home :)
Such delicious looking recipes and wonderful photos as well, to whet the appetite! @lizelle:)
Thanks @dianadee, sure you have some good ones to share as well :)
I must try this with eggplant, I make Ratatouille which the family enjoy, so this would be a lovely change @lizelle
Thanks for stopping by @joanstewart, this is also nice with lasagne sheets as part of the layers, my family love it :) We also love ratatouille!