Bulgarian Moussaka Recipes

BULGARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and ground pork and cook until brown and crumbly, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and discard fat. Add 1/4 cup olive oil, carrot, onion, celery, parsley stems, and tomatoes. Mix to combine. Stir in bell pepper and season with paprika, salt, pepper, bay leaves, and cayenne pepper. Cook until vegetables start to soften, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Transfer meat mixture to a large baking pan.
• Heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet and cook potatoes until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to the baking pan and mix well with the meat mixture.
• Bake moussaka in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove baking dish from the oven and mix in chopped parsley leaves.
• Stir eggs, yogurt, flour, and baking soda together in a bowl until it turns into a spreadable mixture. Pour over the meat mixture in the baking dish.
• Return baking dish to the oven and cook until the top is golden brown, about 15 more minutes.

BULGARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• In a frying pan put the oil, the beef, the tomato paste, cumin, black and white pepper, nutmeg and some salt and start frying forcing the meat with a fork to fall apart into crumbs.
• When all the meat is falling apart remove from the fire and drain the excess fat (although you could also add it to the baking tin).
• Peel the potatoes and chop them into small pieces (1/2" or a bit smaller).
• Put half of the potatoes in a deep baking tin, spread the meat mixture over them and top it with the rest of the potatoes; you could use a larger or a smaller diameter tin depending on how thick you want your moussaka to be.
• Add water until only half of the top layer of potatoes stays uncovered by it and break the stock cube over it (BE CAREFUL - if you opt not to use the cube you'll have to add some salt).
• Preheat the oven to a medium temperature and put the moussaka inches.
• In a bowl beat the yogurt with the eggs the thyme, a bit of salt and some black or white pepper if you want.
• When the water in the tin starts boiling and the potatoes start to cook, poor in the yogurt mixture taking care that it covers the potatoes entirely.
• Bake until the potatoes are done (about 45 min-1 h total baking time) but be careful not to burn the yogurt lid - you may want to lower the heat or to leave the oven heating from under the tin only.
• When ready take out of the oven and leave to cool a bit - potatoes cool very slowly.
• Serve very warm.

THE BEST BULGARIAN MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a saucepan. Add the ground beef, the onion, the tomatoes, salt, black paper, oregano. Cover and cook on low heat, stirring occasionally until the liquids from the tomatoes are almost evaporated and the mixture become dry.
• Preheat oven to 375°F Spray the bottom of a square baking pan. Arrange 2 sliced potatoes on the bottom of the pan, sprinkle with salt and black paper, cover with ground beef mixture and cover with the remaining potato slices. Sprinkle with salt and black paper. Add 1/2 cup white wine and 1/2 cup water. The liquid must almost cover the last level of potato slices. Pour into the preheated oven and bake about 45 minutes or until the liquid is evaporated. If the potatoes start to burn too much and the liquid is not evaporated yet, cover with baking paper.
• Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl beat eggs, add milk and the flour. Add salt, black paper, fresh parsley or dry oregano. Pour over the already dried moussaka. Bake 5 more minutes or until the top is golden brown and crispy. Serve warm.

BULGARIAN MOUSSAKA (MUSAKA)

Steps:

• Heat oven at 200/180 fan/gas mark 6. Fry the onion and the Carrot (if using) in the oil for about 3 minutes. Add the mince and brown. Add the tomatoes, potatoes, paprika, summer savory, salt and some black pepper. Transfer to an oven proof dish, pour over hot water to cover it all. Cook for an hour.
• After about 40 minutes, start making the topping. Warm oil or melt butter in a saucepan. Add the flour and stir until slightly golden, couple of minutes. Gradually add the cold milk and keep mixing until smooth. Add the salt and a grind or two of black pepper. Add the 3 eggs to the sauce and mix well.
• The Moussaka should be about ready, the potatoes will be cooked and most of the water absorbed. Take the Moussaka out of the oven and pour over the topping. Add a sprinkle of cheese if you like. Pop back in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with green veggies if you like.