Turkish Moussaka

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground lamb or beef
• 1 eggplant, sliced into rounds
• 2 potatoes, peeled and sliced into rounds
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• olive oil for frying
• salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and red bell pepper and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the ground lamb or beef to the skillet and cook until browned and crumbled, about 10 minutes.
4. Add the tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, cinnamon, cumin, oregano, allspice, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt to the skillet. Stir to combine and let simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, heat about 1/4 inch of olive oil in another skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the potato slices until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and drain on paper towels.
6. In the same skillet, fry the eggplant slices until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and drain on paper towels.
7. Layer the fried potato slices on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish, followed by a layer of fried eggplant slices. Pour the meat mixture over the eggplant, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese on top of the meat mixture.
8. Bake the moussaka in the oven for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
9. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Serving Suggestions:

Turkish moussaka is traditionally served with a side salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion dressed with lemon juice and olive oil. It also pairs well with crusty bread or rice pilaf. Enjoy this hearty and flavorful dish as a main course for lunch or dinner.