Moussaka #2

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 4 -6 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb ground lamb
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 3/4 cup dry red wine
• 2 -3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 -2 teaspoon dry oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups half-and-half cream
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups grated parmesan cheese, divided
• 1 large eggplant, peeled, sliced into thin rounds
• salt and pepper

Recipe

• 1 butter a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• 2 heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat (this ground beef mixture can be made a day ahead if desired).
• 3 add in ground beef and lamb, onion and garlic; cook breaking the beef up with a fork until the beef is cooked (about 15 minutes) then mix in 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and cook 1 minute more.
• 4 add in tomato sauce, red wine, parsley, oregano and cinnamon; simmer for about 20-25 minutes (season with salt and pepper).
• 5 set oven to 350 degrees.
• 6 melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat.
• 7 add/whisk in flour and some black pepper; whisk for 1 minute.
• 8 gradually whisk in the half and half cream, whisking until smooth; boil until thick, stirring constantly.
• 9 beat the eggs in a small bowl.
• 10 whisk a small amount of the cream mixture into eggs, then return the mixture to the saucepan, bring to a simmer stirring constantly.
• 11 remove the custard from the heat and add in 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, then season with salt and pepper.
• 12 arrange half of the eggplant slices in bottom of the dish, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• 13 spread the meat mixture over the top of the slices.
• 14 top with the remaining eggplant slices.
• 15 pour the hot custard cheese sauce over the top eggplant slices.
• 16 sprinkle with remaining 1 cup parmesan cheese.
• 17 cover loosley with foil and bake for about 1 hour.
• 18 uncover and continue baking until golden and bubbling around the edges (about 10-15 minutes longer.
• 19 cool for 15 minutes (or longer) before slicing.