Moussaka Sans Aubergine

Total Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 lb small red potato, peeled and left whole
• 1 lb yam, peeled and cut into large chunks
• 1 lb ground lamb (or combination of both ground lamb and ground beef) or 1 lb ground beef (or combination of both ground lamb and ground beef)
• 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can italian-style stewed tomatoes, or
• 1 1/2 cups fresh stewed tomatoes seasoned with basil garlic & oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup unbleached flour
• 2 tablespoons butter or 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• salt and pepper
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2 cup feta cheese (read *note)
• 1 1/2 lbs zucchini, peeled and grated (substitute for meat)

Recipe

• 1 *note: i like to use a combination of cheese such as parmesan, feta and myzithra, for example. (the original recipe called for parmesan.).
• 2 preheat oven to 400 degrees. butter or oil 2 quart baking dish.
• 3 in large pot of bring to boil enough water to cook potatoes and yams until still slightly firm. drain and rinse briefly under cool water to stop cooking process.
• 4 meanwhile, in medium skillet over medium-high heat brown meat (or zucchini if preparing vegetarian) in butter or olive oil until cooked about 5 minutes.
• 5 add tomatoes, cinnamon and cumin. lower heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes.
• 6 sauce: in medium saucepan, whisk together milk, flour, butter and nutmeg over medium heat. stir constantly, bring mixture to high heat, but do not boil. simmer 1 minute. season with salt and pepper. remover from heat, cool slightly, then whisk in egg yolk.
• 7 thinly slice potatoes and yams.
• 8 place half of the potatoes and yams on bottom of prepared oven-proof baking dish. layer with meat or zucchini mixture, then add the remaining potatoes.
• 9 pour sauce over the top of mixture. lastly, sprinkle with cheese.
• 10 bake 30-40 minutes until potatoes and yams are fork tender and crust is golden. if it looks like casserole is browning too quickly on top, either reduce heat a little or cover top of casserole with aluminum foil.