Moussaka With Artichokes Tomatoes And Potatoes Recipes

MOUSSAKA WITH ARTICHOKES, TOMATOES, AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Layer the potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker insert. Then layer all the eggplant slices on top.
• Grind the cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns and allspice to a powder in an electric spice mill or mortar and pestle.
• In a large saute pan, heat the oil and cook the onion until it begins to brown, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic, spices, wine, tomatoes, and artichokes and continue to simmer until the pan is nearly dry. Add salt to taste.
• Pour the tomato-artichoke sauce carefully over the eggplant and potatoes (this dish can be assembled to this point a day ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator overnight). Cover and cook on low for about 4 hours, or until a skewer inserted into the stew easily penetrates all the layers.
• While the vegetables are cooking, make the custard topping. Combine the milk and flour in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens enough to thickly coat the back of a spoon. Gradually stir in the cheese, then turn off the heat and rapidly whisk in the egg yolks one at a time. Stir in a dash of nutmeg.
• Carefully pour the custard over the vegetables, trying not to dislodge them. Cover and continue cooking for about 1 hour longer, or until the custard is set.
• Turn off the slow cooker and let the moussaka sit for 15-20 minutes, then carefully spoon up individual portions into a pasta bowl. Tip: The recipe suggests slicing up the dish into 4-6 portions right in the slow cooker insert with a sharp knife before removing the portions with a spoon.

EGGPLANT AND POTATO MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Place the eggplant slices in a large bowl and cover with water. Add 1/2 cup of salt and agitate gently to combine. Let stand for 20 minutes, then drain and pat dry with paper towels.
• While the eggplant is soaking, heat 1/2 cup of the olive oil in a large skillet and, working in batches, add the potato slices and cook until lightly golden on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper-lined plate to drain and repeat with any remaining potato slices. Season lightly with salt.
• Place 1 cup of the flour in a bowl and dredge the eggplant slices in the flour. Shake to remove any excess flour. Add 1/4 cup of the remaining oil to the skillet and, working in batches, fry the eggplant slices until golden on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Add more oil to the skillet as needed in 1/4 cup increments. Repeat until all eggplant has been cooked. Transfer to a paper-lined plate to drain.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet and, when melted, add the onions. Cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the ground meats, garlic, and oregano and cook, stirring to break up any lumps, until meat is browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the red wine and cook until evaporated. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, water and parsley and cook, stirring occasionally, until almost all liquid is evaporated, 5 to 10 minutes. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter and, when hot, whisk in the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring until smooth and thick. Season with salt, to taste, and whisk in the egg and egg yolk. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese and set aside, covered, while you assemble the casserole.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish and place the sliced potatoes in the bottom of the dish in an even layer. Top with half of the eggplant slices and half of the meat sauce. Spoon 3/4 cup of the bechamel sauce evenly over the meat sauce and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the cheese. Top with the remaining eggplant slices, pressing down on the layers gently with your hands to compress. Top with the remaining meat sauce and then spread the remaining bechamel sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, until golden brown on the top and heated throughout, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Let stand for at least 40 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.

MOUSSAKA WITH ARTICHOKES, TOMATOES, AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Layer the potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker insert. Then layer all the eggplant slices on top.
• Grind the cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, and allspice to a powder in an electric coffee mill or a mortar and pestle.
• In a large sauté pan, heat the oil and cook the onion until it begins to brown, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic, spices, wine, tomatoes, and artichokes and continue to simmer until the pan is nearly dry. Add salt to taste.
• Pour the tomato-artichoke sauce carefully over the eggplant and potatoes. (The dish can be assembled to this point a day ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator overnight.)
• Cover and cook on low for about 4 hours, or until a skewer inserted into the stew easily penetrates all the layers.
• While the vegetables are cooking, make the custard topping. Combine the milk and flour in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens enough to thickly coat the back of a spoon. Gradually stir in the cheese, then turn off the heat and rapidly whisk in the egg yolks one at a time. Stir in a dash of nutmeg.
• Carefully pour the custard over the vegetables, trying not to dislodge them. Cover and continue cooking for about 1 hour longer, or until the custard is set.
• Turn off the slow cooker and let the moussaka sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then carefully spoon up individual portions into a pasta bowl.
• I find that it helps to slice the dish into 4 to 6 portions right in the slow cooker insert with a sharp knife before removing the portions with a spoon. That way, each portion is a little tidier.
• I would love a good Greek wine. I would enjoy Kir-Yianni's Xinomavro. And if you can't find any, opt for a full-bodied red or any good dry rosé.

ARTICHOKE, AUBERGINE & LAMB MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Heat 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil in a broad, heavy-bottomed pan until hot, then fry the lamb until golden brown all over, about 10 mins (it's important that the oil is hot, otherwise you'll end up steaming the lamb instead of frying it). Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside in a large bowl. Pour off all but 2 tbsp oil in the pan (the lamb will release quite a bit). Heat this and fry the onions over a medium heat until soft and golden. Add the garlic and cook for another few mins, then add the tomatoes, bay, cinnamon, oregano, sugar and seasoning. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer. Return the meat to the pan, cover and cook for 40 mins over a low heat. Take off the lid and cook until you have a thick sauce (it shouldn't be too 'soupy').
• While the meat is cooking, cut the aubergines into rounds. Cut the potatoes into thin slices. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan and cook the aubergine in batches until golden on both sides (get two pans on the go if you have them), then turn down the heat and cook until soft. Season and remove from the pan. Add a little more oil and cook the potatoes in batches, on both sides, until pale gold, removing them as you go. You'll need to add more oil to the pan when you fry each batch. Season and set aside.
• Fry the artichoke hearts in olive oil over a high heat to get some colour, but be careful that they don't fall apart. Season.
• Remove the bay leaves and cinnamon stick from the meat and taste for seasoning. Layer up the moussaka in a dish measuring roughly 32 x 23 x 6cm. Start by putting all the potatoes in the bottom, then add half the meat. Arrange a layer of aubergine on top of this, then the rest of the meat. Spoon the artichoke hearts on top.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. To make the sauce, melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan and stir in the flour until it becomes slightly dry and sandy in colour. Take off the heat and start to add the milk, a little at a time. Beat well after each addition and keep the mixture smooth. Keep adding until you have used up all the milk. Put the pan back on a medium heat and bring to the boil, stirring continuously, until it thickens to form a sauce. Add lots of nutmeg, salt and pepper. Turn down the heat and cook gently for about 5 mins - this just helps to cook the flour in the sauce. Add three-quarters of the cheese and stir to help it to melt. Check the seasoning - it needs assertive seasoning. Leave to cool a little, then beat in the eggs.
• Pour this over the layers in the dish and scatter the remaining cheese on top. Bake in the oven for 30 mins until the top is brown and bubbling. Leave to cool for about 10 mins - Greeks never eat it piping hot - then serve.

BEEF AND POTATO MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, 7-9 minutes, breaking into crumbles. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in water, tomato paste, parsley, salt, mint if desired, cinnamon and pepper. Set aside., For sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot mixture into eggs; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Add cheese and salt., Place half of the potato slices in a greased shallow 3-qt. baking dish. Top with half the cheese sauce and all of the meat mixture. Arrange remaining potatoes over meat mixture; top with remaining cheese sauce., Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 160°, about 1 hour. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

ROASTED POTATOES AND ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Place potatoes and artichokes in a shallow baking pan coated with cooking spray. Drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper; stir to coat. , Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 35-40 minutes or until potatoes are tender, stirring every 15 minutes.

MASHED POTATO-TOPPED MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450ºF.
• Toss eggplant with oil; spread onto rimmed baking sheet. Bake 25 to 30 min. or until golden brown and tender, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, cook potatoes in boiling water in large saucepan 12 to 15 min. or until tender. While potatoes are cooking, brown meat with onions and garlic in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Return meat mixture to skillet; stir in spices. Add tomato paste and tomatoes; mix well. Simmer on medium-low heat 10 to 12 min. or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
• Reduce oven temperature to 400ºF. Add eggplant to sauce; mix well. Set aside. Drain potatoes; return to pan. Whisk egg yolk and milk until blended. Add to potatoes along with 1/2 cup cheese; mash until desired consistency.
• Spoon meat mixture into 3-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; top with potatoes. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and remaining cheese.
• Bake 30 min. or until golden brown.

POTATO MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• Fry minced onion, garlic and bay leaf in olive oil until onion becomes translucent, but not browned.
• Add minced lamb (or beef) and cook, stirring until browned. Add oregano, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Add peeled and chopped tomatoes to the meat with lamb (or beef) stock. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and cover. Simmer gently for 30 minutes or until reduce most of liquids.
• Meanwhile, peal and slice potatoes into flat pieces, as for chips, but thicker, about 0,5 cm. Fry them in olive oil until lightly browned on both sides. Remove them from pan on a paper towel.
• Take a large ovenproof dish and layer the potato slices and meat, ending with a layer of potatoes.
• Beat 2 eggs with flour, salt, pepper and a little grated nutmeg. Stir in yogurt. Pour this over the moussaka.
• Bake in preheated oven at 180°C for about 1 hour, until the topping is set and golden brown. Allow to stand for 15 minutes before serving.

ARTICHOKE, LEEK, AND POTATO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add leeks and celery; cook until softened, 8 minutes. Add artichokes, broth, and cheese and stir to combine. Remove skillet from heat, add lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Brush a 1 1/2-quart baking dish with oil. Arrange half the potato slices in a single layer, overlapping slightly; season with salt and pepper. Top with artichoke mixture; smooth top. Layer with remaining potatoes, brush with 2 teaspoons oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until sauce is bubbling and potatoes are golden and tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.