Alright people, this is definitely one of those if-you’ve-got-the-wine-I’ve-got-the-time recipes. It takes a couple of hours but is nice to throw into the dinner mix for variety.
Ingredients
1 eggplant, thinly sliced
3 T olive oil
1 zucchini, thinly sliced
2 potatoes, thinly sliced
1 onion (white or yellow), thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 T white vinegar
1/2 28.5oz can of whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
1/2 c lentils
1 1/2 c water
1 t dried oregano
2 T fresh parsley, chopped
sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
2 c feta cheese
1 1/2 T Earth Balance butter
2 T flour
1 1/4 c milk
pinch of ground nutmeg
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c grated parmesan cheese
The thin slices can be done by hand but a food processor is immensely helpful.
- Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt and set aside for thirty minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
- Combine lentils and water in small saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover for twenty minutes. Set aside.
- Heat 1 T oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle eggplant and zucchini with sea salt and cook in hot oil until lightly browned, about four minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to drain on a paper towel-lined plate, reserving as much oil as possible in the skillet.
- Add more oil to skillet as needed and let it get hot. Sprinkle potato slices with sea salt and cook until browned, 3-5 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on a second paper towel-lined plate, again reserving as much oil as possible in the skillet.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Sauté onion and garlic until lightly browned, about five minutes. Add vinegar, tomatoes, lentils, oregano, and parsley. Bring to boil then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer fifteen minutes.
- In a 13″ x 9″ baking dish layer 1/3 of the eggplant and zucchini mix, 1/2 of the potatoes, and 1/2 of the feta. Pour in tomato mixture then repeat layering, finishing with a layer of eggplant and zucchini.
- Cover and bake in oven for 25 minutes.
- About five minutes before the timer goes off, stir butter, flour, and milk together in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly until thick and smooth. Stir in pepper and nutmeg. Remove from heat, cool for five minutes, and stir in the beaten egg.
- Pour sauce over vegetables and top with the parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered for another 25-30 minutes.
This recipe serves 6-8 people and makes great leftovers for lunch.
Recipe adapted from Vegetarian Moussaka.