Eggplant (aubergine) Moussaka

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 2 large eggplants, sliced
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup pine nuts (optional)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
• salt and pepper

Recipe

• 1 in a large skillet, brown the onion.
• 2 add the ground beef, salt, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg.
• 3 when the meat is cooked, add the tomato paste and water (you can dissolve the tomato paste in water before adding it to the meat mixture).
• 4 fry the eggplants slices until golden brown on each side, set aside on paper towels to absorb excess oil.
• 5 line the oven pan with one layer of the fried eggplant slices, add a meat mixture layer, sprinkle with almonds/pine nuts , and raisins, then add a final layer of eggplant slices.
• 6 preheat oven to 350 degrees f.
• 7 bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. serve hot.