Moussaka is considered the National Food of Greece. It is an eggplant dish cooked in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Balkans and the Middle East; in each country you will find different ways to cook it.

The ingredients for the traditional moussaka:

• eggplants, sliced
• ground beef or lamb
• tomatoes, cubed
• onions, chopped
• olive oil
• garlic
• bay leaf
• grated cheese
• béchamel sauce
• salt
• pepper

In some countries, pine nuts and dried fruits (apricots or plums) are added to the meat when it is cooked.

Here is a video explaining exactly how to make this wonderful dish. The chef uses ground beef.

If you are a vegetarian, it’s possible to make moussaka with chickpeas, zucchinis and potatoes, instead of the meat. Here is a video explaining how to make vegetarian moussaka.