Thursday, July 17, 2008

Moussaka!

Before reading the Veganomicon, I'd never even heard of moussaka. But for some reason, the Eggplant Potato Moussaka with Pine Nut Cream kept calling, "make me! make me!" I'm pretty sure it was the idea of Pine Nut Cream that had me at hello.

Warning: You're about to see an ugly photo of a delicious dish. There's really no way to make this dish pretty. But trust me, it's freakin' delicious.


See? Ugly. But really tasty. It reminds me of lasagna with roasted, sliced veggie layers replacing the lasagna noodles.

In a casserole dish, you layer eggplant, potato, and zucchini slices (I used half zucchini/half summer squash because I had some squash that needed to be cooked). A cinnamon-spiked tomato sauce goes between a couple layers, followed by homemade whole wheat breadcrumbs (the Vcon calls for white bread crumbs, but I think that's crazy).

Finally, the layers are topped with a succulent, velvet-y pine nut cream made from silk tofu, pine nuts, garlic, and some other stuff. It's a little like tofu ricotta but way better. In fact, I might make the pine nut cream to use in a vegan lasagna dish sometime.

In case you're wondering, Wikipedia says the traditional Greek version consists of red meat or lamb (icky-poo!), eggplant, tomatoes, and a white sauce. I'd trade potatoes and squash for red meat any day!

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've been wanting to make this dish for awhile. It sounds good and your pic isn't that bad!

Anonymous said...

Wow! What a beautiful, impressive blog. I'm glad I stumbled across you. I'm adding you to my blogroll, if you don't mind!

Brad and Ahnah said...

I love Moussaka! I haven't had it since my mom made it years ago. And I like the pic!

Anonymous said...

The first time I ever had moussaka, The Brit's aunt made a veggie (lacto) version - it was so awesome. She used to live in Israel and she makes the best veggie food. Now I want moussaka. I need to make this... as soon as I get my new oven!

Little Miss Sunshine said...

Ooolala! You might have just convinced me to try out this moussaka recipe!! I ate moussaka once when I was an omni - it was gross.... BUT I can't wait to try out this recipe, thanks!

Anonymous said...

Mom will go crazy for this. I love it! I am absolutely making it. I've got everything I need. I will even do it vegan she will never know!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

I was practically RAISED on Moussaka, haha - one of my family's great friends is Greek, and she always made Moussaka when we went to her home :0) I've never had a vegan version of it, so now I'm intrigued!

Anonymous said...

I love Moussaka! I haven't even found a vegetarian one to try around here. I am so going to make this dish. Your picture isn't bad at all. It looks delectable. Mmmmmmm, Moussaka. Eggplant, good. Pine Nut Cream, good. Veggie, gooooood.

J said...

Your plate looks remarkably like my super awesome hand me down plates from my grandma!

And ugly food can be some of the best, I may have to give this recipe a shot.

Anonymous said...

I have been itching to make this since I got Vcon!! It just looks like it makes a huge amount, and we're such gluttons, I know we'd eat it all rather than freeze it...so I'm waiting to invite some friends over to feast with us... but my mouth is watering!!

Anonymous said...

That pic isn't ugly! I'd scarf that down without a second thought.

Amey said...

hee hee.
I love your "icky-poo!" insertion. Hear hear!

I haven't made the moussaka yet, but I've made the pine nut cream and it's totally insanely delicious. Once the eggplants come in from my garden, I'll give this a shot. Sounds fabulous!

jessy said...

i have never had moussaka - it's fun to say - and i think yours looks yummah! i totally want to make my own and put it in my face! ohhhhh man - that's super stellar! i'm going to check out that vcon recipe and see if i can make it sometime soon with all of these veggies that are popping up everywhere. what a great way to use up some summertime veg! superw00t!

Alicia said...

I had a recipe for vegetarian moussaka with smashed chickpeas in the tomato sauce (but no breadcrumbs) and it was delish! But I'm dying to try this one too!

Anonymous said...

Cool Bianca! Thanks for the serving size tip! I'm sure that Mr. Fish and I can down it in one sitting! (The recipe just sounded like it makes so much...). And like Jessy said, it's so fun to say!

Anonymous said...

Okay, okay, it's a little unattractive, but I'll take your word for it--I bet it was delicious! You are a master chef :-)

Avery Yale Kamila said...

That sounds really yummy! Especially the pine nuts!

pinkhairedcyn said...

I love that moussaka, I've made it twice now. And the pine nut cream is super good on top of the vcon lasagna.

The Lazy Vegan said...

I love Vcon, but I haven't gotten around to trying this one. I imagine this is a dish that takes patience. That pinenut cream sounds wonderful, and I really love the concept.

Anonymous said...

Your description of that dish made my mouth water! I made the pine nut cream for a lasagna a few weeks ago and it was really good!

Theresa said...

Even though it isn't pretty, it sounds really good!

Anonymous said...

I looooove moussaka, though I haven't made it in ages! Thanks for reminding me with this yummy post.

Ari (Baking and Books)

Unknown said...

the picture isn't so bad!!
i'm the same as you..anything with pinenuts definitely has my attention.. i should give that one a go..

The Voracious Vegan said...

I think it is an immutable law of the kitchen that the uglier a food is the better it tastes. It always seems like the food that I rave about the most cannot take a pretty picture. So, I understand exactly what you are talking about, although I have to admit, that picture is not ugly, it's gorgeous! I have never even considered making moussaka....now I think I have to!

Lisa (Show Me Vegan) said...

Velvety pinenut cream? I'm sold!

Latayy said...

I made moussaka today for lunch
and surprise you have one
Yours looks good as well
Check out a pic of mine
http://barbadianvegan.blogspot.com/

Tay

Caribbean Vegan

Erin said...

Oh my gosh, I just know I would absolutely love that dish. And it's true that some of the tastiest dishes just don't look that nice in pictures.

Unknown said...

I've never had Moussaka before! I think the ugliest dishes turn out to be the best...even though yours still looks beautiful!...As long as it tastes good, I'm there :0)

Anonymous said...

I would definitiely NOT call that dish ugly! I've eyed that recipe several times but never made it. . . glad I found your blog, so now I can! :)

Radish said...

Hi. I love your blog and I just created one of my own, so I was wondering if I could add you to the blogroll thing I'm going to make soon? I was just going to start adding people, but I didn't want to seem like a vegan stalker girl, so I figured I'd at least say hello first :)