Recipe: Gourmet moussaka

INGREDIENTS FOR THE BEEF RAGU:

1 kg. stewing beef (preferably shank) cut in thin slices, across the muscle fibres

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 large carrot, finely chopped

1 large celery stalk, finely chopped

100 ml red wine

600 ml beef stock

300 g chopped tomatoes (in a carton)

70 g tomato paste

5 bay leaves

1 cinnamon stick

50 ml Greek virgin olive oil

INGREDIENTS FOR THE AUBERGINE LAYERS:

5 aubergines, sliced thinly

2 tbsp coarse salt

200 ml olive oil for frying

Allergens are marked in bold

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Sauté the carrot, onion, celery, cinnamon stick and bay leaves for 10 minutes on a low heat. Turn up the heat and add the meat. Brown on both sides for 5 minutes and pour in the wine.

Simmer for 2 minutes and add the beef stock. Allow to simmer uncovered for 3-4 hours, over a very low heat, checking occasionally in case it needs more liquid. Once the meat can be shredded with a fork, add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, salt and pepper.

Stir and reduce until all the liquid has evaporated for approx. 30 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Shred the meat with a fork once it has cooled.

Slice 5 of the aubergines and put into a colander standing in the sink, sprinkling each layer with a bit of the coarse salt. Leave them for 30 minutes so some of the bitter juice drains from the aubergines. Rinse the aubergines thoroughly and dry with a tea towel.

Fry the aubergines in olive oil in a frying pan in batches until browned on both sides. Remove each batch from the pan when ready and place on a bed of kitchen paper to absorb as much oil as possible overnight.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE SMOKED AUBERGINE BECHAMEL

100 g butter

100 g plain flour

1 l hot milk

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

salt, pepper

50 g grated yellow cheese (Emmental or Cheddar)

2 aubergines, charred over a gas flame, peeled and finely chopped

Blacken the 2 remaining aubergines over a naked flame, turning them every couple of minutes to blacken evenly, until the skins split, in order for the flavour to become deliciously smoky. Once cool, peel off the blackened skin (using a knife and kitchen paper or under running tap water). Chop finely.

Heat the butter in a saucepan. Add the flour and stir to make a roux. Add the milk gradually, stirring constantly. Once the béchamel has thickened, add salt, pepper and nutmeg and stir. Add most of the grated cheese, stir and then tip in the chopped smoky aubergines. Mix thoroughly.

In a large roasting pan, put a layer of fried aubergines, then a layer of ragu, and repeat until finished. Finally pour the béchamel over the top, sprinkle with grated cheese and a pinch of grated nutmeg.

Put on the middle rack of a preheated oven at 180° C. Cook for approx. 50 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and allow it to rest for at least half an hour before serving. Traditionally, moussaka is accompanied with Greek feta cheese and a glass of rosé or red wine.