A Fairly Low-Fat Moussaka

 

Moussaka is a great Greek dish, of layered potatoes, fried eggplants and cooked meat, topped with a thick layer of either Béchamel sauce (milk based sauce, thickened with flour), or Mornay sauce (Béchamel sauce with cheese), creating a highly delectable and tasty combination.

Sephardic Eggplant and Tomato Relish

The following tasty eggplant-tomato relish, or side dish – called “alburnia” in Ladino – comes from the Sephardic cuisine, which I’ve mentioned here quite a few times.

Eggplant Preserved in Olive Oil, with Oregano and Garlic

Eggplants are one of my most favorite vegetables. They can be prepared in so many ways, and in each they demonstrate a new flavor and texture, as in the following recipe.

Lamb Stew with Eggplant, Tomato and Parsley

The following dish was prepared due to the strange weather we had lately. After a few hot days, the weather turned chilly again, and I’ve decided it can be a good time to use the lamb shoulder chops I had in the freezer. I also had some nice eggplants and tomatoes, and decided to let these shine with simple rustic preparation, and just a few more added ingredients to the basic mix.

Eggplant, Mushrooms and Cheeses Bake

Both mushrooms and eggplants have unique texture and mild flavor, that blend beautifully with cheeses. In the dish here, I decided to combine both in one bake, and the result was just what I was hoping for:

Eggplant Rolls with Lamb Patties and Roasted Tomatoes-Peppers sauce

The combination of eggplant and lamb meat is one of my favorites. In the recipe here, the patties are fried at the last minute and the dish is assembled just before serving.

Mini Eggplants Stuffed with Lamb, Pine nuts and Currants

I made this tasty dish a few times since I’ve posted it, and again, a couple of days ago. It was as delicious as always, and it made me think it would be a good idea to re-post the recipe, as it was posted in the early days of the blog, and some of you probably haven’t seen it. See you next week with a new recipe. 
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Stuffed vegetables are the tasty proof for the phrase “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. Both the stuffing and the vegetables impart their flavors on each other and create a new wonderful flavor, while one can still taste each part separately.

Broiled Boneless Chicken Thighs with Two Eggplant Salads

Broiling is a method of cooking that many of us tend to avoid, despite the fact it’s easy to use and can produce quick and tasty dishes, with grill-like flavor, in any ordinary kitchen.

Lamb with Eggplant, Chickpeas and Raisins

After making the Eggplant and Chickpeas soup a couple of weeks ago, I’ve decided to try this tasty combination in the form of a lamb stew.

Eggplant and Chickpea Soup

After all the elaborated foods of the holiday’s season, it’s time for some simple, hearty dishes. The following rustic soup, which comes from my maternal grandmother’s Sephardic kitchen, is just what is needed on a cold winter’s day.

Caponata

When I’ve found some ripe tomatoes, eggplants and peppers at the farm stand, I’ve decided it’s time to prepare a nice batch of Caponata – a tasty sweet and sour Sicilian eggplant dish.
Caponata is wonderful as a side dish, especially with fish and seafood, but also with chicken and other meats. It is also wonderful as a topping for Crostini, and can also be served as a dip, with crackers or toasted points.