Musaka: A Delicious and Satisfying Food Storage Recipe
Musaka is a traditional Greek dish that is made with layers of eggplant, ground meat, and a creamy béchamel sauce. It is a hearty and flavorful meal that is perfect for a cold winter night. This recipe is designed to be made using ingredients from a food storage pantry, so you can enjoy a delicious meal even if you are facing a power outage or other emergency.
Ingredients:
- 1 large eggplant, peeled and sliced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can tomato soup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Salt the eggplant slices and let them sit for 30 minutes to draw out excess moisture. Rinse and pat dry.
- While the eggplant is draining, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain off any excess fat.
- Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato soup, water, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Spread a layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with a layer of eggplant slices. Repeat layers, ending with a layer of eggplant.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the béchamel sauce over the eggplant layers. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the eggplant is tender.
- Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Tips:
- If you don't have eggplant, you can substitute zucchini or potatoes.
- To make this recipe even easier, use a jar of spaghetti sauce instead of making your own.
- This recipe can be made ahead of time and reheated. Simply assemble the dish and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a 350 degree F (175 degrees C) oven for 20 minutes.
Enjoy!
Musaka is a delicious and satisfying meal that is perfect for a cold winter night. It is also a great way to use up leftover ingredients from your food storage pantry. So next time you are looking for a hearty and flavorful meal, give this recipe a try!