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Greek Moussaka

Greek Moussaka reads umami 5.1, salinity 4.6 and richness 4.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Greek main, about 4 hr 15 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

• Umami & Savory — 5.9 / 10
• Sweet & Fruity — 3.6 / 10
• Sour & Bright — 3.5 / 10
• Bitter & Earthy — 3.8 / 10
• Rich & Fat — 4.9 / 10
• Aromatic & Spice — 4.0 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 5.1 · Salinity 4.6 · Richness 4.5 · Earthy 3.6 · Funk & Ferment 3.4 · Allium 3.4 · Herbaceous 3.3 · Sourness 3.1 · Sweetness 3.0 · Warm Spice 2.5 · Fruity 2.0 · Floral 1.8 · Bitterness 1.5 · Nutty 1.3 · Citrus 1.2

What's in it (16)

• 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
• 1 eggplant large, cubed
• 4 tomatoes large, chopped
• 2 zucchini mediums, chopped
• 1 cup onion chopped
• 1 cup mushrooms chopped
• 1/2 pound feta cheese crumbled
• 1 cup olive oil maybe more
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon oregano crumbled
• 1 teaspoon sage crumbled
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 cup bechamel sauce
• 1/2 bell pepper chopped
• 2 teaspoons allspice

Time & effort: about 4 hr 15 min (15 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 76.5 kcal, 3.2 g protein, 4.3 g fat, 6.7 g carbs

Dietary: Vegetarian · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (4 steps)

1. Saute all the vegetables, except tomato, with garlic in olive oil for 10 minutes.
2. (Eggplant will keep soaking up oil, so add it as necessary to keep veggies from sticking.)
3. Add tomatoes and herbs & spices, cook 5 minutes more.
4. Add feta and Bechamel sauce; pour into baking dish and bake at 325F for one hour, or until bubbly.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

• Rosemary Lamb Stew — British
• Garlic Butter Portobello Steaks with Mashed Potatoes — American
• Eggplant Parmesan — Italian-American
• Mushroom and Spinach Manicotti — Italian-American
• Veggie-Packed Skillet Lasagna — Italian-American

Keep reading: what umami, salinity, richness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.