Greek · main

Moussaka

Name: Moussaka
Prep time: 1 h 15 min
Total time: 2 h 45 min
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 2 large eggplant; 1 lb ground lamb; 1 large onion; 4 cloves garlic; 1 1/2 cups tomato passata; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 1/4 tsp allspice; 3 tbsp olive oil; 3 tbsp butter; 3 tbsp flour; 2 cups milk; 2 eggs; 1/4 tsp nutmeg; 1/2 cup kefalotiri, grated

Moussaka reads richness 6.6, umami 5.6 and allium 4.0 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Greek main, about 2 hr 45 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 6.1 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 3.4 / 10
Sour & Bright — 2.2 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 2.8 / 10
Rich & Fat — 7.0 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.4 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Richness 6.6 · Umami 5.6 · Allium 4.0 · Sweetness 2.8 · Salinity 2.6 · Earthy 2.5 · Funk & Ferment 2.1 · Fruity 2.1 · Sourness 2.1 · Warm Spice 2.0 · Bitterness 1.5 · Herbaceous 1.5 · Nutty 1.3 · Floral 1.0

What's in it (14)

2 large eggplant
1 lb ground lamb
1 large onion
4 cloves garlic
1 1/2 cups tomato passata
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
3 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
2 cups milk
2 eggs
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup kefalotiri, grated

Time & effort: about 2 hr 45 min (1 hr 15 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 193.7 kcal, 16.4 g protein, 7.2 g fat, 16.3 g carbs

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

How it's cooked (4 steps)

Slice and salt eggplant, then fry or roast until golden.
Brown meat with onion, garlic, tomatoes, cinnamon, and allspice, then layer with eggplant in a baking dish.
Pour a thick bechamel over the top and bake at 180C until set and deeply golden.
Rest for 20 minutes before slicing.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Pastitsio — Greek
Ali Nazik Kebabı (Smoked Aubergine under Lamb) — Turkish
Lamb Ragu over Pappardelle — Italian-American
Testi Kebabı (Lamb Sealed and Cooked in a Clay Jug) — Turkish
Chunky Beef and Vegetable Soup — Eastern European

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

See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →

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