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Plant-Packed Aubergine Moussaka

  • Not too tricky
  • 1:50 h
  • 19 ingredients

Who's ready for an epic Greek feast? We've whipped up the BEST plant-based Moussaka for you guys and putting it together is easier than you think! Aubergines are roasted to perfection to create luscious, melt-in-your-mouth layers, with golden potatoes and a hearty lentil ragu that's packed full of protein! Topped with a smooth, creamy béchamel sauce made from cashews and tahini - this is one showstopper you'll want to make time and time again!

Serves: 6

Ingredients

For the Bechamel

  • 100g cashews
  • 250ml plant-based milk
  • 4 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 2 tbsp tahini
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • Salt & pepper
  • ½ lemon

For the Aubergine Layer

  • 2 large aubergines
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • 2 x 250g pouches of puy lentils

For the Ragu

  • 1 large onion
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp chilli flakes
  • 500ml Passata
  • salt and pepper to taste

For the Potato Layer

  • 3 large potatoes
  • Salt & pepper
  • 1 tbsp oregano

To Assemble

  • olive oil
  • handful of breadcrumbs

Before you start

Kettle boiled | Oven preheated to 200*C fan setting | Large frying pan with high sides | High speed blender | Large baking dish

Step 1

Begin the aubergine and cashews

  • Slice the aubergine into thick rounds. Sprinkle the eggplant slices with salt and let them sit for about 30 minutes to draw out excess moisture
  • Soak the cashews in boiling water for at least 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 100g cashews
  • 2 large aubergines
  • salt

Step 2

For the ragu

  • Peel and roughly chop the onion and garlic
  • Heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat in the large frying pan. Once hot, add the onion with a big pinch of salt and saute for 7-8 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute until fragrant. Next, add the cinnamon, oregano and chilli flakes and saute for a further minute. Add the lentils and passata and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and season with salt, pepper and more spices if you’d like

Ingredients

  • 1 large onion
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp chilli flakes
  • 500ml Passata
  • 2 x 250g pouches of puy lentils
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • olive oil

Step 3

Bake the aubergine and potato

  • After 30 minutes, wipe the salt off the eggplant slices
  • Arrange them on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil
  • Cut the potatoes into slices about 3mm thick (no need to peel). Rinse them under cold running water. Pat dry and place them on a separate baking sheet. Season with salt and oregano and drizzle with olive oil
  • Bake the aubergine and potatos for 20-25 minutes or until the eggplant is tender and the potatoes are golden. Set aside

Ingredients

  • olive oil
  • 3 large potatoes

Step 4

For the bechamel

  • Drain the cashews and rinse with cold water. Put them into a blender with plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, tahini, garlic, onion powder, nutmeg, salt, pepper and juice from half lemon. Blend to a smooth cream. Set aside

Ingredients

  • 250ml plant-based milk
  • 4 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 2 tbsp tahini
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • Salt & pepper
  • ½ lemon

Step 5

Assemble, bake and serve

  • Reduce the temperature of the oven to 180*C
  • Roughly chop the parsley
  • Cover the base of the ovenproof dish with all of the potatoes. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and chopped parsley. Next, layer ½ of the aubergine rounds. Next the ragu, Then the other ½ aubergine and finish with bechamel. Sprinkle with breadrcumbs and drizzle with olive oil
  • Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until golden on top and bubbling round the side
  • Allow the moussaka to sit for 10 minutes before serving in the middle of the table

Ingredients

  • Salt & pepper
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • handful of breadcrumbs