moussaka side dishes?

[phoebe]

I'm making a lamb moussaka, but I never know what to serve with it. Greek Salad just seems to repeat the feta and tomatoes that are in the moussaka. Any suggestions (and recipes)?

[bubbamom]

I don't make it often, but when I do, I just serve a loaf of crusty bread and butter. I'll be interested in seeing what other suggestions are offered. Thinking about it just a bit more, some sliced cucumbers might be good or cucumbers in a vinegar/water/sugar bath with a few sliced onions added.???

[Mezzaluna]

How about artichokes? Marinated or ??
Taboulleh
Marinated vegetables: cauliflower, mushrooms, celery, olives, capers, peppers- you get the idea
Zucchini saute
Sauteed green beans with pine nuts
Horta (stewed field greens with leeks, but you could use any hearty greens)

[deltadoc]

How about a Jerusalem Salad? Coarsely sliced sweet bell pepper, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, covered with a nice cucumber yogourt sauce? Or you could go a bit more Middle Eastern and use Tahini sauce instead of the Tsasiki (sp?) sauce.

doc

[Denni]

We always go with simple crusty bread and a mixed leaf salad with balsamic vinaigrette. I find that yoghurt/tahin/Greek salad tend to be too rich on top of the moussaka.

I've never used feta cheese in moussaka though...

[Mezzaluna]

Denni, I've not used feta in moussaka either. I thought it might just be a local thing in Greece, such as whether to include potatoes in the dish or not. I think they did use kefalotiri, though, which I think is more like parmesan cheese.

I first ate moussaka when I was a kid. Our neighbor was Greek-American and her family was from Sparta in Greece (Peloponnesian peninsula). They never used potatoes in moussaka, just eggplant and tomato sauce. I wonder if potatoes were expensive for them? I'd guess they don't grow in Greece's climate and might be an import item. (???) She told us her mother's family had lived in difficult circumstances before emigrating to the U.S.

[Denni]

...whereas eggplants cost a fortune here! I have to look out for market bargains to make moussaka, but I love the dish

[Mezzaluna]

whereas eggplants cost a fortune here!

I don't know where "here" is, but maybe you could substitute zucchini or par-cooked potato slices. Are eggplants expensive all year, or just in winter?

[A Boy Who Cooks]

Hi,

Since you already have a main. What about Spanakopita, for the entree. maybe lemon-roasted potatoes, as a side.

And how about Baklava for desert?!

Takecare

Bill

[Denni]

Originally Posted by Mezzaluna

I don't know where "here" is, but maybe you could substitute zucchini or par-cooked potato slices. Are eggplants expensive all year, or just in winter?

'Here' is the UK, and the price of produce tends to depend on location. I can often get bargains in ethnic food shops or markets irrespective of season, but forget supermarkets.

I'm sure there used to be a season for aubergines, but lately they've all started to price them at 99p (nearly 2 bucks!) apiece.

This is why I'm using potato slices in moussaka (also to cut the richness a bit)