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moussaka side dishes?

post #1 of 12
2/25/08 at 9:44am
Thread Starter 
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)?
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post #2 of 12
2/25/08 at 11:33am
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.???
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post #3 of 12
2/25/08 at 1:07pm
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)
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post #4 of 12
2/25/08 at 1:23pm
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
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post #5 of 12
2/26/08 at 3:23am
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...
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post #6 of 12
2/26/08 at 7:38am
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.
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post #7 of 12
2/27/08 at 5:16am
...whereas eggplants cost a fortune here! I have to look out for market bargains to make moussaka, but I love the dish :)
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post #8 of 12
2/27/08 at 7:25am
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?
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post #9 of 12
2/27/08 at 11:24am
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
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post #10 of 12
2/28/08 at 9:56am
'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) :D
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post #11 of 12
11/19/08 at 5:50pm

expensive aubergines

Well, in Australia I just bought a medium one for $3.00 - youch!
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post #12 of 12
11/20/08 at 4:49am
Standard moussaka is potatoes, eggplant, meat sauce, and bechamel. There are lots of regional variations but to tell you the honest truth I've never met a greek who used lamb or feta in this dish. I have met many Americans though who use these ingredients in the name of greekness. Not that it's bad, but authentic greek flavors according to the culinary world and authentic greek flavors according to greeks are 2 very different things. Enough about that.

Moussaka, no matter how it is prepared, is a very heavy dish. It needs to be paired with something light and acidic to balance the flavors. I would recommend this salad for anything that uses lamb as well.

- romaine lettuce (chiffonade ribbons)
- Green onion slivers
- freshly chopped dill
- dressing: evoo, red wine vinegar OR lemon juice, salt/pepper.
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