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    Home » All Recipes » Vegetarian » Vegetarian Moussaka With Plant Based Beef

    Vegetarian Moussaka With Plant Based Beef

    Last updated March 24, 2021. Originally posted April 27, 2020 By Jenny Skrapaliori-Graves. 7 Comments.

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    This vegetarian moussaka with plant based meat is really delicious and tastes just like the traditional famous Greek dish. With eggplant, potatoes & creamy béchamel it will be your new favorite casserole. 

    A green plate with a piece of vegetarian moussaka cooked with plant based meat Beyond beef, the baking pan with the moussaka and two serving spoons and a plate with a tomato/avocado salad.

    I have been incorporating plant based meat for a while in some of my recipes with great results. I was overjoyed when my vegetarian moussaka came out absolutely perfect! I couldn’t believe it! It tasted so close to the traditional Greek moussaka without a hint of real meat.

    What is plant based meat?

    Here is what I learned from wikipedia:

    Plant based meat is made from vegetarian ingredients, and without animal products. Some meat alternatives are soy-based (e.g. tofu, tempeh) or gluten-based, and now are made from pea protein.

    I used Beyond Beef, some of the ingredients are peas, mung beans, fava beans, brown rice, cocoa butter, coconut & canola oil, and color from beet juice extract. For more info and a full list of the ingredients please visit beyondmeat.com. Another option of plant-based meat is the impossible burger, please visit impossible foods.com for ingredients and more information.

    A green plate with a piece of vegetarian moussaka cooked with plant based meat Beyond beef.

    Step by step

    I followed the traditional Greek way of making moussaka with the exception of using plant based meat instead of real beef. The béchamel is rich and creamy made with real butter and whole milk. You can certainly opt out from lightly frying the potato slices and use them raw if you prefer, just remember to season well and cook the moussaka for the full 1 hour. My suggestion would be to fry them because it will add flavor to this particular recipe due to the extra fat missing from using plant based meat. 

    Image 1. Eggplant slices seasoned with salt and pepper and olive oil. 
Image 2. A frying pan with potato slices being fried and already fried potatoes on a paper towel.

    1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the eggplant slices, drizzle 2 tbsp olive oil all over. Season with salt and fresh ground pepper. Bake in the oven for 15 min or so, until eggplant has a slight golden color. Don’t overbake! When ready, remove from oven and let them cool. 2. In a frying pan add 2-3 tbsp light olive oil. In high heat fry the potato slices for approximately 1-2 min, both sides. Remove slices and place in a paper towel to absorb extra oil.

    Image 3. Diced onions and garlic with tomato paste sautéing on a pan.
Image 4. Plant based meat with diced onions and garlic and tomato paste sautéing on a pan.

    3. Remove the light olive oil from the pan, wipe excess with a paper towel. Add 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. In medium heat, add the onions. Season with a pinch of salt. After 2-3 min add the garlic. Stir well. Add the tomato paste. Season with another pinch of salt, fresh ground pepper and 1-2 pinch of dry oregano. Stir well. Add 1-2 pinches of chili flakes.Stir well. 4. Add the plant based meat. Break it to small pieces, just like you would do with ground beef. Mix everything well. Add the wine. Allow the wine to evaporate a little for 2-3 min. Remove from heat and set aside.

    Image 5. Sliced potatoes on a paper towel and on the bottom of a light blue baking pan.
Image 6. Slices of eggplant sprinkled with parmesan on top of potatoes in a light blue baking pan.

    5. Add a layer of potatoes slices to the bottom of the baking pan. Season potato slices with salt and pepper. 6. Add a layer of eggplant. Sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese al over. Repeat a layer of potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Add another layer of eggplant slices. Sprinkle a generous amount of grated parmesan.

    Cooked plant based meat being layered on top of eggplants in a light blue baking pan. 
Image 7. Plant based meat sprinkled with parmesan.

    7. Add your “meat” on top of the eggplant. Spread evenly. 8. Add a generous amount of grated parmesan. Set aside.

    Image 9. 2 pieces of butter being melted in a sauce and a whisk.
Image 10. Added flour to melted butter in a sauce pan and a whisk.

    9. Place a medium sauce pan on medium to low heat. Add the butter. 10. When butter is melted add ⅓ of the flour. Stir well with a whisk.

    Image 11. Milk and melted butter in a sauce pan being whisked.
Image 12. Became sauce in a sauce pan with a whisk and some grated nutmeg.

    11. Add ⅓ of the milk. Keep whisking. Add more flour. Keep whisking. Add more milk. Repeat alternating between flour and milk. 12. Season with salt and pepper. Grate a good amount of nutmeg. Keep whisking. The béchamel should be smooth and velvety but thick enough to remain distinct atop the ragù in the moussaka. Turn the heat off. Add a generous amount of grated parmesan cheese. Stir well with the whisk. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

    Note about the bechamel:

    Always have some more milk and flour around if you need to thicken or dilute the bechamel. Bechamel is tricky and has a learning curve, that is for sure. You might need to add a little more or less of either flour or milk to reach the correct consistency, or if you need to make a little more to cover your pan and create a nice layer on top of the meat and veggies.

    Image 13. Béchamel being layered on top of plant based meat in a light blue baking pan.
Image 14. Top of béchamel with grated cheese and chili pepper flakes.

    13. Pour the béchamel on top of the "meat". Spread evenly. 14. Grate a good amount of parmesan cheese on top, sprinkle some chili flakes and fresh ground pepper.

    Left image. The top of a baked moussaka. 
Right image. A detail of a plant based meat greek moussaka, with béchamel sauce and a fork.

    Bake in a 350 F oven for 45 min to 1 hour or until top is a nice golden color. Let moussaka sit for 15 min before serving. Enjoy!

    Tips & Tricks

    • You can transform this dish into a vegan moussaka recipe. Instead of béchamel, you can use mashed cauliflower with your favorite vegan cheese on top.
    • Some Greek cooks fry the eggplant slices but I prefer baking them. That way the eggplant does not absorb so much olive oil.
    • The “beef” ragù is made just like I would make it with real meat. I season every step to allow flavors to develop and the addition of wine really enhances the sauce.
    • If you don't have eggplant you can substitute with zucchini or yellow squash. Check out this moussaka with yellow squash recipe on how to prepare them.

    You may also try

    • A very flavorful vegetarian Greek bell pepper pie is super easy and quick to make.
    • This roasted tomato & olives appetizer is my go to when I want something tasty and comforting that reminds me of Greece. I often make it for dinner paired with a nice green salad.
    • The original Greek summer food is gemista – stuffed tomatoes & peppers. An absolute must as the weather warms up.
    • Arakas, Greek sweet peas, is a great vegetarian dish mostly served as a main course but can be an awesome side dish as well.

    If you’ve tried this recipe or any other on The Greek Foodie, then don’t forget to rate it and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it.

    Pinterest Pin. A plate with vegetarian moussaka.

    Vegetarian moussaka with plant based meat

    by Jenny Skrapaliori Graves
    Absolutely delicious authentic Greek moussaka with plant based meat.
    4 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 45 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Cuisine Greek
    Servings 6

    Equipment

    • medium sauce pan
    • Rimmed baking sheet
    • 8“ square baking tin
    • frying pan

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 plant based meat package like Beyond beef
    • 3 potatoes sliced
    • 1 large eggplant sliced
    • 1 red onion diced
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • ¼ extra virgin olive oil
    • ½ cup red wine
    • 1 tbsp tomato paste
    • 4 oz parmesan cheese

    for the béchamel

    • 1 cup all purpose flour plus some more in case you need to thicken the bechamel
    • 5 tbsp butter
    • 1 pint whole milk plus some more in case you need to dilute the bechamel

    you will also need

    • light olive oil for frying
    • sea salt
    • freshly ground pepper
    • nutmeg whole or grated, your choice
    • dry oregano I love Greek oregano
    • red chili flakes

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the eggplant slices, drizzle 2 tbsp olive oil all over. Season with salt and fresh ground pepper. Bake in the oven for 15 min or so, until eggplant has a slight golden color. Don’t overbake! When ready, remove from oven and let them cool.
    • In a frying pan add 2-3 tbsp light olive oil. In high heat fry the potato slices for approximately 1-2 min, both sides. Remove slices and place in a paper towel to absorb extra oil.
    • Remove the light olive oil from the frying pan, wipe excess with a paper towel. Add 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. In medium heat, add the onions. season with a pinch of salt. After 2-3 min add the garlic. Stir well. Add the tomato paste. Season with another pinch of salt, fresh ground pepper and 1-2 pinch of dry oregano. Stir well. Add 1-2 pinches of chili flakes.Stir well.
    • Add the plant based meat. Break it to small pieces, just like you would do with ground beef. Mix everything well. Add the wine. Allow the wine to evaporate a little for 2-3 min. Remove from heat and set aside.

    Assemble the eggplant and potatoes.

    • Add a layer of potatoes slices to the bottom of the baking pan. Season potato slices with salt and pepper.
    • Add a layer of eggplant. Sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese al over. Repeat a layer of potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Add another layer of eggplant slices. Sprinkle a generous amount of grated parmesan.
    • Add your “meat” on top of the eggplant. Spread evenly.
    • Add a generous amount of grated parmesan. Set aside.

    Make the béchamel.

    • Place a medium sauce pan on medium to low heat. Add the butter. 
    • When butter is melted add ⅓ of the flour. Stir well with a whisk. Add ⅓ of the milk. Keep whisking. Add more flour. Keep whisking. Add more milk. Repeat alternating between flour and milk.
    • Season with salt and pepper. Grate a good amount of nutmeg. Keep whisking. You might need to add a little more flour or milk to reach the correct consistency. The béchamel should be smooth and velvety but thick enough to remain distinct atop the ragù in the moussaka.
    • Turn the heat off. Add a generous amount of grated parmesan cheese. Stir well with the whisk. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

    Final steps

    • Pour the béchamel on top of the "meat". Spread evenly.
    • Grate a good amount of parmesan cheese on top, sprinkle some chili flakes and fresh ground pepper.
    • Bake in a 350 F oven for 45 min to 1 hour or until top is a nice golden color.
    • Let moussaka sit for 15 min before serving. Enjoy!

    Notes

    I used an 8“ square deep baking tin. I had to line the bottom with parchment paper and place the tin on a baking sheet to cook because it has a removable base. I used that pan because it’s deep and allows the moussaka to have a nice layer of béchamel on top.
    If you are using a 10.5''×8''×3'' lasagna pan, add one more potato and 2 more yellow squash to the recipe. 
    For the béchamel: Always have some more milk and flour around if you need to thicken or dilute the bechamel. You might need to add a little more or less of either flour or milk to reach the correct consistency, or if you need to make a little more to cover your pan and create a nice layer on top of the meat and veggies.
    Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided is only an estimate and can vary based on the products used.
    Keyword Greek Authentic recipe, Greek food, greek moussakas, moussaka, plant based diet, plant based meat, vegetarian
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thegreekfoodie__ or tag #thegreekfoodie__
    Vegetarian Moussaka With Plant Based Beef
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Eri Manley says

      May 01, 2020 at 10:46 am

      I have made this recipe a couple of times and it's always a winner! Delicious and comforting while light!
      Great for all year round and also freezes well before you bake it. I always make a double dose, one to bake and one to freeze for a lazy day or that impromptu potluck!

      Reply
    2. Sarah Burnett says

      July 26, 2020 at 11:43 pm

      5 stars
      This was amazing! I used oat milk and vegan cheeses instead! Now we’re making it every Sunday!

      Reply
      • Jenny Skrapaliori-Graves says

        July 27, 2020 at 11:16 am

        That's so great Sarah! I am so glad you like it. You made my day!

        Reply
    3. Dorothy Wacker says

      December 19, 2020 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      This was AMAZING! I think that I prefer it to the real meat version. Next time, I will air fry the potatoes.

      Reply
      • Jenny Skrapaliori-Graves says

        December 19, 2020 at 9:00 am

        That’s great Dorothy! So happy you enjoyed it. x Jenny

        Reply
    4. Athena Catherine says

      January 24, 2021 at 3:16 pm

      This was my first attempt at any type of moussaka. I had a hard time with the bechamel. It was very watery. I kept adding flour. It never quite fixed itself. I used the amounts of milk, flour, and butter in the recipe, but it yielded a very small amount, only enough to cover half of the casserole dish. So half of the meat mixture was left naked. And then since the sauce was so thin, it did not stay put on top of the meat mixture - some dripped down into the layers. Any suggestions on what I did wrong? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Jenny Skrapaliori-Graves says

        January 24, 2021 at 3:31 pm

        Hi Athena!
        I am so sorry you had a hard time with the bechamel. It is a tricky sauce, that is for sure. I always have some more milk and flour around in case I need to thicken or dilute. I have a note on the recipe, but I should and will make it more prominent. As for not covering the whole casserole, I used a square 8 x 8 deep baking dish, and the bechamel creates a nice layer. What is the size of your pan?
        If you give it another try, have more milk and flour around to help with the bechamel's consistency and quantity.

        And let me know if it was better!

        Thanks so much for trying the moussaka.

        x Jenny

        Reply

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    Hi there!

    I am Jenny, a Greek expat living in the greater New York City area. I like to say I am a beauty art director turned foodie, aka the Greek foodie. Born and raised in Greece, my fondness for good food goes hand in hand with my heritage. My absolute favorite thing to do is cook delicious food to enjoy with family and friends.... Find out more about me here…

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