Hotel Recipe: Moussaka

Recipe dish from Views Restaurrant, Le Meridien Al Aqah, Fujairah

(Serves 4)
Prep time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 1 hour

Ingredients
800g large aubergines, sliced into 1.5cm thick slices
3 tbsp olive oil
200g onion, finely chopped
100g garlic, minced
500g minced beef
125g tomato paste
a pinch of cinnamon
a pinch of ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp cumin
35g fresh parsley
salt to taste
10g multi-grain breadcrumbs
2 tbsp fresh oregano
200ml white sauce
1tbsp freshly grated parmesan

How to cook Moussaka:
1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Brush aubergine slices lightly with olive oil and bake for 10 minutes.
3. Heat remaining olive oil in a saucepan and add onion, garlic and beef. Cook for about 5 minutes, then add tomato paste, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin and 5g of parsley. Add salt and set aside.
4. Sprinkle breadcrumbs in the base of a large baking dish and arrange aubergine slices in an even layer on top. Sprinkle with oregano. Top with minced beef then pour over sauce.
5. Garnish with parmesan and remaining parsley. Bake fore 30minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.