1
Preheat the Oven. Preheat your oven to 250°C fan (or 230°C conventional).
2
Season the Aubergine. Slice the aubergine lengthways. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze, and season with salt, pepper, and oregano.
3
Roast the Aubergine. Roast for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
4
Brown the Lamb. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a pan until it’s almost smoking. Add the lamb mince, letting it brown on one side before stirring. Transfer the lamb to a large pot (your 'master pot').
5
Soften the Onions and Garlic. In the same pan, sauté the diced onions until they soften and slightly brown. Add garlic and cook for 2 more minutes before transferring everything to the master pot.
6
Simmer the Sauce. Add red wine, tomato purée, ground spices, sugar, and the beef stock cube to the master pot. Simmer for at least 10 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
7
Adjust the Seasoning. Taste and adjust the seasoning, balancing sweetness with a little more sugar or a splash of lemon juice if necessary. Set aside.
8
Fry the Potatoes. Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan. Add the potato slices and fry until golden on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. You may need to do this in batches.
9
Warm the Milk. Gently heat the milk in a pan over medium heat.
10
Make the Roux. In a separate pan, melt the butter and stir in the flour to create a roux. Cook for 1 minute, then whisk the roux into the hot milk.
11
Finish the Béchamel. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens. Add the egg yolk (optional: add a second yolk for extra richness), parmesan, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and thick.
12
Lower the Oven. Preheat the oven to 160°C fan (or 180°C conventional).
13
Layer the Potatoes. In a cast-iron or baking dish, layer the sautéed potatoes, seasoning lightly with salt.
14
Layer the Aubergine and Sauce. Add a layer of aubergine, followed by the Moussaka sauce. Top with another layer of aubergine.
15
Top with Béchamel. Spread the béchamel sauce evenly on top and sprinkle with extra parmesan, oregano, and black pepper.
16
Bake and Rest. Bake for 1 hour. Let the Moussaka rest for 10 minutes before serving.