Good Old Favourites #6

This is the sixth in the series of my Good old Favourites, which means I have a little file that is looking quite thick, of all my best recipes in one place.

Moussaka – thank you Patrick Holford

450g lean beef mince

3 tsp coconut oil or olive oil or a combination

1 onion, diced

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 red pepper, diced

200g mushrooms, sliced

2 tablespoons tomato puree

1 tin chopped tomatoes

3 tsp reduced sodium Vegetable stock powder

1 tsp dried oregano

1 aubergine, sliced lengthways

2 medium egg whites

100g hummus

Cook the mince in a large frying pan until it is no longer pink. Set aside. Clean pan and fry onion and garlic for a few minutes. Add diced pepper and place lid on to sweat for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and replace lid to sweat for another 3 minutes. Combine mince and vegetables, add puree, tin tomatoes, stock and oregano. Cover and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Season with black pepper.

Heat the tablespoon of oil in a frying pan and gently fry the aubergine slices for about 2 minutes on each side. Allow to cool.

Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Using a metal spoon, fold the egg white into the hummus, one spoon at a time – trying not to get rid of the air.

Place the Bolognese sauce into a small ovenproof dish and arrange aubergine on top. Spoon the soufflé mixture on top and bake at 190 degrees for 15 minutes.

Bev’s notes:

1.       Original recipe says to make a double portion of the mince, with the tomatoes, red peppers mushrooms but I don’t. It would be too much for the topping.

2.       Make your own hummus if you want a lower sodium version – Chickpeas (soaked in boiling water, or tinned, but be careful to rinse them thoroughly), olive oil, lemon juice and garlic – just liquidize.

The recipe ticks all the usual boxes. It’s good for you – especially if you serve with more vegetables, or a fresh salad. It’s old – we’ve had it more than a dozen times (and now the recipe is all in one place, not split into meat sauce and moussaka). And it passes the kids and husband taste test.

Enjoy.