Musaka (Мусака со компири) Beef and Potato Casserole Recipe

Musaka Background:
This recipe is one of the Family favorites!! From what I've been told, it's a Turkish recipe.  Turkey has influenced Macedonian culture in many ways. This recipe is easy to make, inexpensive, and full of flavor.

Prep Time:
20 Min

Cook Time:
30 Min

Ready In:
50 Min

Serves 4 people



Ingredients:

• 1 chopped onion
• 1/2 cup yellow pepper, spicy/regular (chopped finely)
• 1/2 cup zucchini 
• 1/2 pound of ground beef
• 1 bunch of parsley, minced; 1/2 added to meat & 1/2 added to garnish 
• 3 medium potatoes, sliced lengthwise 
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (sunflower oil if you can find it)
•  1 tsp Vegeta
•  t tsp Sea salt (can substitute with any salt)
• 2 eggs
• frying pan 
• 1 cup water
• casserole dish

 Directions:
1. Heat frying pan, over medium heat. Add oil to coat the pan and let warm up before adding vegetables.
2. Chop onion. Add to frying pan.
3. Chop yellow pepper, finely. Add to onion and stir occasionally.
4. Chop zucchini finely.  Add to onion and pepper mixture.  Cook for about 10 minutes.
4. While those are cooking, mince the parsley and peel the potatoes.
5. After about 10 minutes or when onions are tender, add the ground beef, 1 tsp of salt, and 1tsp of vegeta.  Cook beef throughly and browned, about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally
6. While meat is cooking, slice 1 potato(s) (or 2 if using a large dish) lengthwise, very thin. Coat casserole dish thoroughly with oil and add 1 or (1 1/2 potato depending on size of dish), slightly overlapping, leaving no spaces in between.
7. After meat is finished cooking, remove from heat and add 1/2 cup of parsley. Pour meat mixture on top of sliced potatoes and evenly disperse.
8. Take the frying pan used to cook the meat and add 1 cup of water and return to heat.
9. Slice 1 potato (or 2 depending on size of dish) and place on top of meat in casserole dish.
10. Top casserole with a sprinkling of parsley, pepper, vegeta, oil (if desired, I usually omit), and water from the pan.
11. Bake casserole for 30 minutes.
12. Take 2 eggs and mix them well.  Add on top of casserole. Bake for another 15 minutes, until eggs have turned golden brown and potatoes are soft.

*if you want to make this a little spicy, add a light sprinkle of ground red pepper or substitute yellow pepper with a hot pepper.

Serve with:
Cabbage salad, Кисела пиперка, and soup.