Musaka

When it comes to hearty, comforting meals, Serbian mousaka stands out as a beloved classic that resonates with many who have grown up with it or just fell in love with it. Musaka is a very simple yet warm and comforting dish that also carries a rich history and a sense of community that is entwined with Serbian culture.

What is Musaka

At its core, Serbian Musaka is a baked casserole that layers ground meat and potatoes, all topped with a creamy eggy mixture. Though it varies from region to region, it typically features the same hearty ingredients.

Key ingredients

The beauty of this dish not only lies in its taste but also in its simplicity. Here’s what typically goes into this delightful dish.

• Ground meat: This may be pork, beef or a mixture of both. This is according to personal preference or usually whats available to use.
• Potatoes: Thinly sliced potatoes act as a backbone. The layers of perfectly cooked potatoes are what make Musaka beautiful and spread the taste evenly.
• Onion: These add a sweet depth of flavour to the meat
• Eggs and dairy: The creamy topping, commonly a mixture of eggs and milk adds a luscious finish to the dish.

Tips to making the perfect Musaka

• When cooking the meat, do not cook for long; 10 minutes is enough because it will cook further in the oven.
• When layering the potatoes, make a double layer at the bottom, then you may add the not-so-beautiful potatoes in the middle, and layer the beautifully sliced potatoes at the bottom. In this way, you’ll have a pretty-looking Musaka
• Add sliced potatoes in a dish and season before layering, to get evenly seasoned potatoes.
• Let the Musaka sit a bit after removing it from the oven for at least 15 minutes. This will result in beautiful Musaka when plating, instead of crumbles of potatoes and mince.

For a visual description of this recipe, check out this video below.