Light and Delicious Turkey Moussaka
Experience a guilt-free delight with this Light and Delicious Turkey Moussaka. The perfect combination of lean ground turkey, hearty eggplant slices, and a creamy yogurt sauce offers a nutritious twist on a classic Greek dish. This moussaka is both flavorful and satisfying, without the added heaviness of its traditional counterpart.
4
Servings
N/A
Calories
18
Ingredients
Ingredients
extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon (for frying)
eggplants
14 ounces (sliced)
large onion
1 (chopped)
button mushrooms
6 ounces (sliced)
green pepper
1 (deseeded and chopped)
ground turkey
1 pound (none)
garlic paste
1 teaspoon (none)
tomato paste
2 tablespoons (none)
chopped tomatoes
14 ounces (none)
mixed herbs
3 teaspoons (none)
Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons (none)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
to taste (none)
Greek yogurt
2/3 cup (none)
egg
1 (beaten)
black pepper
to taste (none)
parmesan cheese
1 ounce (grated)
mozzarella cheese
1 ounce (grated)
basil leaves
12 (to garnish)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2
In a large skillet, heat one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Fry the eggplant slices in batches for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and softened. Remove from the skillet and set aside on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
3
In the same skillet, add a little more oil if needed. Sauté the chopped onion, sliced mushrooms, and chopped green pepper for about 5 minutes until softened and the onions are translucent. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
4
In the same skillet, add the ground turkey and cook over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through.
5
Return the onion, mushroom, and pepper mixture to the skillet with the turkey. Stir in the garlic paste and tomato paste, cooking for 1-2 minutes.
6
Add the chopped tomatoes, mixed herbs, Worcestershire sauce, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Simmer the mixture for another 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine well.
7
In a bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, beaten egg, a pinch of black pepper, and 3/4 of the grated parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
8
In a baking dish, spoon half of the turkey mixture and spread it evenly. Layer half of the eggplant slices on top. Repeat these layers once more.
9
Spread the yogurt mixture evenly over the top of the layered dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
10
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
11
Remove from the oven and let the moussaka cool slightly. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Light and Delicious Turkey Moussaka?
It is a nutritious twist on the classic Greek dish that uses lean ground turkey, hearty eggplant slices, and a creamy yogurt-based sauce instead of traditional heavy ingredients.
How many servings does this recipe provide?
This recipe is designed to make 4 servings.
What temperature should the oven be preheated to?
The oven should be preheated to 400°F (200°C).
How much ground turkey is required for this recipe?
You will need 1 pound of ground turkey.
How do you prepare the eggplants for the moussaka?
The eggplants should be sliced and fried in olive oil for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and softened.
What is used for the creamy topping in this version of moussaka?
The topping is made from a mixture of Greek yogurt, a beaten egg, parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
How long does the moussaka need to bake?
It needs to bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
What vegetables are sautéed along with the onions?
Sliced button mushrooms and a chopped green pepper are sautéed with the onion.
What type of mushrooms are recommended?
The recipe calls for 6 ounces of sliced button mushrooms.
Is there any specific oil recommended for frying the eggplant?
Extra virgin olive oil is recommended for frying the eggplant slices.
What herbs are used in the turkey mixture?
The recipe uses 3 teaspoons of mixed herbs to flavor the turkey.
Which cheeses are used in this recipe?
Both parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese are used, with 1 ounce of each required.
How should the green pepper be prepared?
The green pepper should be deseeded and chopped.
Does this recipe include garlic?
Yes, it uses 1 teaspoon of garlic paste.
What kind of tomato products are needed?
You will need 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and 14 ounces of chopped tomatoes.
What is the garnish for this dish?
The dish is garnished with 12 fresh basil leaves before serving.
Is Worcestershire sauce used in this moussaka?
Yes, 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce are added to the turkey mixture for extra flavor.
How much Greek yogurt is used in the sauce?
The recipe requires 2/3 cup of Greek yogurt.
How do you layer the moussaka?
Layer half the turkey mixture followed by half the eggplant slices, and then repeat the process once more.
Is this a low-fat recipe?
Yes, the recipe is tagged as 'low fat' and 'healthy' due to the use of lean turkey and yogurt.
What should I do with the eggplants after frying them?
Set them aside on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
How long should I sauté the onions and mushrooms?
Sauté them for about 5 minutes until the vegetables have softened and the onions are translucent.
How long do I cook the ground turkey?
Cook the ground turkey for 5-7 minutes over medium-high heat until it is browned and cooked through.
Should I season the yogurt mixture?
Yes, whisk the yogurt with a pinch of black pepper along with the egg and cheese.
Is the onion used in this recipe large or small?
The recipe calls for one large chopped onion.
Can this recipe be considered a casserole?
Yes, it is tagged as a casserole and is baked in a baking dish.
How many eggplants are needed?
The recipe specifies 14 ounces of eggplants.
What is the first step in making the turkey mixture sauce?
After browning the turkey and adding vegetables, stir in the garlic paste and tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Does the recipe require salt?
Yes, you should season the turkey mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
How much cheese goes into the yogurt topping versus the top layer?
Mix 3/4 of the grated cheeses into the yogurt mixture and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 over the very top.