Musaca de Cartofi
A comforting and savory Romanian-style shepherd's pie, Musaca de Cartofi features a layer of seasoned ground meat topped with sliced potatoes and baked until golden and bubbly. It's a hearty dish perfect for family meals.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g Ground pork or beef
- 2 medium Onions(finely chopped)
- 3 minced Garlic cloves
- 200 g Tomatoes(diced, fresh or canned)
- 1 tbsp Tomato paste
- 1 kg Potatoes(peeled and thinly sliced)
- 3 large Eggs
- 150 g Sour cream or yogurt
- 100 ml Milk
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 tsp Dried thyme
- 1 tsp Paprika
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- 2 tbsp Fresh parsley(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a large baking dish.
💡 Tip: A 9x13 inch (23x33 cm) dish is suitable. - 2
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
⏱️ 7 minutes - 3
Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add ground meat and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned.
⏱️ 1 minute - 4
Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 5
Arrange half of the sliced potatoes in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon the meat mixture evenly over the potatoes.
💡 Tip: Ensure the meat mixture covers the potatoes completely. - 6
Layer the remaining sliced potatoes on top of the meat mixture.
💡 Tip: Overlap the potato slices slightly for a neat finish. - 7
In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, sour cream (or yogurt), milk, salt, and pepper. Pour this mixture evenly over the potatoes.
- 8
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden brown and set.
⏱️ 50 minutes💡 Tip: If the top starts browning too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil. - 9
Let the musaca rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a lighter version, use lean ground turkey or chicken.
- ✓Slicing the potatoes thinly ensures they cook through evenly.
- ✓Ensure the egg and dairy mixture is well combined to avoid streaks in the topping.
🔄 Variations
- Add a layer of sautéed mushrooms or finely chopped carrots to the meat mixture.
- For a richer topping, use heavy cream instead of milk.
- A sprinkle of grated cheese (like telemea or mozzarella) on top before baking adds extra flavor.