This vegan moussaka is Greek comfort food at its finest. It's loaded with flavor from layers of roasted eggplant, fluffy mashed potatoes, nutrition-packed lentils and chickpeas, and a creamy vegan Bechamel sauce. Dig in!
Moussaka is a popular dish found all over the Mediterranean and Middle East, with many variations depending on the country where it's served.
I was lucky enough to spend some time in Greece this past year, researching the food and recipes of the region. And wow - there is so much amazing vegan Greek food! I'll be adding a ton more recipes inspired by the trip soon.
One dish that was found on just about every single menu in Crete was moussaka.
What is moussaka? Well, typically it's made from layers of fried eggplant, potatoes, and meat - all topped off with a creamy Bechemal sauce.
It was wildly popular among the locals in Crete. But sadly, finding a vegan version isn't very easy - no matter what country you're in.
But a dish that's so crucial to Greek cuisine shouldn't be off limits for vegans, so I started experimenting until I came up with my very own 100% vegan moussaka.
It's loaded with eggplant, lentils, and potatoes. And I think it's better than the classic.
This vegan moussaka is:
- authentic Greek!
- 100% vegan and vegetarian-friendly
- dairy-free
- gluten-free
- mouthwatering & delicious
- fancy enough for a holiday feast
Making it Vegan
To make this vegan moussaka, it only takes a little bit of tweaking from the traditional version.
The classic recipe would use milk or cream to prepare both the potatoes and the Bechemal sauce. We make an easy swap, and use almond milk instead.
You can use your own favorite plant-based milk such as rice milk, hemp milk, or even coconut milk. Just be aware of the flavors that might creep in to the dish.
In place of the traditional meat filling, we'll use chickpeas and lentils. They make for a really hearty vegan meal, with tons of flavor! And it's healthier too.
How to Make Vegan Moussaka
This recipe has a few more steps than my usual dishes, but I promise this vegan moussaka is so worth it!
Just look at all those fresh veggies ready to go.
Let's start with the mashed potatoes.
Bring a pot of salted water to boil on medium-high heat.
Add the potatoes and cook for 10 minutes, or until they are soft enough to mash. I like using a potato masher because it makes the process so quick and easy.
Mash the potatoes and mix with almond milk and olive oil. Then add salt and pepper to taste.
Then set the potatoes aside because we'll be using them later. Don't worry about the mashed potatoes getting cool because they'll go back into the oven later.
Next, let's prepare the eggplant.
Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice the eggplant lengthwise into thick slices about ¼ inches thick.
Then put the eggplant on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Sprinkle them with salt and pepper, and roast in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. They will be done when they are softened and slightly browned.
While the eggplant is in the oven, you can get the lentils ready.
First, add olive oil to a large pot. Turn the heat to medium, and then add the onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. The onions should soften.
Then add the garlic and cook for another minute before stirring in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and red wine.
Simmer the mixture for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. The liquid should cook out, leaving the mixture thick. Then stir in the chickpeas and lentils, and cook for 2 more minutes.
I suggest using pre-cooked lentils since it will take less time, but you can make lentils from scratch beforehand too.
Set the lentils aside.
Next, we prepare the Bechemal sauce. This is a white sauce typically used in French cuisine. Here, we make it vegan by using almond milk instead of regular milk.
In a small pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Then slowly add the flour, whisking it into the olive oil. Cook this for 1 to 2 minutes. You have to stir it constantly so it doesn't burn.
Then, slowly add the almond milk while whistling. Keep stirring until the sauces thickens.
Finally, stir in the smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Now that the various parts of the vegan moussaka are ready, we need to assemble the dish!
Get a large baking dish and spray it with non-stick cooking spray.
Now we layer.
Add half of the eggplant to the bottom of the dish.
Then add half the lentil mixture on top of that, and repeat.
Then spread all the mashed potatoes on top, and pour the Bechemal sauce on top of the potatoes.
Put this in the oven for 30 minutes until the top browns.
Serve the vegan moussaka sprinkled with parsley or other fresh herbs. Yum!
Recipe
Ingredients
FOR LENTILS:
- 2 cups cooked lentils pre-cooked or prepared from dry
- 1 small onion peeled and diced
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper optional
- ½ cup red wine
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup chickpeas drained and rinsed
FOR EGGPLANT:
- 2 medium eggplants
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
FOR POTATOES:
- 3 large Russet potatoes peeled and cut into cubes
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup almond milk
- salt and pepper to taste
FOR BECHAMEL SAUCE:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp flour gluten-free
- 2 cups almond milk
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- Parsley for serving
Supplies Needed:
- potato masher
- baking dish
Instructions
Prepare the mashed potatoes
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Add potatoes and cook for 10 minutes, or until softened. Drain water.
- Mash the potatoes (with a fork or potato masher), mixing in the almond milk and olive oil.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Prepare the eggplant
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Slice eggplant lengthwise into long, ¼” thick slices.
- Arrange eggplant slices on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Roast eggplant for 15-20 minutes, until softened and slightly browned.
Prepare the lentils
- In a large pot, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
- Add onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, until softened.
- Add garlic and cook for additional minute.
- Stir in tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and red wine.
- Simmer for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced and mixture is thick.
- Stir in chickpeas and lentils, cook for 2 more minutes to heat through. Set aside.
Prepare the bechamal sauce
- In a small pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Slowly whisk the flour into the olive oil.
- Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly so that it does not burn.
- Slowly add the almond milk, whisking continuously to combine.
- Continue to stir the sauce for a few minutes until a thick sauce is formed.
- Stir in the smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
Assemble the moussaka
- Prepare a large baking dish – spraying with non-stick cooking spray.
- Arrange half of the eggplant sliced on the bottom of the baking dish.
- Spread half of the lentil mixture on top of the eggplant slices.
- Repeat the process with another layer of eggplant and lentils.
- Spread the mashed potatoes in a single layer on top.
- Pour the bechamel sauce in a thick layer on top of the mashed potatoes.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes, until top begins to brown.
- Serve topped with parsley or other fresh herbs, as desired.
Moira says
I have never had moussaka with mashed potato in it, I have had it with sliced potato. Will give your recipe a try, thanks.
Nicole says
Please let me know how you like it!
Jean says
Thank you for the moussaka recipe, looks delicious!
Himalaya says
This looks so tasty. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Nick @ GreekBoston.com says
Sure, a lot of moussaka recipes do include meat. However, the dish absolutely doesn't need it. This vegetarian version looks delicious!
Bree says
This was absolutely delicious! Made it for a little dinner party with my sister who's vegan, my partner who's celiac, and our friend who can't have dairy. Let's just say the stakes were high! There were lots of moving parts—and I'm not exactly a wiz in the kitchen—but somehow I managed to pull it all off with finesse. Everyone RAVED about how good the moussaka was, and they all went back for seconds. Thanks for this brilliant recipe, Nicole! I will definitely be making it again.
Pamela says
This was fabulous ! Only thing i changed was the red wine . I didn't have any , so i omitted it and added vegetable broth. Loved it . Will definitely make again .