Musaka od tikvica (courgette moussaka with minced meat)

Name: Musaka od tikvica (courgette moussaka with minced meat)
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: South Slavic
Ingredients: 4 medium courgettes, sliced lengthways; 500 g minced pork or beef; 1 onion, finely chopped; 2 tbsp oil; 1 tsp paprika; 2 tbsp tomato purée; 3 eggs; 250 ml milk or yogurt; 2 tbsp flour; 100 g grated cheese; salt, pepper

Time: 1 hr 15 min (about 35 min hands-on)6 servingsapprox. 390 kcal / serving (estimated)approx. 25 g protein / serving

Musaka od tikvica is the lighter summer version of classic moussaka: courgette goes between the minced meat instead of aubergine and potato, and it is topped with an egg mixture and grated cheese. The courgette softens in its own juices, so less oil is needed. It is good cold in summer, and it can be made ahead.

Musaka od tikvica (courgette moussaka with minced meat) (illustration)

Open in Receptnaptár — serving calculator, cook mode, save

📱 Keep the screen awake while cooking

Method

Tap a step once you've finished it.

Salt the courgette slices, leave for 10 minutes, then pat dry with kitchen paper.
Soften the onion in the oil, add the meat and fry until crumbly, sprinkle with paprika, add the tomato purée, season and braise for 10 minutes.
Layer in an oiled baking dish: courgette, meat, courgette, meat, finishing with courgette.
Whisk the eggs with the milk and flour, pour over and sprinkle with the cheese.
Bake at 200 °C for 40 minutes; packed in portions it keeps 3 days; it heats through in the microwave in 1.5-2 minutes (and can be eaten cold).

A Receptnaptár original recipe. Calories and protein are estimated.

Tips

Salt the courgette, then pat it dry, because otherwise it gives off a lot of liquid and the dish turns watery.
Cook the meat until its sauce thickens, because a runny meat mixture thins out the layers too.
Let it rest after baking, because hot it is hard to slice and the layers slide apart.

Frequently asked questions

Does the courgette need to be fried before baking?

No, this recipe layers it raw, which makes it lighter. For a richer flavour, you can brown the slices in a griddle pan.

Can the topping be made with yogurt?

Yes, the recipe allows milk or yogurt. A yogurt topping is tangier and goes well with courgette.

Similar recipes

Courgette and cheese pasta bake · Italian
Potato bake with minced meat (kartofelnaya zapekanka) · Russian
Gratin de courgettes (courgette gratin) · French
Moussaka · Greek
Makarone sa mlevenim mesom (macaroni bake with minced meat) · South Slavic
Polish meatloaf with a boiled egg centre · Polish

More south slavic ideas

How to use it · Privacy (in Hungarian) · Legal notice (in Hungarian) · Editorial principles (in Hungarian) · Cookie settings

Language: Magyar · Español · Deutsch