Vegetarian Moussaka
In this meatless version of the classic Greek dish, bulgur wheat stands in for ground meat in a spiced-tomato filling surrounded by eggplant layers and topped with a bĂŠchamel sauce. The eggplant and bulgur pack this dish with fiber. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley. 4 servings Ingredients 3 peeled eggplants, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices (about 2 1/2 pounds) 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided Cooking spray 2 cups chopped onion 4 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 cup uncooked bulgur 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups organic vegetable broth 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained 1 tablespoon butter 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 cup 1% low-fat milk 2 tablespoons finely grated fresh Romano cheese 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 large egg, lightly beaten Preparation 1. Preheat broiler to high. 2. Brush eggplant slices with 1 tablespoon oil. Place half of eggplant on a foil-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray; broil 5 inches from heat for 5 minutes on each side or until browned. Repeat procedure with remaining eggplant. Set eggplant aside. 3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add chopped onion to pan; sauté 8 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add bulgur; cook 3 minutes or until bulgur is lightly toasted, stirring frequently. Add ground allspice, cinnamon, and cloves; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in vegetable broth, oregano, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. 4. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly with a whisk until well blended. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly with a whisk. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Stir in cheese and salt. Remove from heat, and cool slightly. Add egg, stirring well with a whisk. 5. Preheat oven to 350°. 6. Arrange half of eggplant in an 11 x 7-inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray. Spread the bulgur mixture evenly over eggplant; arrange remaining eggplant over bulgur mixture. Top with milk mixture. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes, and remove from oven. Increase oven temperature to 475°. Return dish to oven for 4 minutes or until the top is browned. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Nutritional Information Amount per serving Calories: 343 Fat: 13.1g Saturated fat: 4.2g Monounsaturated fat: 6.4g Polyunsaturated fat: 1.3g Protein: 11.4g Carbohydrate: 47.8g Fiber: 13.4g Cholesterol: 57mg Iron: 2.3mg Sodium: 583mg Calcium: 203mg