Shepherd’s Pie “Moussaka” – A Culinary “Mash-up” of two Old World Classics

For those of you that aren't hip (like me…I don't have an iPod which automatically makes me not hip), a "mash-up" usually refers to a DJ taking two different songs and mixing and "mashing" them together to produce a new musical creation. My personal favorite, the Jay Z/Linkin Park mash-up MTV did a few years ago. If you haven't heard any of that, and you're under 60 years old (Hi, Mom), then check it out, it's great stuff. Big Pimpin for real. Anyway, in that same spirit of combining two great things to make a new even greater thing, I present today's video recipe clip.

I love classic Greek "Moussaka." Layers of lamb and eggplant, exotically spiced and topped with a rich, almost custard-like sauce. I also love a good Shepherd's Pie, what's not to like about a pie made out of ground meat and mashed potatoes? So, I thought I would try a Shepherd's Pie using the flavor components of the Greek "Moussaka." Did it work? Damn right! It was really good, and next to a green salad, made for a very satisfying supper on a foggy San Francisco night.

A few suggestions before you watch the clip. The potato topping I do is relatively bland since I was topping a very highly seasoned meat base. You should use my spice amounts below as a rough guide, and add the cumin, cinnamon and hot pepper in increments until you have something that tastes right to you. The lamb and eggplant mixture is NOT subtlety spiced in this dish, and the ingredient amounts reflect that fact. This dish should explode with exotic and aromatic flavor. To me that's what makes the "crispy and browned on the top, but moist and tender underneath" potato topping such a great contrast. And don't forget the fresh mint. As you hear me say in the clip, I used chocolate mint, which you can find at the better garden centers (or order the seeds online – it's an amazing herb), but plain supper market mint will work beautifully. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground lamb
• 2 eggplant
• 1/3 cup tomato paste
• 1/2 onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 3 russet potatoes
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 stick butter
• salt to taste
• 1 egg
• fresh mint
• 2 tbl olive oil
• Spice Mix:
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 tbl ground cumin
• 1 tbl cinnamon
• 1 tsp cayenne
• 1 tbl black pepper
• 1 tbl salt (at least, taste and adjust)
• 2 tbl herb de provance (or Italian or Greek dried herb mix)
• 1 tbl paprika
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• *Baked at 400F for 20-25 minutes until golden brown