Musaca Bulgărească (Bulgaria)

An authentic recipe for traditional Bulgarian Moussaka, featuring diced potatoes, ground meat, and a signature tangy yogurt and egg topping.

Level Medium Prep 30 min Cook 60 min Servings 6 Score 4.9/10

Ready in

90 min

Makes 6 servings

Prep 30m

Cook 60m

Level Medium

About this recipe

An authentic recipe for traditional Bulgarian Moussaka, featuring diced potatoes, ground meat, and a signature tangy yogurt and egg topping.

Bulgarian Moussaka is a beloved national comfort dish made of diced potatoes, minced meat, and a creamy yogurt-egg topping.

Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Peel and cut the potatoes into small cubes.
In a large pan, heat the vegetable oil and sauté the chopped onions until translucent and soft.
Add the ground meat to the onions, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned.
Stir in the sweet paprika, dried savory (chubritsa), black pepper, salt, and chopped parsley. Mix well and remove from heat.
Add the diced potatoes to the meat mixture and combine thoroughly, then transfer everything into a large baking dish.
Add hot water to the baking dish until it almost reaches the level of the mixture. Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes until the potatoes are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
45 min
While the moussaka bakes, prepare the topping by whisking together the yogurt, eggs, flour, and baking soda in a bowl.
Pour the yogurt custard evenly over the top of the baked potato and meat mixture, return to the oven, and bake for another 15 minutes until the topping is set and golden brown.
15 min

Calories 380

Protein 22g

Carbs 34g

Fat 18g

Fiber 4g

Sugar 5g

Sodium 620mg

Serving Size 1 serving

Prep 30 min

Cook 60 min

Total 90 min

Overall 9.4 /10

Expert 4.9 95% conf.

Reviewed by FindEdition Kitchen

An absolute classic of Bulgarian comfort food featuring savory diced potatoes, rich meat, and a tangy yogurt crust.

Bulgarian Moussaka is a beloved national comfort dish made of diced potatoes, minced meat, and a creamy yogurt-egg topping.

Summary

An authentic recipe for traditional Bulgarian Moussaka, featuring diced potatoes, ground meat, and a signature tangy yogurt and egg topping.

Cut the potatoes into uniform, small cubes so they cook evenly throughout the baking process
Let the moussaka rest for 15-20 minutes after taking it out of the oven so it holds its shape nicely when sliced
Serve warm with a side of cold plain yogurt or a fresh shopska salad