Diabetes Quick Fix: Moussaka

Try this variation on greek moussaka. (Ruslan Galiullin/Shutterstock)

By Linda Gassenheimer From Tribune News Service

Moussaka, a layered eggplant casserole, is traditional fare at every Greek taverna. The dish has hundreds of variations. Usually, slices of eggplant and sometimes potatoes are sautéed and layered with a spiced ground meat.

Helpful Hints: — You can use grated Parmesan cheese instead of feta cheese. — You can find minced garlic in the produce section of the market. — Use a stove-to-oven casserole dish. Or use a regular skillet if the handle can go in the oven.

Countdown: — Preheat broiler. — Start potatoes and eggplant. — Make meat. — Complete dish and place under broiler.

Shopping List: To buy: 1 package frozen chopped onion, 6 ounces lean ground beef (95% fat-free)*, 1 container tomato paste (no-salt-added)**, 1 container nonfat, plain yogurt, 1 container crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese, 1/2 pound red potatoes and 1 pound eggplant. Staples: olive oil spray, minced garlic, ground cinnamon, salt and black peppercorns.

Moussaka

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

Ingredients Olive oil spray 1/2 pound red potatoes, washed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 1/2 cups) 1 pound eggplant, washed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 6 cups) Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 cup frozen chopped onion 1 teaspoon minced garlic 6 ounces lean ground beef (95% fat-free)* 3 tablespoons tomato paste (no-salt-added)** 1/2 cup water 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup nonfat, plain yogurt 1 ounce crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese (about 1/4 cup)

Directions Preheat broiler. Heat a stove-to-oven casserole dish or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spray with olive oil spray. Add potatoes and eggplant, cover with a lid and sauté 10 minutes, turning the vegetables several times. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Add the onion and garlic and ground beef. Sauté 2 minutes breaking up the beef with a spoon.

Mix tomato paste and water together and add to meat. Blend well. Add cinnamon and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat and spoon yogurt evenly over the meat and vegetables. Sprinkle feta cheese on top. Place under broiler for 5 minutes. Watch to make sure the cheese doesn’t burn. It will become bubbly and a little brown.

Remove and serve. Makes 2 servings.

Per serving: 405 calories, 76 calories from fat, 8.4 g fat, 3.4 g saturated fat, 2.9 g monounsaturated fat, 62 mg cholesterol, 32.2 g protein, 55.3 g carbohydrates, 12.3 g dietary fiber, 25.4 g sugars, 341 mg sodium, 1,950 mg potassium, 469 mg phosphorus Exchanges: 1 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat free milk, 4 vegetable, 3 lean protein

Shop Smart: * Lean ground beef (95% fat-free), containing per ounce: 39 calories, 1.4 g fat, 0.6 g saturated fat, 19 mg sodium ** Tomato paste (no-salt-added), containing per tablespoon: 13 calories, 9 mg sodium

(From “Delicious One-Pot Meals” by Linda Gassenheimer, published by the American Diabetes Association. Reprinted with permission from The American Diabetes Association.

Gassenheimer’s latest book is “Simply Smoothies: Fresh & Fast Diabetes-Friendly Snacks & Complete Meals,” published by the American Diabetes Association. To order either book call 1-800-232-6733 or at www.shopdiabetes.org.)

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