What is musakka? Turkish moussaka explained

If you order 'moussaka' in the Netherlands, you probably expect a layered oven bake with a thick layer of béchamel sauce on top, the way you know it from the Greek menu. Put Turkish musakka in front of you and you will look surprised for a moment: no béchamel, no neat layers, but a fragrant stew of aubergine and minced meat. Yet it is just as much called musakka.

At Yasemin we make Turkish musakka fresh and 100% halal, exactly the way it should be. Time to clear up the confusion.

What is musakka? (Turkish moussaka)

Musakka, better known in English as moussaka, is a Turkish dish of fried aubergine with a savoury sauce of minced meat, onion, tomato and pepper. Contrary to what many people think, it is not a heavy, layered oven bake but more of a stew. The flavours are similar to karnıyarık, but in musakka the aubergines are cut into pieces and combined with the minced meat instead of being stuffed whole.

Turkish musakka versus Greek moussaka

This is the big difference, and straight away the most frequently asked question. Greek moussaka is a layered oven bake: aubergine, minced meat and potato, covered with a creamy béchamel sauce, from the oven. Turkish musakka has no béchamel. It is lighter and more of a stew of aubergine and minced meat, often cooked on the hob instead of in the oven. Both are delicious, but they really are two different dishes with the same name.

With aubergine or potato

The best-known version is made with aubergine (patlıcan musakka), but there is also a version with potato (patates musakka) or courgette. The aubergine version is the most popular and the most recognisably Turkish. In every case, the savoury minced meat sauce is the constant.

Is there a vegetarian moussaka?

Certainly. By leaving out the minced meat and relying on aubergine, potato, tomato and pepper, you get a full-fledged vegetarian moussaka. A nice way to make the dish plant-based without compromising on flavour.

Make it yourself or order it fresh?

Frying the aubergines, letting the sauce simmer and bringing everything together takes quite some time. Want to taste Turkish musakka without the work? Yasemin delivers fresh musakka chilled to your door, 100% halal and never frozen. Also take a look at our meat dishes and vegetarian dishes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Turkish and Greek moussaka?

Greek moussaka is a layered oven bake with béchamel sauce. Turkish musakka has no béchamel and is more of a stew of aubergine and minced meat.

Is musakka made with or without béchamel?

Turkish musakka is made without béchamel. That creamy sauce belongs to the Greek version.

What is musakka made of?

Turkish musakka consists of fried aubergine or potato with a sauce of minced meat, onion, tomato and pepper.

Is there a vegetarian musakka?

Yes, by leaving out the minced meat and using more vegetables, you can make a vegetarian version of musakka.