Shortcut Moussaka

Rich complex flavor - with comforting mashed potato topping. Absolutely delicious. It reminded my kids of a shepherd's pie we ate in Talin, Estonia. The exotic spices and depth of flavor made it a perfect dish.

Although called "shortcut", don't mistake this for an easy recipe. My 16 yr old son prepared it for us, and was discouraged to find so many steps - roasting eggplant, preparing mashed potatoes, browning lamb, sautéeing onions, etc. Took probably 2 1/2 hours (over 2 days), but the final product was stunning.

We debated about whether the lamb was too rich. I love the flavor of lamb, and really liked it. DH thought he'd prefer hamburger - until I said that then he would be able to taste the eggplant ;).