Moussaka Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 sweet yellow onion
• 16 oz extra lean ground beef
• 1 1/2 unpeeled eggplant
• 50 g mozzarella cheese (part skim milk)
• 1 tsp crumbled whole bay leaf
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp celery seed
• 1 tsp ground oregano
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 1/2 cups pieces or slices mushrooms sliced
• 1 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 can tomato paste
• 15 oz no salt added tomato sauce (canned)
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsps parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In a large saucepan heat olive oil. Add onions and garlic, sauté until soft, add mushrooms and peppers and cook until mushrooms start to shrink and are starting to brown.
2. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Add tomato sauce, water and paste and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce to medium and add pepper, celery seed, oregano, whole bay leaf and simmer, stirring occasionally until eggplant is prepared. (If like to use salt I recommend sea salt to taste.)
4. To prepare eggplant, slice into 1/4 inch thick slices. Brown slices in a non-stick pan, you can use cooking spray like Pam if you like.
5. Pre-heat oven to 350° F (175° C). In an 8x11" glass baking dish ladle half of your meat sauce, cover with a layer of eggplant and sprinkle with half of your mozzarella cheese.
6. Add the other half of your meat sauce, cover with remaining eggplant.
7. Sprinkle the top with the remaining mozzarella and sprinkle on parmesan sparingly.
8. Bake for 60 minutes. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.