Moussaka is a Greek dish that has become very popular lately. It is a great dish to serve during family dinners or other gatherings. However, many people ask what to serve as a side in addition to a green salad.
Here are what to serve with Moussaka. You can serve them with the following:
- Green Salad
- Crusty Bread and Butter
- Breadsticks
- Grilled Vegetables
- And many more

How can we prepare those dishes? This blog post will tell you what to serve and how to prepare them!
What to Serve with Moussaka?

It is a traditional Greek dish that tastes great when served with suitable side dishes.
Greek Salad
Greek salad or horiatiki is made with onions, cucumbers, feta cheese, tomatoes, and olives.
Crusty Bread and Butter

If you want to keep the side dish simple, a French baguette or a classic slice of white bread will work fine.
To make it more flavorful, slather some butter over the bread. Then, dip your crusty bread and enjoy your meal.
Grilled Vegetables
Grilling vegetables brings out their natural sweetness and makes them even tastier. You can grill zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, or any other type of veggie you like.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
They go perfectly together and are perfect for dipping.
Roasted Tomatoes
Roasting tomatoes gives them an extra kick. Try roasting cherry tomatoes directly on the grill or under the broiler.
Fried Eggs
Eggs are always an excellent addition to any meal. Just be sure not to overcook them because they’ll lose their flavor.
Yogurt Sauce
Yogurt is another excellent option. It goes well with the creamy texture.
Breadsticks
Breadsticks are a must when serving this dish. They’re crispy and crunchy and add so much flavor to the plate.
Cheese Sticks
Cheese sticks are another great accompaniment to the dish. They’re soft and melt in your mouth.
Chicken Wings
Chicken wings are another favorite among Greek people. They’re spicy and full of flavor.
Garlic Knots
Garlic knots are another great appetizer. They’re easy to make and taste amazing.
Hummus
Hummus is another excellent dip to pair with other Mediterranean food.
Pita Chips
Pita chips are another great snack to eat, along with hummus.
Feta Cheese
Feta cheese is a beautiful topping. It has a strong flavor and complements the dish very well.
Cucumber Salad
Cucumber salad is another healthy side dish. It’s light and fresh tasting and goes well with most dishes.
Greek Tomato Fritters
These fritters are filled with tomatoes and herbs. They’re served in pitta bread and dipped in olive oil.
Tzatziki
Tzatziki is a Greek sauce made from yogurt, cucumber, salt, pepper, and dill. It’s usually served with gyros, souvlaki, and spanakopita.
Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf is another popular side dish in Greece. It’s simple to prepare and goes well with almost every meal.
Green Beans
Green beans with pesto, chop them up and saute them in a pan for about 5 minutes or until they become tender.
Prosciutto Bread
Prosciutto bread is a savory sandwich that can be enjoyed at any time. It’s a classic combination of salty prosciutto with sweet balsamic vinegar.
Roasted Garlic Lemon Soup
Roasted garlic lemon soup is a warm and comforting soup. It’s made by roasting garlic cloves and then blending them into a smooth and creamy soup.
Pasta
Pasta is another great side dish to go. You can choose between penne pasta, ziti pasta, rigatoni pasta, or macaroni pasta.
Crispy Fried Courgette Fritters
Courgettes are often used in Greek cuisine. These fried courgette fritters are crispy on the outside and tender inside.
Wine
Wine is optional but recommended if you want to drink while eating—a dry wine such as Riesling or Gewürztraminer pairs best.
Dessert
Dessert is a must after a big meal. However, the dessert should complement the main course and not overpower it.
Ice Cream
Ice cream is another excellent choice. Frozen yogurt is a good alternative if you don’t have time to make one.
Coffee
Coffee is a great way to end a meal. It helps cleanse your palate and relaxes the body.
Tea
Tea helps clear your head and leaves you feeling refreshed.
Lemonade
Lemonade is refreshing and light. It’s a perfect beverage to enjoy, especially during hot summer days.
What is Moussaka?
It is a traditional Greek dish that originated in the city of Thessaloniki. This recipe includes potato, eggplant, tomato sauce, and cheese layers.
It’s a rich dish made from ground meat and vegetables. It is usually served topped with feta cheese and baked until golden brown.
To make it even more delicious, you can add some herbs like oregano, basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, etc.
There are many variations in the original recipe. Some people add meat, while others use only vegetables. You can also make it vegetarian by omitting the meat.
Since this dish is a kind of eggplant casserole, some people think it already contains vegetables and doesn’t need any accompaniment. However, there are so many options that can make this dish fantastic.
What is the Difference Between Lasagna and Moussaka?

Lasagna is a classic Italian dish with pasta, cheese, and sauce. Moussaka is a similar dish, but it features eggplant instead of pasta.
So what’s the difference? The answer is simple: flavor! Lasagna tends to be milder in flavor, while moussaka packs a flavorful punch.
What Does Moussaka Taste Like?
It is a hearty dish made of layers of eggplant, ground beef, and béchamel sauce. It’s perfect for a winter meal because it’s warming and filling.
The dish usually contains cheese and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, which give it a delicious flavor.
Does Moussaka Contain Gluten?
Because these dishes often contain flour, they’re unsuitable for people suffering from celiac disease or wheat allergies.
How Do You Cook Moussaka?

Some people think that making it is hard. That couldn’t be further from the truth!
To make this Greek recipe come out right, follow these four essential step-by-step recipes.
Preparing the Eggplants (Aubergines) and Potatoes
The eggplant and potatoes are usually deep-fried until golden brown in traditional Greek cuisine.
Most taverna owners use this method to add a layer of flavor by deep-frying them.
Ingredients:
- 6 eggplants
- 5 potatoes (optional)
- vegetable oil (for frying the eggplants)
Methods:
- First, you’ll need to prepare the eggplant. Cut off the stems from each eggplant and slice them into thin strips (about one centimeter)—season with salt and place in a colander for about half an hour.
- After rinsing them well under running tap water, squeeze out any extra moisture from between their skin layers by pressing firmly against their skin using both hands. Fry the eggplant slices in plenty of oil (or bake them) until they’re nice and browned.
- Place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any extra cooking oil. Set aside when done.
- Now, if you add potatoes, it’s time to cut them up into slices of 0.5 cm (about 1/2 inch). Bake them or fry them like the eggplant. Season with some salt and set them aside when done.
Preparing the Meat Sauce
Traditionally, Greek Moussaka called for either lamb mince (or sometimes mixed) or a mixture of lamb and beef. But you can make it without meat if you want!
A lamb moussaka meat sauce is similar to a basic bolognese sauce. First, the ground beef or lamb is cooked in olive oil, onion, and garlic. Then, after deglazing with some red wine, simmer with chopped tomatoes until thick.
Ingredients:
- 750g beef or lamb mince (26 oz)
- 2 red onions (chopped)
- 2 cloves of garlic (chopped)
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes (400g / 14oz)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 glass of red wine
- Pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- A bit of cinnamon or one cinnamon stick
- 1/4 of a cup or 2-3 Tbsp olive oil
Methods:
- Add some extra virgin olive oil to a hot frying pan.
- Add the chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the minced beef to the pan and stir well for 2 minutes until cooked.
- Add the garlic and tomato paste when they start to turn golden brown. Sauté them for a few minutes so the garlic softens but does not let them burn.
- Pour in the red wine to deglaze the meat juices and wait to evaporate.
- Put the tinned tomatoes, sugar, cinnamon, bay leaf, salt, and pepper into the pan. Turn up the heat and bring it to a boil, then lower it and let it cook gently for about 30 minutes or so, occasionally stirring until most of the liquid has been reduced.
- Set aside when done.
Preparing the Bechamel Sauce
The dish requires a rich béchamel sauce or white sauce. A thin béchamel sauce will soak through the meat sauce. And that won’t give you that thick creamy layer that sits on top and makes it stand out.
When making your béchamel sauce, let it simmer long enough, so it becomes like thick custard.
Ingredients:
- 900ml milk (31 fl. oz)
- 120g butter (4 oz)
- 120g flour (4 oz)
- a pinch of nutmeg
- 2 egg yolk
- 100g Parmigiano-Reggiano or Kefalotyri or your favorite hard cheese (3.5oz)
- salt to taste and white pepper
Methods:
- Melt the butter in a medium skillet over low-medium heat until melted. Whisk in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes until smooth.
- Add the warm milk slowly so that your sauce doesn’t get lumpy. Turn off the stove once the sauce has thickened enough for your taste. It should be similar in texture to a thick cream.
- Take off the bechamel saucepan from the heat and add the eggs, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and half of the grated cheese; mix well. Reserve some cheese for sprinkling on top!
- Whisk quickly so that the eggs don’t turn into an omelet. Salt seasonally to taste. Add one tablespoon of bechamel to the meat sauce.
- Set the béchamel sauce aside.
Assemble the Moussaka
Now that your vegetables, béchamel, and meat sauce are ready, it’s time to assemble your dish!
- For this recipe, you will need a large baking dish, approx. 20 x 30 cm (8″ x 12″) And 8cm Deep)
- Butter the bottom and side of the pan and lay down a layer of potatoes first, followed by half of the slices of eggplant.
- Pour in all of the meat sauce and spread it out evenly.
- Add a second layer of eggplant, top with the béchamel sauce, and smooth out with a spatula.
- Sprinkle some grated cheese on top for good measure. As soon as it has been cooked for 20 minutes, the cheese inside will start melting, giving it an excellent golden brown color.
- This Greek dish is ready to bake, or store it in the fridge and bake it later!
FAQs
What is a good side dish for moussaka?
A simple green salad would go well with this dish. Or, if you want something more substantial, try serving it with Greek Salad or Feta Cheese Dip.
Can moussaka be made in advance?
You can make it in advance and store it in the fridge. You can bake it later when you want to eat it.
What national dish is moussaka?
It is a traditional Greek dish.
Can you eat moussaka cold?
Yes, you can serve it cold if you want.
Related Topics
Can You Freeze Eggplant?
Yes, you can freeze eggplant.
Are Falafels Gluten Free?
Yes, falafels are gluten-free. Falafels are made of chickpeas, which do not contain gluten.
What are the 5 Mother Sauces?
The 5 mother sauces are:
- Béchamel sauce
- Velouté sauce
- Tomato sauce
- Hollandaise sauce
- Espagnole sauce
Do You Remove Seeds From Eggplant Before Cooking?
It is not necessary to remove the seeds from the eggplant before cooking.
Do You Salt Eggplant Before Cooking?
It is not necessary to salt eggplant before cooking.