Greece is wide known for its rima watering nutrient and 1 of its astir fashionable dishes is Papoutsakia.
Papoutsakia is stuffed eggplants that are archetypal baked until brushed and past filled with a tomato-based mince sauce, topped with bechamel condiment and cheese, and baked again until they are beautifully golden.
The crockery is called papoutsakia (little shoes) due to the fact that its signifier resembles small shoes.
Due to its ingredients, the crockery tastes a batch similar Moussaka, nevertheless with a big of wellness benefits, being made with eggplants.
Eggplants are a nutrient-dense food, meaning they incorporate a bully magnitude of vitamins, minerals and fibre successful fewer calories.
We anticipation you bask this delicious Papoutsakia look by nary different than Akis Petretzikis.

Papoutsakia Recipe
Papoutsakia Ingredients
For eggplants and crushed meat
- 3 eggplants, mean sized
- 3 tablespoon(s) olive oil
- 2 tablespoon(s) thyme
- 1 onion
- 1 clove(s) of garlic
- 1 pinch granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon(s) thyme, dry
- 1/4 teaspoon(s) cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon(s) cloves
- 250 g crushed beef, ground
- 40 g reddish wine
- 400 g canned tomatoes
- 50 g gruyere cheese, grated
- 1 clump parsley
- 1 tablespoon(s) mint
- salt
- pepper
For the béchamel sauce
- 20 g butter
- 20 g all-purpose flour
- salt
- pepper
- 250 g milk, astatine country temperature
- 50 g gruyere cheese, grated
- 2 ovum yolks
- 1/4 teaspoon(s) nutmeg
To serve
- 1 tablespoon(s) parsley
- olive oil, some
- 1kg of large eggplants
- 500g minced beef
- Olive oil
- 1 large reddish onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1/2 glass of reddish wine
- 1/2 cupful of water
- 2 ripe tomatoes, grated
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2-3 bay leaves
- 1 spoon of oregano
- 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley
- grated food (parmesan, cheddar, graviera, halloumi, kefalotyri, etc.)
- salt and capsicum to taste
For the sauce:
- 1/3 of of flour
- 50g of butter
- 2 cups of beverage (room temperature)
- salt and capsicum to taste
Papoutsakia Method
For the eggplants
- Preheat oven to 200* C (390* F) instrumentality forced.
- Cut the eggplants successful half, lengthwise and region the stems.
- Use a crisp weapon to people the soma successful a crisscross mode without tearing the skin.
- Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, capsicum and thyme. Spread implicit the aboveground of the eggplants with your hands.
- Line a baking cookware with parchment insubstantial and adhd eggplants chopped broadside down.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, until they soften.
- When ready, region from oven and transportation to an oven impervious baking dish, tegument broadside down. Press down connected the soma to make an “indentation” to adhd the crushed nutrient filling.
For the crushed nutrient mixture
- Place a nonstick implicit precocious heat. Add 1 tablespoonful of olive lipid and fto it get precise hot.
- Coarsely chop the bulb and garlic. Add them to the pan.
- Add the sugar, thyme, cinnamon, cloves, brackish and pepper.
- Stir with a woody spoon and sauté for astir 5 minutes, until they caramelize nicely.
- Add the crushed nutrient and sauté for 2-3 minutes until golden.
- Add the vino and hold until the intoxicant evaporates.
- Add the tomatoes and let the substance to boil for 10-15 minutes, until it reduces.
- When ready, region from vigor and acceptable speech to chill a little.
- Add the gruyere, parsley, thyme and mint.
- Mix and capable the eggplants with a spoon.
For the béchamel sauce
- Place a cookware implicit mean heat.
- Add the butter, flour, brackish and pepper. Whisk until the food melts and the substance is wholly combined.
- Add the beverage successful 5 batches, portion continuously whisking and hold for each summation to go wholly incorporated earlier adding the next.
- As soon arsenic the archetypal bubbles look connected the surface, region from heat.
- Add the gruyere, nutmeg, pepper, brackish and ovum yolks. Whisk until wholly incorporated.
- Use a spoon to dispersed the béchamel condiment implicit the crushed nutrient filling and sprinkle with crushed nutmeg.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden.
- Serve with immoderate other virgin olive lipid and finely chopped parsley.
Akis Petretzikis’ Traditional Greek Lamb Kleftiko recipe
Natalie Martin
Editor
Natalie Martin is exertion and writer astatine Greek City Times, specialising successful penning diagnostic articles and exclusive interviews with Greek personalities and celebrities. Natalie focuses connected bringing authentic stories to beingness and crafting compelling narratives. Her endowment for storytelling and compassionate attack to journalism guarantee that each nonfiction connects with readers astir the world.