Moussaka is a famous Turkish/Mediterranean dish with eggplants, minced meat, tomatoes, béchamel and an occasional potato. However, as the Turks gradually conquered more and more of the Balkan territories and traveled north towards Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania, most of the fancier ingredients were dropped and only potatoes remained with a scant sprinkle of minced meat, a testament to the life in these impoverished farming lands and their colder climates. And that is how the famous Potato Moussaka, one of the staple dishes of the Balkan cuisine, was born. Potato moussaka is a seemingly simple dish to make, but the essence of getting it right lies in the baking process. When executed properly, potato moussaka is a true masterpiece -- wonderfully crisp on top, soft and caramelized on bottom, creamy in the middle. It's filled with wonderful little caves of fragrant minced beef, and bursting with rich, cheesy taste, despite containing no cheese at all!

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