This dish is enjoyed in many variations throughout the Balkan region. The Bulgarian version involves potatoes, eggs and minced pork meat and is a known favourite of Bulgarian men, among whom it is a popular joke that they cannot marry a woman who is unable to cook the perfect musaka.

While the Greek variety of musaka may be based on eggplant, the Bulgarian dish relies strictly on potatoes to layer the meat. The whole thing is traditionally covered with thick Bulgarian yoghurt on top.

Potato Dish With Ground Meat. Moussaka Casserole. Have you tried Bulgarian-style moussaka? It is so tasty and healthy. You may know moussaka as a delectable side dish from Greece since the Greeks own the most famous version, but it actually first appeared in Middle Eastern cuisine. And in Bulgaria, the locals use potatoes in place of eggplant in the regular recipes.

What makes moussaka become a staple in Bulgarian gastronomy today may be the yogurt topping which created a distinct taste. However, this dish is more like an occasional treat than what you can enjoy daily.

Since this dish contains hearty vegetables, the Bulgarians usually allow their moussaka to rest and evaporate after taking it out from the oven. Then they cut it into squares and serve warm so that it wont be too mushy by the veggies leakage.

Traditional Bulgarian moussaka is a baked dish made with potatoes, ground beef, and vegetables such as carrots, celery, red bell peppers, garlic, and onions. Tomatoes are also added for that nice touch of acidity. Moussaka is to the Bulgarians what lasagna is to the Italians, making it a delicious and hearty traditional dish and a perfect comfort food.

Depending on the region, moussaka is prepared in slightly different ways. The more popular variant is Greek or Mediterranean moussaka made of eggplant rather than potatoes. The Bulgarian kind is topped with yogurt sauce rather than bechamel, but most are prepared similarly through layering the ingredients and topping the dish with the sauce before baking it in an oven.