Ingredients:

FOR THE VEGETABLE LAYERS

• 2 pounds eggplant
• 2½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for pan-frying and greasing the baking pan
• 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes, juices drained
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano leaves (preferably Greek)
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, ground
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea or kosher salt

FOR THE BECHAMEL SAUCE

• 1 pound russet potatoes
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons unbleached
• all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 large egg, slightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea or kosher salt
• 1 cup shredded kefalotyri or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Directions:

To make the vegetable layers, lop off the stem end of each eggplant. Stand them up on their cut surface and slice them into  ¼˝ thick planks.

Fill a medium-size bowl halfway with cold water. Peel the Yukon Gold potatoes and give them a good rinse under cold running water. Slice them lengthwise into ¼˝ thick planks. Submerge them in the bowl of water to rinse off surface starch and to prevent them from discoloring.

Drizzle 2 tablespoons of oil into a large skillet and heat it over medium heat. Once the oil appears to shimmer, arrange as many eggplant planks as you can in a single layer, without overlapping. Allow the underside to brown and soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the planks and repeat on the other side for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Lift them out of the skillet with tongs and place them in a stack on a large cookie sheet. Brown the remaining eggplant planks, adding more oil as needed. Add them to the stack on the cookie sheet when they’re done.

Lay out several layers of paper towels or a clean cotton kitchen towel on the counter. Drain the potato planks in a colander and give them a good rinse under cold running water to remove any residual surface starch. Give the colander a good shake or two to rid the potatoes of excess water. Pat the potatoes dry on the paper towels. Pour another 2 tablespoons of oil into the skillet and heat over medium heat until it shimmers. Arrange a single layer of potato planks, without overcrowding. Once the underside browns slightly and the top looks opaque, 2 to 3 minutes, flip them over and repeat on the other side for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Lift them out of the skillet and set them in their own stack, on the same cookie sheet as the eggplant. Brown the remaining potato planks, adding them to their stack.

Combine the tomatoes, oregano, cumin, red pepper flakes, and salt in a medium-size bowl.

To start the bechamel sauce, peel the russet potatoes, cut them into quarters, and give them a good rinse under cold running water. Place them in a medium-size saucepan and cover them with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat, cover the pan, and gently boil the potatoes until the pieces fall apart quite easily when pierced with a fork, 20 to 25 minutes.

While the potatoes boil, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Spoon in the flour and whisk it into the butter, making sure there are no lumps. Continue to cook the flour, whisking constantly, so the flour cooks evenly but does not start browning, about 1 minute. Pour in ½ cup of the milk, whisking to ensure a lump-free sauce. Slowly whisk in the remaining 1 ½ cups of milk. Simmer the sauce over medium heat, uncovered, whisking occasionally, until it starts to thicken and bubble, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Whisk a few tablespoons of the sauce into the beaten egg to warm it. Pour the egg mixture into the sauce along with the nutmeg and salt and give it all a good whisking. Set the bechamel sauce aside.

Once the potatoes are ready, drain them into a colander and return the pieces to the dry pan. Return the pan to the burner, and over low heat, dry the potatoes of any residual water that may cling to their surfaces, about 30 seconds.

Working in batches if necessary, transfer the potatoes to a ricer and press them through directly into the bechamel. (If you don’t have a ricer, use a potato masher and fluff them with a fork when completely mashed, then add them to the sauce.) Sprinkle in the cheese and fold the potatoes and cheese into the bechamel.

Now you are ready to assemble the moussaka. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with some oil.

Arrange half of the potato planks as the bottom layer. (A little overlapping is fine.) Spoon on half of the seasoned tomatoes and top with a layer of half of the eggplant. Repeat with the remaining potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant. Top it off with the bechamel sauce, spreading the sauce evenly with a spatula.

Bake the moussaka, uncovered, until bubbly and the top is lightly browned, about 1 hour. Cut into squares and serve hot.