Eggplant, Tomato, and Beef Casserole

While many in the West are familiar with the heavier Greek version of this dish, moussaka, few are aware that it is originally an Arab dish, still popular in Palestine. While talking about the origins of things is a dangerous business, especially in former Ottoman lands, in this case the etymology seems pretty clear: musaqa’a comes from the Arabic for “chilled” or “cooled.” As its name indicates, the dish is served cold, a perfect slice of summer.

In Gaza, the most typ