Olympian Moussaka

DEAR SOS: On a recent trip to Santa Barbara, I dined at a Greek restaurant with a California touch called Zeus & Co. I would be forever grateful for their mouth-watering vegetarian moussaka recipe. Please.

--DELIGHT

DEAR DELIGHT: Gloria Menedes of Zeus cut the recipe to fit a party-size dish for six to eight people. She also suggests substituting any vegetables you desire for those called for in this recipe. It makes a versatile dish for any vegetable lover.

ZEUS’ VEGETARIAN MOUSSAKA

BECHAMEL SAUCE

1/2 cup flour

Ground cinnamon

Ground nutmeg

1/2 cup butter

1 quart milk

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Mix flour with cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour mixture and cook 2 to 3 minutes, then add milk and cook, stirring, until thickened. Stir in cheese and keep warm until ready to use.

MOUSSAKA

2 large baking potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick

1 large eggplant, sliced 1/4-inch thick

3 zucchini, sliced 1/4-inch thick

Olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 cup cooked garbanzo beans

1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce

Salt, pepper

Ground cinnamon

Ground nutmeg

1/4 cup bread crumbs, preferably from pita bread

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Brush potatoes, eggplant and zucchini with olive oil and grill until soft. Set aside.

Cook onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil until soft. Add garbanzo beans and tomato sauce and cook, stirring. Add salt, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. Heat through.

Layer potato slices in bottom of greased 13x9-inch baking pan and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Spoon layer of tomato mixture over potatoes. Place layer of eggplant, then layer of tomato sauce, followed by layer of zucchini slices, then remaining tomato sauce.

Spread top with Bechamel Sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 375 degrees 1 hour.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Each of 8 servings contains about:

432 calories; 775 mg sodium; 56 mg cholesterol; 25 grams fat; 38 grams carbohydrates; 17 grams protein; 1.51 grams fiber.

* Plates and glasses from Pallets of Plates, South Pasadena.