Eggplant And Lentil Lasagne Food

LAYERED AUBERGINE & LENTIL BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Brush both sides of the aubergine slices with 2 tbsp of the oil, lay on baking sheets, season and bake for 15-20 mins until tender, turning once. Cook the lentils following pack instructions.
• Heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan. Tip in the onions and garlic and cook until soft. Stir though the squash and the tomatoes, plus ½ can of water. Simmer for 10-15 mins until the sauce has thickened. Stir in the lentils, basil and seasoning.
• Spoon a layer of lentils into a small baking dish. Top with aubergine slices and repeat, finishing with a layer of aubergine. Scatter with mozzarella and bake for a further 15 mins until the cheese is golden and bubbling.

LENTIL LASAGNE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pan, add the onion, carrot and celery, and gently cook for 10-15 mins until soft. Add the garlic, cook for a few mins, then stir in the lentils and cornflour.
• Add the tomatoes plus a canful of water, the mushroom ketchup, oregano, stock powder and some seasoning. Simmer for 15 mins, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, cook the cauliflower in a pan of boiling water for 10 mins or until tender. Drain, then purée with the soya milk using a hand blender or food processor. Season well and add the nutmeg.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Spread a third of the lentil mixture over the base of a ceramic baking dish, about 20 x 30cm. Cover with a single layer of lasagne, snapping the sheets to fit. Add another third of the lentil mixture, then spread a third of the cauliflower purée on top, followed by a layer of pasta. Top with the last third of lentils and lasagna, followed by the remaining purée.
• Cover loosely with foil and bake for 35-45 mins, removing the foil for the final 10 mins of cooking.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND LENTILS

Steps:

• On an oiled cookie sheet, roast the eggplant, onion, and bell pepper at 425 for about 30 minutes (turning at least once).
• Meanwhile, bring the vegetable broth (or water) to a boil. Add the seasonings, rice and lentils. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, until tender. It should still be a little soupy.
• Stir vegetables, rice and lentils, and olive oil together with 1 cup of mozzarella.
• Spread into 9x13 pan and top with remaining cheese.
• Bake at 425 for 30 minutes.

EGGPLANT AND LENTIL LASAGNE

Steps:

• Remove the stalk from the eggplant, then slice it lengthways into 1cm thick slices. Place a few slices in a colander which you have set over a large bowl. Scatter salt liberally over the slices, then keep on layering the slices using up the salt as you go. Allow the eggplant to release its juice over the next hour or so.
• While the eggplant is doing it's thing, start on your sauce. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large heavy-based saucepan over medium heat and then sauté the onion and garlic for two minutes. when the onion starts to soften, add the celery and carrot, stir well to thoroughly coat in oil, and sauté for a further five minutes.
• Add the wine if you are using it (or half a cup of water if you are not) and allow the wine to bubble, stirring through the vegetables. When the wine has reduced by half, add the tomatoes, tomato paste, lentils, parsley and enough water to cover the contents by a further 2cm. Season with salt and pepper, add the sugar and stir well, then bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a slow simmer, cover the saucepan and simmer gently for an hour. From time to time, give the sauce a good stir - you may have to add another cup of water if it get's too dry. The lentils should become the consistency of cooked peas.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large heavy-based frypan and add the rinsed and dried eggplant slices, a few at a time. Fry for about two minutes on each side until they start to turn golden brown and soften - drain on paper towel.
• To assemble: Preheat oven to 180°C Place a couple of large spoonfuls of lentils and sauce on the base of a large lasagne or gratin dish and smooth it out evenly. Place slices of eggplant over the top of the lentil mixture. Top with a layer of lasagne sheets. Continue layering and finish off with a layer of lasagne sheets.
• Top with warm béchamel sauce, then scatter grated parmesan over the top, or mozzarella, or tasty cheese if you prefer. Bake for 40 minutes until the lasagne sheets are cooked through and the top is golden and bubbling. If you need to, cover with a layer of foil to prevent the top colouring too much while the pasta cooks through.
• At this stage, you can allow it to cool to room temperature, then store it in the fridge, covered, for up three days. You can freeze it for up to one month. (Allow it to thaw before re-heating, covered in foil, for 45-50 minutes at 160°C).
• Remove from oven and let it sit on the bench top for ten minutes before slicing and serving.

VEGGIE LASAGNE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Put the peppers, courgette and sweet potato into a large baking tray. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil, season with salt and pepper and toss together.
• Roast for 30 minutes, or until softened and lightly browned.
• While the vegetables are roasting, heat the remaining oil in a large saucepan and gently fry the onion for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.
• Add the chilli and garlic and cook for a few seconds more. Stir in the tomatoes, Italian seasoning (or dried oregano) and crumbled stock cube. Pour over the water and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring regularly. Set aside.
• For the cheese sauce, put the flour, butter and milk in a large saucepan and place over a medium heat. Whisk constantly with a large metal whisk until the sauce is thickened and smooth. (Use a silicone covered whisk if cooking in a non-stick pan.) Stir in roughly two-thirds of the cheeses and season to taste.
• Take the vegetables out of the oven and add to the pan with the tomato sauce. Stir in the spinach and cook together for 3 minutes. Season with salt and lots of ground black pepper.
• Spoon a third of the vegetable mixture over the base of a 2½ -3 litre/4½-5¼ pint ovenproof lasagne dish and cover with a single layer of lasagne. Top with another third of the vegetable mixture (don't worry if it doesn't cover evenly) and a second layer of lasagne.
• Pour over just under half of the cheese sauce and very gently top with the remaining vegetable mixture. Finish with a final layer of lasagne and the rest of the cheese sauce. Sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the pasta has softened and the topping is golden brown and bubbling. Stand for 5 minutes before cutting to allow the filling to settle.

EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add eggplant, onions and garlic; cook 15 min. or until eggplant is very tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in pasta sauce.
• Combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Layer 1/3 each of the noodles, cheese mixture and pasta sauce mixture in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; repeat layers twice. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
• Bake 40 to 45 min. or until heated through. Let stand 10 min. before cutting to serve.