Irresistible Eggplant Lasagna Food

CLASSIC EGGPLANT LASAGNA RECIPE

Steps:

• Trim the top and bottom of the eggplants. Slice the eggplants lengthwise to 1/4" thick slices.
• Place the eggplant slices on a baking sheet and generously sprinkle with salt on both sides. Let the eggplants sit and "sweat" for about 45 minutes. Then Pat dry them completely and brush with 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil on both sides.
• Heat the oven to 400°F and once it's hot, bake the eggplants in the oven for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining olive oil in a large pan and saute onion until golden.
• Add in ground beef, salt, pepper, dried oregano and basil and cook it until brown, break it into pieces and you cook it.
• Once the ground beef is browned, add in tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes. Cook for a few more minutes. Turn the heat off and set it aside.
• In a large bowl, mix ricotta cheese with grated parmesan and egg. Set aside.
• Now it's time to assemble your eggplant lasagna. Preheat the oven to 375°F and coat a baking dish with cooking spray. Start by spreading a thin layer of meat sauce at the bottom of the dish. Top with roasted eggplant slices, spread some ricotta cheese mix on the eggplant. add some meat sauce on top, and finish with a thin layer of mozzarella cheese. Repeat these steps until you run out of the beef sauce, eggplant sliced and ricotta mix.
• Bake the eggplant lasagna in the oven for 40 minutes until the top gets all golden and bubbly.
• Let the lasagna cool for 15 to 20 minutes before you slice it.

EGGPLANT LASAGNA RECIPE

Steps:

• Season the eggplant slices on both sides with kosher salt and set aside for 20 to 30 minutes (if you don't have the time, this step can be optional).
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and position a rack in the middle.
• Wipe the eggplant slices very well with a paper towel (you want to dry it well and remove any excess salt), then arrange on lightly oiled baking sheet (or two if needed). Brush the top of the eggplant with extra virgin olive oil. Roast in the heated oven until the eggplant softens and becomes pliable (about 15 to 20 minutes or so).
• While the eggplant is roasting, prepare the ricotta filling. In a mixing bowl, beat the egg. Add the ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, ¼ Parmesan, garlic, oregano, spinach and chopped herbs. Add a small pinch of kosher salt and black pepper to your liking. Mix well to combine.
• Remove the eggplant from the oven. Lower the heat to 375 degrees F.
• Prepare a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Pour a bit of the pasta sauce (about ½ cup or so) and spread it out into one layer. Lay a few eggplant slices (anywhere from 4 to 6 and it's fine if they overlap a bit). Spread 1/2 of the ricotta filling, then spread a thin layer of the sauce. Repeat the process in the same pattern. Spread the final layer of sauce and follow with the remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup of Parmesan.
• Cover the dish tightly with foil. Bake in the heated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, then carefully uncover and return to the oven. Bake for another 10 to 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the edges of the lasagna turn a nice golden brown.
• Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Arrange sliced eggplant in a single layer on 2 sheet pans. Brush on both sides using 3 tablespoons of oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast the eggplant until it is soft and golden. Turn slices halfway through, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and the sliced mushrooms. Saute until soft for about 7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and chopped thyme. Cook for another 2 minutes. Once the mushrooms are cooked remove and set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl add the ricotta, eggs, 1/2 cup Parmesan, oregano, mushrooms, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Mix well. Brush an 8-inch baking dish with oil.
• Spread half of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Lay 4 slices on top followed by the ricotta mixture. Lay another 4 slices of eggplant and finish with marinara sauce. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Bake until golden brown, at 350 degrees, for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel 5 cloves garlic and place them in a square of foil. Sprinkle the cloves with salt and pepper and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Wrap up the foil and place it directly on the oven rack. (Be sure that the foil packet is secure so no oil will leak out.) Roast the garlic until it's brown and tender, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool enough to touch and squeeze the garlic from the skins. Set aside.
• Saute onions and carrots with the oil in a medium saucepan. Add tomato paste and stir well. This will cook off the tomato paste and give a nice orangy color. Cook for about 10 minutes. When vegetables are softened add the roasted garlic, salt, pepper, basil, oregano and stir together until incorporated. Pour in the tomatoes. Fill the empty can with water and add it to the pan. Bring to a boil then lower the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 1 hour, uncovered. Stir occasionally. Once sauce is ready carefully pour it into the food processor and puree until smooth.

EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Using a mandolin or a thin knife, slice eggplant lengthwise into thin strips. Toss the eggplant with 1/4 cup coarse salt. Transfer the eggplant to a colander and allow to sit overnight. (This will remove any excess water from the eggplant and allow it to crisp nicely when fried.) Brush the salt off the eggplant slices. Heat oil in a large skillet until approximately 350 degrees. Carefully fry eggplant slices in the oil until golden brown, approximately 30 seconds on each side. Drain the slices on paper towels, set aside until needed. In a medium bowl mix together 2 cups tomato puree, oregano and 1 tablespoon chopped garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Grease a 8 by 8-inch square pan, and layer the eggplant on the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle some of the mozzarella cheese mixed with the parmesan cheese, pepper, and drizzle the tomato sauce over the cheese. Repeat the process the pan is full. Bake the lasagna for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown.

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.