Lasagna With Eggplant Cherry Tomatoes And Basil Food

LASAGNA WITH TOMATO SAUCE AND ROASTED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and brush the foil lightly with olive oil. Slice the eggplant 1/3 inch thick, sprinkle with salt and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Place on the baking sheet and roast 15 to 20 minutes, until the slices are lightly colored on the bottom and soft to the tip of a knife. Remove from the oven, and carefully fold the foil over and crimp the edges together (be careful not to burn yourself!). Let the eggplant cool and steam in the foil packet for 20 minutes. Set aside and turn the oven down to 350 degrees.
• Lightly oil a rectangular baking dish. Blend the ricotta cheese with the egg, water, cinnamon, and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside 1/2 cup of tomato sauce and 3 tablespoons of Parmesan to make sure you have enough for the top layer of the lasagna.
• Spread a small spoonful of tomato sauce in a thin layer over the bottom of the baking dish. Top with a layer of lasagna noodles. Top the noodles with a thin layer of ricotta. Spoon on a few dollops then spread it with an offset or a rubber spatula. Top the ricotta with half the eggplant, and sprinkle basil and half the mozzarella over the eggplant. Top with a layer of tomato sauce and a layer of Parmesan. Repeat the layers, then add a final layer of lasagna noodles topped with ricotta if any remains, and most importantly with the tomato sauce and Parmesan you set aside. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil over the top.
• Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and place in the oven. Bake 40 minutes, until the noodles are tender and the mixture is bubbling. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

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.

SUMMER EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Peel and slice the eggplant and salt it in a colander. Cover with paper towels and a tea kettle that is full and heavy. Let stand for about 1 hour until moisture is released. This first step is very important to remove any bitterness.
• Batter the eggplant by dipping first in beaten eggs, then in bread crumbs seasoned with salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, and garlic powder. (If you need to use store bought seasoned bread crumbs omit salt and pepper.)
• In a deep sided fry pan heat the olive oil to 350 degrees F. Add a little butter (for flavor) and fry the eggplant in batches until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
• Make the vinaigrette of red wine vinegar, olive oil, chopped peppadews, sugar, oregano and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Chop the mint and Italian parsley.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons vinaigrette in the bottom of a large bowl. Layer eggplant slices with the chopped mint, parsley, and the vinaigrette. Top with more of the vinaigrette and marinate, covered, in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. (Cook's note: you can also add to the layers more minced garlic and shredded Parmesan.)
• Boil the lasagna noodles with a little oil, so that they do not stick, and some salt, to impart some flavor.
• In a beautiful serving dish layer the marinated eggplant, the noodles, then sprinkle with some fresh mozzarella, then the basil and finally drizzle with the vinaigrette. Repeat until all the layers are formed, making sure that the noodle is not the last layer. Garnish with cherry tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Serve at room temperature for the best summer lasagna. Manga!!!

LASAGNA WITH ROASTED EGGPLANT-RICOTTA FILLING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the cherry tomatoes on a large baking sheet along with the thyme, oregano and garlic. Dress with 2 tablespoons of the EVOO, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Roast until the tomatoes burst, 35 to 45 minutes
• Brush the eggplant with the remaining 2 tablespoons EVOO and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut-side down on a baking sheet and roast alongside the tomatoes until soft, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Let the tomatoes cool slightly, and then puree them with the basil in a food processor until smooth. Remove the skins from the garlic and puree the sauce with the roasted cloves before transferring the sauce to a bowl.
• When the eggplant has cooled, spoon out the flesh and add it into the cleaned bowl of the food processor along with the ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, egg yolks and some salt and pepper. Puree the mixture until smooth and season with more salt and pepper.
• Ladle one-third of the tomato sauce into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish. Layer pasta sheets on top, followed by one-half of the eggplant, more pasta sheets, tomato sauce and 1/2 of the mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of pasta sheets, followed by the remaining eggplant, more pasta sheets and the remaining tomato sauce. Top the lasagna with the remaining mozzarella. Bake 1 hour. Let cool 20 minutes before serving.

EGGPLANT AND GROUND BEEF LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Grease the bottom and sides of 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the lasagna noodles at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes; drain and set aside.
• Cook and stir ground beef, onion, mushrooms, and garlic in a skillet over medium heat until the beef is completely browned, about 10 minutes.
• Stir canned tomatoes into ground beef; simmer until sauce has formed, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour about one-fourth of the sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
• Layer noodles on top of sauce.
• Spread a thin layer of sauce on top of noodles.
• Place a layer of eggplant slices on top of noodle and sauce layer.
• Sprinkle about one-fourth of the cheese on top of eggplant slices.
• Repeat layering with remaining ingredients, until ending with a layer of sauce topped with remaining cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until cheese is bubbly and brown on top, about 40 minutes.

EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Oil 2 baking sheets and a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 teaspoon olive oil.
• Whisk eggs and water together in a shallow dish. Combine Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, salt, and ground black pepper in a separate shallow dish.
• Dip eggplant slices into egg mixture, then press each gently into bread crumb mixture. Gently tap off any excess crumbs. Arrange slices on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake eggplant slices in the preheated oven until tops are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Flip eggplant and bake an additional 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove eggplant from the oven and increase temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and stir in ground beef. Season beef with salt and ground black pepper. Cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Drain excess grease. Stir tomato sauce into ground beef; bring to a simmer and set sauce aside.
• Place 1/3 of the eggplant slices on bottom of the dish. Pour 1/3 of tomato sauce with ground beef on top of eggplant layer. Sprinkle 1/3 of mozzarella cheese on top of sauce layer. Repeat 2 more times, finishing with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before slicing.

ROASTED EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cut eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes and red pepper into 1-in. pieces; place in a large bowl. Add onion, oil, 2 tablespoons basil, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; toss. Transfer to two greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake at 450° for 20-25 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in olives. , In a large saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk. Add bay leaf and nutmeg. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in 3 tablespoons Parmesan, Asiago and remaining basil, salt and pepper. Discard bay leaf. , Spread a fourth of the sauce in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Top with 2-1/3 cups vegetables, 1/4 cup mozzarella and three noodles. Repeat layers. Top with a fourth of the sauce, remaining vegetables, mozzarella, sauce and Parmesan. Cover and bake at 375° for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) , TOMATO AND LEEK LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cut eggplants lengthways into 1 cm slices; place slices on colander, sprinkle with salt,stand 30 minutes. Rinse slices under cold water, drain on absorbent paper. Cook eggplant in batches, in heated oil large pan until softened and browned both sides.
• Cook onion and half the garlic in the same pan, stirring, until onion softens.
• Stir in tomato, paste and basil; simmer, uncovered, about 20 minutes, or until thickened slightly. Blend or process tomato mixture until just combined.
• Heat margarine in same pan, add leek and remaining garlic; cook, stirring, until leek is soft. Add sugar; cook, stirring, about 5 minutes or until leek is browned lightly, remove from heat.
• Cut 1 lasagne sheet to cover base of oiled deep 19cm square ovenproof dish; place in position.
• Top with 1/4 of the eggplant, 1/4 of the leek mixture,1/4 of the tomato mixture and 1/4 of the cheese.
• Repeat layers 3 times, ending with cheese. Bake, uncovered, in moderately hot oven 50 minutes.
• Can be made ahead to this stage. Cover, refrigerate until required. Reheat in moderate oven about 50 minutes.

ROASTED EGGPLANT LASAGNA WITH BROILED TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush baking sheet with olive oil. Place eggplant pieces on paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt; let stand 20 minutes. Transfer eggplant to prepared sheet. Toss with 2 tablespoons oil. Roast eggplant until tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Set aside. Maintain oven temperature.
• Mix ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, shallots and rosemary in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Oil 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce in dish. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles crosswise in single layer in dish. Spread half of ricotta mixture over noodles. Arrange half of eggplant over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon generous 1 cup sauce over. Arrange half of mozzarella over sauce. Repeat layering 1 more time. Top with 3 lasagna noodles. Spread remaining sauce over. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup Parmesan. Cover tightly with lightly oiled foil. (Can be made 1 day ahead; chill.)
• Bake until noodles are tender and lasagna is heated through, about 45 minutes. Uncover; bake until cheese begins to brown and sauce is bubbling slightly at edges, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

GRILLED EGGPLANT LASAGNA WITH TOMATOES AND THREE CHEESES

Steps:

• Using an 8 x 11 inch baking dish (or a dish about tht size).
• Layer the eggplant with salt in a colander.
• Set the colander on a large plate for 20 minutes.
• Rinse the eggplant slices and pat dry.
• Drizzle the eggplant on both sides with oil.
• Cook on a grill, turning often, until cooked through.
• Remove from the grill and set aside.
• Set the over to 350 degrees.
• Rub the inside of the baking dish with oil.
• Layer as follows: Place several slices of eggplant in the dish.
• Add black pepper, 1/2 the basil, 1/2 the tomatoes, 1/3 of the Fontina, 1/3 of the mozzarella, 1/3 of the Romano.
• Continue layering in this way until you have made: 3 layers of eggplant and 2 layers of tomatoes.
• Sprinkle the top layer with the remaining cheese.
• Transfer the dish to the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the cheese browns and the juices are bubbling at the edges.
• Serve at once.