Cheesy Garlic Eggplant Lasagna
This is an excellent way to sneak vegetables into a classic, delicious dinner recipe.
Ingredients
- 3 medium eggplants
- 1 onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 lb lean turkey meat
- 1 bundle basil
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1.5 cups Parmesan cheese
- 2 whole eggs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut eggplants lengthwise into 1/8 inch thick slices. Sprinkle each eggplant slice with salt on each side and let sit for 10-20 minutes on a baking sheet until you see beads of moisture form on the surface. Pat away the excess moisture from the slices with a paper towel.
- Put a griddle pan on medium heat and grill your eggplant slices for 2-3 minutes on each side (or until you see grill marks) and set aside. We recommend reapplying oil between every other slice with a spray olive oil to avoid burning.
- Meanwhile, sauté the onion and garlic in another pan with olive oil until golden. Add in the sausage and turkey and cook until all the pink is gone. Add the tomatoes, stir to incorporate, and simmer for 10 minutes. Finally, stir in the basil and remove from heat.
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs until frothy and then add the ricotta, 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella and 3/4 cup of Parmesan. Stir well to create a smooth mixture.
- Finally time to assemble! In a 9×13-inch baking dish, add a first layer of tomato and meat sauce to cover the bottom. Then add a layer of eggplant slices. Then top with a layer of egg and cheese mixture. Repeat until you get to the top of the dish and finish with a layer of tomato and meat sauce. Top with the leftover mozzarella and Parmesan, and salt and pepper.
- Bake for 45 minutes and voila! Enjoy with some garlic bread (see recipe here), a simple spinach salad, and a glass of red wine.
Notes
The key of this recipe is to cook the eggplant three times, three different ways as written. Trust us. It makes a big difference and prevents it from getting too soggy.
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