Eggplant Lasagna Recipe
Roasted eggplant lasagna made with non-boiling lasagna noodles and topped with arugula pesto. A delicious, healthy, comforting and nourishing vegetarian dinner recipe.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 16 ounces of ricotta cheese
- 2 eggplants
- 2 teaspoons of minced garlic
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pound of ground beef I use 90% lean
- 1 tablespoon of chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon olive oil divided use
- 24 oz jar of marinara sauce
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese divided use
- salt and pepper to taste
- cooking spray
INSTRUCTIONS
First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
Then, cut off the end of the eggplant stems. Cut the eggplants lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
Brush 2 teaspoons of olive oil over the eggplant slices and season with salt and pepper.
Place the eggplants in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender and golden. If there is excess moisture on your cooked eggplants, pat them dry with a paper towel.
While the eggplant is cooking, prepare the sauce. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the ground beef and season with S&P to taste.
Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until the beef is golden brown and cooked through.
Add the onion and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Add the marinara sauce and bring to a boil; cook for 5 minutes.
Place the ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, egg, Parmesan, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix until well combined.
Spray 2-3 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
Put 1/4 of the sauce at the bottom of the dish. Add 1/3 of the eggplant slices on top. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the eggplants then garnish with 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers, ending with the mozzarella cheese.
Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and cook for another 10 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley, then let stand for 7-10 minutes. Cut into slices, then serve.
