Lamb Feta And Eggplant Aubergine Lasagna Recipes

GREEK-STYLE LAMB AND EGGPLANT LASAGNE

Steps:

• Cut eggplant lengthwise into 1/3-inch-thick slices and sprinkle slices on both sides with salt. Arrange eggplant in a large colander and weight it with a heavy bowl. Drain eggplant 1 hour. Remove bowl and pat eggplant dry.
• Set broiler rack so that eggplant will be about 4 inches from heat and preheat broiler.
• Arrange eggplant in one layer in oiled shallow baking pans and brush with oil. Broil eggplant until golden, about 3 minutes on each side.
• Make meat sauce:
• In a large heavy non-stick skillet cook onions and garlic in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened. Add lamb and cook, stirring to break up, until it is no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Stir in remaining meat sauce ingredients and salt and pepper to taste and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes. Meat sauce may be made 3 days ahead, cooled completely, and chilled, covered.
• Make white sauce while meat sauce is cooking:
• In a heavy saucepan melt butter over moderately low heat and whisk in flour until smooth. Cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes. Whisk in milk in a stream and salt and pepper to taste and simmer, whisking occasionally, 5 minutes, or until thick. Whisk in egg, whisking vigorously, and simmer sauce, whisking, 1 minute. White sauce may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, its surface covered with plastic wrap.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Pour 1 cup meat sauce into a flame-proof baking dish, 13 by 9 by 2 inches (sauce will not cover bottom completely), and cover with 3 lasagne sheets, making sure they do not touch each other. Spread about 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over pasta and arrange 1 layer broiled eggplant on top. Gently spread about 1/2 cup white sauce over eggplant and sprinkle with about 1/3 cup feta. Make 2 more layers in same manner, beginning and ending with pasta. Spread remaining white sauce evenly over top pasta layer, making sure pasta is completely covered, and sprinkle with remaining feta.
• Cover dish tightly with foil, tenting slightly to prevent foil from touching top layer, and bake in middle of oven 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake lasagne 10 minutes more, or until top is bubbling.
• Set broiler rack so that lasagne will be about 4 inches from heat and preheat broiler.
• Broil lasagna 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden. Let lasagne stand 5 minutes before serving.

MAMA'S OH-SO-SAVORY LAMB AND EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a colander set in a bowl or the sink; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and toss to coat. Let eggplant stand for at least 1 hour. Rinse off the bitter liquid and excess salt and drain well.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and celery; cook and stir until onion has softened and turned translucent and celery is fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• While vegetables are cooking, combine ground cumin, oregano, rosemary, paprika, mint, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or mortar and pestle and mix well; this is the lamb seasoning (see Cook's Note). Set seasoning aside.
• Stir eggplant cubes and garlic into the vegetables in the skillet, mixing well, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and sprinkle with half of the lamb seasoning mixture. Reserve remaining seasoning. Stir gently and cook for 5 minutes more.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
• Pour chicken broth and half the can of tomato sauce into the skillet and simmer for 10 minutes; add a little water if the sauce starts to get dry. Transfer the sauce to the prepared casserole dish.
• Return the skillet to the stove over medium-high heat and heat the reserved tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Place ground lamb into skillet and sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture. Brown lamb in the hot oil, stirring frequently, until the meat is evenly browned; it should look like imperfect meatballs.
• Gently transfer the lamb to the casserole dish, pushing it down into the vegetable mixture so that it is at least partially submerged. Stir fresh lemon juice into the remaining tomato sauce and pour the sauce over the casserole.
• Bake uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending upon how tender you like your vegetables.

LAMB, FETA AND EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) LASAGNA

Steps:

• Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• Sprinkle both sides of the eggplant slices with salt and pepper, then place the slices in a large colander, then weight it down with a heavy bowl, let drain about 1 hour.
• Remove from the colander and pat slices dry.
• Heat the oven to broiler heat and place rack 4 inches from heat.
• Arrange the eggplant slices in one layer on a baking sheet and brush with oil.
• Broil eggplant slices until golden (about 3 minutes).
• To make the lamb meat sauce (this can be made up to 2 days ahead) In a large skillet or a heavy bottomed pot heat olive oil, then add in onions, garlic, oregano and chili flakes; sauté for about 3-4 minutes or until softened.
• Add in lamb and cook stirring until the lamb is no longer pink (about 5-6 minutes).
• Add in tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, paste, cinnamon, allspice, seasoning salt and pepper; simmer uncovered for about 1-1/4 hours, breaking up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon and stirring occasionally.
• To make the white sauce; in a heavy saucepan melt butter over medium-low heat, then whisk in flour until smooth; cook whisking for 3 minutes.
• Slowly add/whisk in half and half cream and cayenne (if using) whisking continuously until thick (about 4-5 minutes).
• Add in egg, whisking vigorously and simmer whisking for 1 minute.
• Add in Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper (this sauce can be made, cooled to room temperate covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated up to 2 days ahead).
• Set oven to 375°F.
• Pour about 1 cup of the lamb sauce into the bottom of the 13 x 9-inch dish (the sauce will not cover bottom completely).
• Cover the sauce with 3 cooked lasagna noodles, make certain they DO NOT touch each other.
• Spread about 1-1/2 cups meat sauce over the lasagna sheets.
• Top with 1-2 broiled eggplant slices over the noodles.
• Gently spread about 1/2 cup white sauce over the eggplant, then sprinkle with about 1/3 cup finely crumbled feta cheese.
• Make 2 more layers in the same manner, beginning and ending with the lasagna sheets.
• Spread the remaining white sauce evenly over the top pasta layer, making certain that the pasta is completely covered.
• Top/sprinkle with remaining feta cheese.
• Cover the dish tightly with foil, tenting slightly to prevent foil from touching the top layer.
• Bake (second-lowest oven rack) for about 30 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake for about 10-15 minutes more, or until the top is bubbling.
• Remove and set oven to broiler heat.
• Delicious!