Lighter Aubergine Parmigiana Recipes

LIGHTER AUBERGINE PARMIGIANA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220°C/ 200°C fan/gas 7. In a large bowl, toss the aubergine slices with 2 tbsp oil, and salt and pepper. Put the aubergines in a single layer on 2 non-stick baking sheets, then roast for 10-12 minutes until softened and a little coloured.
• Meanwhile, heat the rest of the oil in a pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and fry for 5 minutes or until starting to soften. Add the garlic and cook for a few more minutes, then take off the heat.
• Turn down the oven to 200°C/ 180°C fan/gas 6. Layer half the aubergines in a 1.5 litre ovenproof dish. Pour over a pot of the pasta sauce, dot the mozzarella evenly on top, then scatter over all the onion mixture and the leaves of half the basil. Top with the rest of the aubergines, the other pot of pasta sauce, then the parmesan or alternative.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, then put under a hot grill for 2-3 minutes until golden and bubbling. Garnish with the remaining basil leaves and serve with a crisp green salad.

LIGHTER EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Start by making the sauce if you don't have any already made.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Spray 2 sheet pans with oil.
• While the sauce simmers, slice the eggplant into 1/4 inch thick slices. Transfer to the prepared pans, it's ok if they overlap slightly. Season with salt. Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway through until eggplant is golden.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine ricotta, egg, parsley and 1/4 cup of grated cheese.
• Put 1/2 cup sauce on the bottom of a 9x12 baking dish, add 1/3 of eggplant to cover the bottom of the dish. Top with 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture, 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 3/4 cup of the sauce. Add another layer of eggplant and repeat the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and sauce two more times, reserving the third layer of mozzarella for topping. Finish with 1 1/2 cups of sauce, remaining mozzarella, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of grated cheese.
• Heat the oven to 400F.
• Cover with foil and bake until cheese is melted and everything is bubbling, about 40 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes.
• Take it out of the oven and let it sit about 10 minutes before cutting.