Cheesy Eggplant Parmesan

Cheesy Eggplant Parmesan ready for the oven!

Eggplant Parmesan with Spaghetti is just so good!  In days past I enjoyed ordering this entree when we dined at an Italian restaurant.  Then, I decided to stop eating the batter dipped fried Eggplant slices.  It's not that they were not totally delicious, I didn't want to eat fried foods.  Now, I enjoy preparing this entree, but I bake it.  Actually, double bake the Eggplant.  Whenever I bake a batch, extra portions are packaged/ labelled/ dated for our freezer. It's a great take- out dinner from my kitchen!

I've been baking this for a while, but now I've also changed my original recipe.  When preparing it, place a combination of Ricotta Cheese + Mozzarella Cheese on top of the Eggplant round after placing the Eggplant in the baking dish.  Then, top with a second round of Eggplant.  That extra yummy taste of  creamy Ricotta Cheese sandwiched between Eggplant slices!

Bake a batch!  It's so good!      
  
Cheesy Eggplant Parmesan

Ingredients:
2 Eggplants
Olive Oil for baking & sauteing
Basil
1 Cup Ricotta Cheese-  can be low fat or fat free
8 ounces Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Tomato Sauce- (16- 20 ounces)
(1) 6 ounce can Tomato Paste
Garlic Powder
Oregano
1 Green Pepper (chopped) and/ or 1 Zucchini Squash (chopped)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. 
2. Line a large cookie pan with foil, spray with PAM.
3. Wash & dry all vegetables.
4. Cut each Eggplant into 1" rounds.  ***Cut an even number of rounded slices. 
5. Place each Eggplant round on cookie sheet. 
6. Drizzle a small amount of Olive Oil for baking & sauteing on top of each round.
7. Then, lightly sprinkle with Basil. 
8. Bake Eggplant for 20 Minutes in 450°F. 

 After Eggplant has been removed from oven, lower oven temperature to 350°F.

***While Eggplant is baking:

1.  Spray a large baking dish with PAM.
2.  Combine & mix Tomato Sauce & Tomato Paste in a bowl.
3.  Place a small amount of sauce mixture in baking dish, covering bottom of dish.
4.  In another bowl, combine 1 Cup Ricotta Cheese and about 3 ounces of Mozzarella Cheese.
   
   After Eggplant comes out of the oven:
   
5.  Place half of baked Eggplant rounds in baking dish.
6.  Place Cheese mixture on top.
7.  Place an Eggplant round on top of cheese.
8.  Top with Sauce mixture.
9.  Sprinkle on Mozzarella Cheese.
10.  Add chopped Green Pepper and/ or chopped Zucchini to baking dish around Eggplant.
11.  Cover the vegetables with all the remaining sauce mixture.
12.  Bake for 30- 35 Minutes until Eggplant is soft.
13.  Serve with Spaghetti & a Veggie Salad. 

This is a delicious dinner using fresh vegetables!  No longer do I miss ordering Eggplant Parmesan at an Italian restaurant.  :)

Enjoy!
Yummy!

  

Baked Eggplant Parmigiana

Baked Eggplant Parmigiana

Do you have a couple of Eggplants?  Whenever I see a display of Eggplants suddenly an image of Eggplant Parmigiana comes to mind!  A forkful smothered in tomato sauce is so good.  Usually the Eggplant has been fried, so I tend to stay away from ordering it when dining out.  Not that I don't enjoy the taste, it's that cholesterol thing with me.  I try to save fried foods for that once in a blue moon.  Like the Whole Belly Clam Roll served with tartar sauce & a side of Cole Slaw- when we were at the Cape.

For the past 3 years I've enjoyed Eggplant Parmigiana, but the Eggplant is baked, not fried.  While thumbing through a recipe booklet from one of our local grocery stores, the recipe caught my eye.  Now, when these veggies are in season locally here, I like to bake a batch a couple of times.  Definitely there are more servings remaining after dinner.  This freezes very well and can be reheated in the microwave on a busy night.  It's easy, it's delicious!  What can be better?

You guessed it.  Sunday's trip to Meadowbrook Farm in East Longmeadow included Eggplant.              

Baked Eggplant Parmigiana  
     adapted from Big Y Life in Balance

Ingredients:
PAM  
Olive Oil for baking & sauteing 
(2) small Eggplants
Ground Pepper
Basil
Garlic Powder
Oregano
Tomato Sauce (about 16 oz. - 20 oz.) 
(1) can 6 oz. Tomato Paste
8 oz. shredded Mozzarella
 
Method:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
2. Line a large cookie pan with foil and spray with PAM.
3. Wash & dry Eggplants. 
4. Cut each Eggplant into 1" round slices.  Cut an even number of round slices.
5. Place each slice on cookie sheet and drizzle a small amount of Olive Oil on top of each slice.
6. Then, lightly sprinkle with Ground Pepper & Basil.
7.  Bake Eggplant slices for 20 minutes in 450°F oven. 

After slices are baked, remove from oven and lower oven temperature to 350°F.

*While Eggplant is baking continue prepping:  

1. Spray a large baking dish with PAM.
2.  Mix Tomato Sauce with Tomato Paste in a small bowl. 
3.  Place a small amount of sauce mixture in baking dish, covering bottom.
4.  Place baked Eggplant slices on bottom of baking dish.  Top each slice with shredded Mozzarella Cheese.  Then, top with another slice of Eggplant.  Place sauce mixture on top.  Sprinkle on Garlic Powder & Oregano.  
5. Then top with more Mozzarella Cheese.  
6. Bake for 30- 35 minutes or until Eggplant is soft. 
7. Serve with Penne. 

For an extra great taste, I sauted 1 Green Pepper after cutting it into slices & added it to the sauce before baking.  That extra flavor was great!  Bake Eggplant Parmigiana soon!

Enjoy!
Yummy!