Baked Eggplant With Portabellas And Tomato Sauce Vegetarian Recipes

BAKED EGGPLANT WITH PORTABELLAS AND TOMATO SAUCE (VEGETARIAN)

Steps:

• Grease a 2-3-quart oval baking dish (I use my Le Creuset cookware for this recipe!).
• Set oven to broiler heat.
• Grease a large baking sheet.
• Brush each side of eggplant slices with olive oil, then season lightly with salt and black pepper.
• Arrange the eggplant slices on the baking sheet; broil for 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned.
• In a large skillet heat 2-4 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat; add in onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, chili flakes (if using) and mushrooms; saute for about 7-8 minutes, or until the liquid from the mushrooms evaporates, season the mixture with salt and pepper.
• Spread HALF the mushroom mixture on the bottom of the dish.
• Arrange HALF the eggplant slices over the mushroom mixture.
• Top with HALF of the tomato sauce and about 1-1/2 cups of the mozza cheese.
• Spread the remaining mushroom mixture over the mozza cheese; top with remaining eggplant slices, then top with remaining tomato sauce.
• Cover and bake in a 375 degree oven for about 1 hour.
• Remove then sprinkle with about 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese and about 1-1/2 cups mozza cheese.
• Return to oven uncovered for another 5-6 minutes or until the cheese melts.
• Let stand about 10-15 minutes before serving.
• Delicious!

EGGPLANT WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut eggplant into 1/2-in.-thick slices. Sprinkle with salt. Place in a deep dish; cover and let stand for 30 minutes. , Rinse with cold water; drain and dry on paper towels. In a 2-qt. saucepan, heat oil over medium heat Add the tomatoes, garlic, basil and sugar; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. , Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm while preparing eggplant. In a large skillet, heat about 1/4 cup oil; brown eggplant, a quarter at a time, adding more oil as needed. Place on a serving platter one row at a time. Cover with sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Serve warm.

BAKED EGGPLANT IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Trim the stem and bottom ends of each eggplant and, with a vegetable peeler, shave off ribbons of skin lengthwise, creating a zebra-striped pattern all around. Slice the eggplants crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Lightly salt the slices on both sides, using about a tablespoon in all, and layer them in the colander, set in a bowl or the sink. Invert a dinner plate over the piled slices, and weight it with cans or other heavy objects, to press out the vegetable liquid. Let the rounds drain for 30 minutes to an hour, then rinse them, and pat dry with paper towels.
• Meanwhile, arrange a rack in the middle of the oven, and heat to 400°.
• Put the tomato sauce in a bowl, and stir in the olives, sliced peperoncini, capers, and basil. Spread about 1/2 cup of the sauce over the bottom of the baking dish. Lay in half the eggplant slices in a single layer, overlapping a bit if necessary. Drop spoonfuls of tomato sauce, another 1/2 cup total, on top of the eggplant layer, and sprinkle over it half the grated cheese. Lay in the remaining eggplant rounds in an even layer, spoon and spread the remaining sauce over them, and scatter the rest of the cheese all over the top.
• Tent the baking dish with a sheet of heavy aluminum foil, arching it so it doesn't touch the crumb topping, and pressing it against the sides. Set the dish on the baking sheet, place in the oven, and bake for 45 minutes, until the juices are bubbling actively. Remove the foil, and continue baking for another 15 minutes or so, until the cheese topping is golden brown and the eggplant is caramelized on the edges yet tender and easily pierced with the tip of a knife.
• Let the eggplant rest for 20 minutes (to absorb the sauce). Cut portions with a knife, and lift them out with a wide spatula into warm shallow bowls.