Cheesy Aubergine Recipes

CHEESE-TOPPED BAKED AUBERGINES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the parsley, half of the basil, the olive oil, and salt. Prepare the aubergines (see instructions, below). Put the aubergines into an ovenproof dish and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (160°C fan, Gas 4) for 40-50 minutes until they are very tender and soft to the touch. Remove the aubergines from the oven, sprinkle with the Gorgonzola and Cheddar cheeses, and bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve at once, sprinkled with the remaining basil. PREPARING THE AUBERGINES Cut diagonal slits one-third of the way into each aubergine. Stuff the garlic slivers and then the chopped herb mixture into each slit. 447 calories per serving CREDIT: Mary Berry's Complete Cookbook is published by DK, 7 September 2017, £30.00.

CHEESY BAKED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Brush eggplant slices with olive oil on both sides, and place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle garlic powder over the top. Bake for 10 minutes.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, tomatoes and spinach. Cook and stir for a few minutes until fragrant, and the tomatoes have released their juices. In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
• Place the eggplant slices in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with the spinach mixture. Spoon the cheese mixture over the spinach, and spread into a thin layer. Pour the spaghetti sauce over the cheese layer. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until heated through and the eggplant is easily pierced with a fork.

CHEESY EGGPLANT BAKE

Steps:

• Cut the eggplants into 1cm slices. Lay them in a single layer on a baking tray, and spray each side lightly with oil. Roast at 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F) for around 30 minutes, turning them over halfway. They should be fairly soft but not overly crispy.
• Add a spoonful of tomato sauce to the bottom of a baking dish (mine was a 6 inch circle, but anything similar will be fine), and spread it around. Layer up the slices of roasted eggplant, the grated cheddar and the fresh mozzarella with the remaining tomato sauce. I made 3 layers of each in total, but it doesn't really matter. Top the dish with any remaining cheese, and the breadcrumbs.
• Return to the oven for a further 30 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and crispy, and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

CHEESY AUBERGINE & TOMATO SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and drizzle 1 tsp oil over a non-stick baking tray. Press the aubergine into the oil, turn and bake for 10 mins. Mix the cheese with the hazelnuts. Turn the aubergine, top with the sage leaves and cheese mix and bake for 10-12 mins until tender.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry the garlic, carrot, celery and chopped sage for 5 mins, stirring, until just soft. Add the olives, tomato purée, bouillon powder and 200ml water, cover and cook for 5 mins more.
• Cook the spaghetti following pack instructions, then drain, reserving some of the cooking water. Toss with the cooked veg, tomatoes and most of the parsley, loosening with some of the reserved water if needed. Top with the aubergine and remaining parsley.

CHEESY AUBERGINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450.
• Spray baking sheet with oil and place eggplant slices on it in a single layer. Spray the tops of the eggplant with oil. Bake until soft when pressed about 15-25 minutes.
• Meanwhile , in a small pot, combine tomato sauce, chiles, onions, cumin, garlic powder and olives. Bring to a simmer, then simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat for 10 minutes.
• Turn oven down to 350 when eggplant is done.
• Arrange half the eggplant slices in a single layer over the bottom of a shallow 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Spoon half the sauce over eggplant and sprinkle with half the cheese. Repeat layers ending with cheese.
• Bake at 350 until heated through and bubbly (about 30 minutes).
• Top with sour cream if desired.