Italian Eggplant Meat Lasagna Recipes

EGGPLANT LASAGNA RECIPE

Steps:

• Season the eggplant slices on both sides with kosher salt and set aside for 20 to 30 minutes (if you don't have the time, this step can be optional).
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and position a rack in the middle.
• Wipe the eggplant slices very well with a paper towel (you want to dry it well and remove any excess salt), then arrange on lightly oiled baking sheet (or two if needed). Brush the top of the eggplant with extra virgin olive oil. Roast in the heated oven until the eggplant softens and becomes pliable (about 15 to 20 minutes or so).
• While the eggplant is roasting, prepare the ricotta filling. In a mixing bowl, beat the egg. Add the ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, ¼ Parmesan, garlic, oregano, spinach and chopped herbs. Add a small pinch of kosher salt and black pepper to your liking. Mix well to combine.
• Remove the eggplant from the oven. Lower the heat to 375 degrees F.
• Prepare a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Pour a bit of the pasta sauce (about ½ cup or so) and spread it out into one layer. Lay a few eggplant slices (anywhere from 4 to 6 and it's fine if they overlap a bit). Spread 1/2 of the ricotta filling, then spread a thin layer of the sauce. Repeat the process in the same pattern. Spread the final layer of sauce and follow with the remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup of Parmesan.
• Cover the dish tightly with foil. Bake in the heated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, then carefully uncover and return to the oven. Bake for another 10 to 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the edges of the lasagna turn a nice golden brown.
• Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

EGGPLANT LASAGNA WITH SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Brush 2 baking sheets lightly with olive oil
• Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with oil-spray
• Cut off the tops from the eggplants and cut them lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Arrange eggplant slices on the baking sheets. Brush each slice with oil and bake 20 minutes, turning slices and rotating the baking sheet when halfway through the baking process. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
• In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, add the sausage and break up with a wooden spoon or fork. Cook, while continuing to stir occasionally, until lightly browned. Drain off and discard the accumulated fat, push the sausage to one side and add the chopped onions, garlic and seasoning mix. Cook and stir until the onions are translucent. Add the wine and cook for 1 minute to burn of the alcohol. Add the marinara sauce, stir to combine well. Increase the heat to high and bring the sauce to a boil then lower the heat and simmer the sauce to reduce the volume. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• Add the butter to a large saucepan set over medium heat and when it has melted add the garlic and cook for a few seconds until fragrant. Add the flour, salt and pepper and cook, stirring until a pale golden color. Add the milk slowly while whisking constantly, bring to a boil and whisk until thick and smooth, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set reserve.
• Add the chopped fresh herbs to a small dish and reserve.
• Add 1 cup of the béchamel sauce to the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add slices of eggplant alternating positions to fit the dish. Add 1 cup of the meat mixture, spread 1 cup of the béchamel sauce over the meat sauce and sprinkle with 1/3 of the shredded mozzarella, add 1/3 of the fresh herb mixture. Continue with the remaining layers......eggplant, meat sauce, béchamel sauce, mozzarella and fresh herbs, finishing with the grated Parmesan.
• Using a piece of foil large enough to cover the dish, spray the underside with non-stick oil and cover the dish. Transfer the lasagna to the middle of the oven and bake for 30 minutes, remove the foil and continue to bake for another 15 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Transfer from the oven and cool for 15 minutes, Garnish with parsley or basil before serving.

EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Oil 2 baking sheets and a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 teaspoon olive oil.
• Whisk eggs and water together in a shallow dish. Combine Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, salt, and ground black pepper in a separate shallow dish.
• Dip eggplant slices into egg mixture, then press each gently into bread crumb mixture. Gently tap off any excess crumbs. Arrange slices on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake eggplant slices in the preheated oven until tops are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Flip eggplant and bake an additional 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove eggplant from the oven and increase temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and stir in ground beef. Season beef with salt and ground black pepper. Cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Drain excess grease. Stir tomato sauce into ground beef; bring to a simmer and set sauce aside.
• Place 1/3 of the eggplant slices on bottom of the dish. Pour 1/3 of tomato sauce with ground beef on top of eggplant layer. Sprinkle 1/3 of mozzarella cheese on top of sauce layer. Repeat 2 more times, finishing with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before slicing.

MEAT AND EGGPLANT SAUCE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onions start turning clear, 5 to 10 minutes. Add ground beef; season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes. Fill the empty tomato can with water and pour into the sauce.
• Stir eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, tomato puree, 2 tablespoons salt, basil, black pepper, oregano, and bay leaf into the sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors are well blended, about 1 hour. Remove and discard bay leaf.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and lay the noodles out on paper towels to dry; remove and discard any broken pieces.
• Combine ricotta and egg in a bowl; season with salt and pepper and whisk thoroughly.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Coat the bottom of a large baking pan with the sauce. Layer noodles, ricotta mixture, sauce, mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top. Repeat layering until all used up. Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling furiously, 30 to 35 minutes. Uncover pan and increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Continue baking until top is golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes more. Let lasagna sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

MEATLESS EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Coat 2 baking sheets and a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Stir together 2 eggs and water in a shallow dish. Combine panko and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese in a second shallow dish. Dip eggplant slices in egg mixture and dredge in panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere and shaking off excess. Place on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, turning once and rotating baking sheets after 15 minutes, about 30 minutes total.
• Combine ricotta cheese, basil, 1 egg, Parmigiano-Reggiano, garlic, red pepper, and salt in a bowl to make filling.
• Spoon 1/2 cup marinara sauce into the prepared baking dish. Layer 1/2 the eggplant slices over sauce and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Top with 3/4 cup marinara sauce. Spread 1/2 the ricotta mixture on top; add 1/2 the yellow and green bell peppers and top with 1/3 the mozzarella cheese and 1/4 the Fontina cheese. Repeat layers, ending with 1 cup marinara sauce. Cover tightly with aluminum foil coated with cooking spray.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.
• Remove aluminum foil; top with remaining mozzarella cheese and Fontina cheese. Continue baking until sauce is bubbly and cheese melts, about 10 minutes more. Cool 10 minutes before serving.

EGGPLANT BEEF LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees, slice eggplant into ½ inch slices, coat with olive oil salt and pepper. Lie flat on cookie sheet and bake until tender (about 15 minutes).
• In small saucepan, sauté onion and garlic until tender. Add can crushed tomatoes with 1 tsp Italian seasoning. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Brown ground beef with 1 tsp greek seasoning, 1tsp Italian seasoning, add tomato sauce and stir through. Adjust with salt if needed.
• Reduce oven to 350 degrees. In 9x9 pyrex casserole dish, put layer of crushed tomato mixture and spread around on bottom, add layer of cooked eggplant, spread layer of ricotta cheese, add layer of beef, layer of mozzarella, and repeat all layers, ending with the layer of crushed tomatoes, topped by the parmesan cheese. Put in oven for 30 minutes until lightly browned on top. Let set for about 15 minutes before slicing. Delicious!