Low Fat Mediterranean Eggplant Aubergine Casserole Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Prepare onion, celery, green bell pepper, fresh tomato & black olives in stated quantity as directed & set aside.
• Slice unpeeled eggplant into 1/4" thick slices. Put olive oil in a saute pan & cook eggplant slices (in batches) till just slightly tender. Remove from pan & set aside.
• In the same pan, add onion, celery & bell pepper. Saute till crisp-tender.
• Remove from heat & stir in chopped tomato, black olives, herbs & spices.
• Place 1/3 of eggplant slices in a 9x13" baking dish. Top with 1/3 of veggie/spice mixture & repeat layering 2 more times. Bake 15 minutes.
• While casserole is baking, beat eggs & set aside. In a separate bowl, combine breadcrumbs, 2 tbsp olive oil & Parmesan cheese. Mix well & set aside.
• At 15 minutes, remove casserole from oven. Drizzle beaten eggs over surface, let them seep into the veggie mixture & move veggies around gently using a fork to aid this process as required.
• Sprinkle breadcrumb, olive oil & Parmesan cheese mixture evenly over surface & return to oven for 15 min or till breadcrumbs are golden brown. Serve immediately.
• NOTE: While the recipe did not suggest this, IMO this dish is capable of being expanded to a 1-dish meal w/the addition of your cooked grd meat of choice &/or crumbled feta cheese as another option.

ARMENIAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Pare and dice eggplant.
• Heat oil in skillet, add onion, green pepper, and eggplant.
• Stir over low heat until eggplant is soft.
• Add tomatoes (may substitute canned Italian solid pear shape tomatoes, drained), salt, and freshly ground pepper.
• Simmer a few minutes.
• At this point you can add basil, chives, parsley, tarragon or oregano to taste.
• Turn into casserole dish and bake at 325 degrees F for 40 minutes.
• Casserole may be served hot or cold, with sour cream.

LAYERED MEDITERRANEAN MOZZARELLA EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) BAKE

Steps:

• Prepare a cookie sheet and coat with non-stick cooking spray (you might need two sheets for the eggplant slices).
• In a bowl mix bread crumbs with about 1-1/2 teaspoons seasoning salt, pepper 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese).
• In a shallow baking dish or bowl dip the eggplant slices in the egg whites and then coat in the seasoned bread crumb mixture.
• Place the eggplant slices on prepared baking sheet/s and spray the eggplant slices liberally with cooking spray; set aside.
• In a medium frypan heat the olive oil over medium heat.
• Add in onion and garlic; cook until softened.
• Add in oregano, 1 teaspoon salt or seasoning salt and pepper; cook for 1 minute.
• Increase heat to high and add in the chopped tomatoes; cook until thickened (about 10-12 minutes) then remove from heat, add/mix in basil (if you are using dry basil add in with the oregano),.
• Set oven to broil and broil the eggplant slices one pan at a time for 3-5 minutes (per side) until brown.
• Set oven to 400 degrees.
• Layer the eggplant slices in a greased 1-1/2 - 2-quart baking dish.
• Top with the tomato/onion mixture.
• Then top the slices with mozzarella cheese and remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese.
• Bake uncovered until cheese is bubbly, about 15 minutes.
• Delicious!

LOW FAT MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• HEAT GRILLER/BROILER.
• In saucepan, HEAT 2 tsp lowfat vegetable or chicken broth.
• SAUTE finely diced onion, diced garlic and pepper until soft.
• ADD 2 cans of diced tomatoes, increase heat slightly and cook 15 minutes until sauce thickens slightly;.
• REMOVE from heat and set aside.
• SEPARATE 4 egg whites.
• MIX together bread crumbs, parmesean cheese and italian season (ie mixed italian dry spices, oregano).
• CUT eggplant into 1/4 inch slices.
• DIP eggplant in eggwhite and then COAT with seasoned breadcrumbs and place on prepared cookie sheet.
• NOTE: Prepared cookie sheet can be covered in aluminum foil or use a low fat cooking spray so the eggplant doesn't stick.
• GRILL until brown - about 5 minutes each side.
• PREHEAT oven to 425 degrees.
• LAYER eggplant, tomatoe mixture in a 2 quart baking casserole dish; continue layers and sauce until completed.
• TOP with nonfat mozzerella cheese and BAKE uncovered for 15 minutes.
• NOTE: Top should be lightly brown and cheese bubbly.
• ENJOY!
• NOTE: I serve with a bed of rocket, feta and a tsp of balsamic vinegar.
• NOTE: Garlic amount is personal preference.

MOUSSAKA: EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Salt the eggplant. Spread the eggplant slices in one layer and sprinkle with salt. Let set for 30 minutes to "sweat out" its bitterness.
• Turn the broiler of your oven on.
• Prepare a large sheet pan or two and brush with extra virgin olive oil. Pat the eggplant slices dry, removing excess salt, and assemble in one layer on the prepared pan. Brush generously with olive oil.
• Place the sheet pan about 6 inches away from the broiler. Broil the eggplant briefly, turning over so that both sides are softened and golden brown (do not worry if parts of the eggplant are slightly charred, but watch carefully so it doesn't burn). Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Prepare the meat sauce. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet. Cook the onions on medium heat until they turn slightly golden brown, stirring regularly (about 5 minutes). Now add the ground lamb. Cook the lamb until fully browned, tossing regularly. Drain the lamb from any excess fat and return to the skillet. Add the dried oregano, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, and hot paprika. Stir to coat the meat with the spices. Add the wine and boil for 1 minute to reduce. Stir in the canned tomatoes, sugar, and broth. Simmer over medium-low heat for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350 degrees F and work on the bechamel.
• Make the bechamel. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper. Cook until golden (if needed, added a little more olive oil). Gradually add the warmed milk, whisking continuously. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes. Add the nutmeg. In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of the hot bechamel mixture with the 2 eggs. Then return all to the pan and stir into the bechamel mixture. Continue to stir or whisk the mixture bringing to a gentle boil for just 2 more minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Remove from the heat and allow to cool and thicken a little more. (You should have a creamy, thick and smooth bechamel sauce.)
• Assemble the moussaka. When ready, lightly oil a 9 ½" x 13" oven-safe baking dish. Layer half the eggplant slices on the bottom. Add the meat sauce and spread well. Add the remaining eggplant slices. Pour the bechamel on top and spread to cover all the eggplant, then sprinkle with the bread crumbs.
• Bake. Bake the moussaka casserole on the center rack of the heated oven for 45 minutes. If you need to, transfer the baking pan to the top rack and broil briefly so that the top of the moussaka gains a nice golden brown color (watch carefully).
• Remove from the heat and let the casserole sit for 10 minutes before cutting through into squares to serve. Enjoy!

LOW FAT EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) ROLLATINI

Steps:

• First make the sauce, in a large deep saute pan, over medium heat add the crushed tomatoes, water& red wine.
• Bring to a boil and then add the garlic, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, sugar& fennel seeds, then reduce the temperature to a simmer.
• Simmer covered for 30-40 minutes until the sauce is reduced and thickened.
• Meanwhile, make the filling by combining in a medium bowl the ricotta, 1/2 cup fat free mozzarella, the parmesan, 1/8 tsp of black pepper& the parsley, stirring well to combine, then set aside.
• Slice each eggplant into*thinly* (1/8-1/4 inch thick) slices lengthwise.
• Try to achieve about 8 thin slices per eggplant, discarding the first and last slice.
• In a shallow pie plate, combine the breadcrumbs (or panko) and the 1/4 tsp pepper, oregano and Mrs Dash, then set aside.
• Brush both sides of each eggplant slice with the yogurt, then dredge in the breadcrumb mixture.
• Place on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray and broil for 2 minutes, then turn over and broil the other side an additional 2 minutes, then set aside to cool.
• You will most likely need 3 baking sheets in total, and you want to broil each sheet seperately to ensure even browning of the eggplant.
• Once the eggplant slices are cool, place a tablespoon of the ricotta mixture on one end of each slice and roll up to cover the filling.
• In a 13x9 pan, spoon enough sauce to coat the bottom of the pan.
• Layer the eggplant rolls seam side down over the sauce.
• Ladle the remaining sauce over the eggplant rolls and top with 1/2 cup of reduce fat, part skim mozzarella cheese and 2 tbsp of parmesan.
• Bake in a 350F oven for 30-45 minutes.
• For OMAC, make the sauce, then freeze it, then proceed with step# 5 and through step 11.
• Once you have made the rolls freeze them individually on a baking sheet.
• Once frozen remove from the baking sheet and store in freezer bags.
• When ready to proceed with the recipe, thaw the sauce, but DONOT thaw the rolls.
• Place the frozen rolls over the sauce as is in step 12, add the topping, then bake at 350 for 1 hour.

EASY EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Peel and slice the eggplant 1 cm thick and place the slices on a plate in a single layer.
• Salt them heavily, cover with another plate and weight.
• Leave for 1/2 to one hour.
• Cut the bread into cubes.
• Peel and chop the onion.
• Sauté the bread cubes with the spices in 1 tbsp of olive oil, and lay them in a small lasagne pan when they are nicely browned.
• Rinse and gently squeeze dry the eggplant.
• Cut it in to 1 cm cubes and sauté them, with the onion, in the remaining olive oil, until the eggplant is tender.
• Add the tomatoes and simmer for a few minutes.
• Mix into the toasted bread cubes in the lasagne pan.
• Top with the grated cheese.
• Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

LOW-FAT, GOOD FAT EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F, and prepare vegetables.
• In medium bowl, combine olive oil, eggplant, mushrooms and seasoning.
• Transfer to unprepared baking pan.
• Bake eggplant mixture for 30 minutes.
• Mix onion, tomatoes, tomato juice, salt in medium bowl.
• After thirty minutes, pour tomato juice mixture over eggplant mixture.
• Bake at 350°F for additional half hour.
• Allow to cool a little before serving.

MY MOM'S SOUTHERN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Peel eggplant, cut into 1" cubes and lightly salt to sweat the bitter taste out--about 15-20 minutes.
• Cook in saucepan with water until tender--about 18 minutes; drain and cool slightly.
• Cook sausage, onion until sausage is browned and onion is soft.Combine eggplant and sausage; add egg and bread crumbs.
• Spoon into prepared casserole.
• Combine butter and cracker crumbs. Spread over top of casserole.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until cracker crumbs are golden brown.
• Variations:.
• Sprinkle with 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded before adding the cracker crumbles.
• Mix in 1/2 cup Rotel Tomatoes, well drained.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C.
• Heat oil in saucepan.
• Sauté eggplant and onion until soft.
• Remove saucepan from heat and stir through margarine until melted.
• Add remainder of ingredients, and combine well.
• Transfer to a casserole dish, and bake until golden and bubbling, approx 45 minutes.

ITALIAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• peel and cube eggplant.
• cover with water and cook until done,drain.
• Cook rice using 1 cup water and1/2 teaspoon salt until all water is boiled away.
• set aside Saute meat in a large skillet.
• add onions, garlic and bell pepper.
• Cook 5 minutes.
• Drain off excess grease add eggplant, rice and soup to meat mixture and mix well.
• cook over a low heat until soup is well heated.
• spoon 1/2 of mixture in a 9x13 casserole dish and cover with half of cheese add remaining mixture and cover with the rest of the cheese.
• bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Brush eggplant slices evenly with olive oil.
• Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and tender.
• Remove from oven, and finely dice the eggplant slices.
• In a medium bowl, combine the chopped eggplant pieces with the garlic, egg whites, parmesan, feta, breadcrumbs, basil and parsley and green onions.
• Add the salt and pepper in quantities at your discretion.
• Mix everything well and place in the refrigerator 20min to firm up.
• (Note: add this stage you may adjust the mixture by adding more breadcrumbs if it does not hold well together).
• Divide the mixture into 6-8 equal portions, and shape into a flattened ball.
• Coat with flour.
• Fry the fritters in shallow oil for 2 mins on either side, till they are golden brown.
• Serve with a salad, lemon wedges and a yoghurt sauce to dip into, if preferred.

LOW FAT EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Peel and slice eggplant into 1/2 slices.
• Spray both sides with cooking spray and place on a sprayed baking sheet.
• sprinkle with half of the salt and garlic powder.
• Bake 20 minutes, turning the eggplant halfway through cooking time.
• In a sauce pan, saute minced garlic in cooking spray until lightly browned.
• Add tomato sauce, italian seasoning, oregano, and bouillon granules.
• Reduce heat under pan to very low and cover.
• Remove eggplant from baking sheet.
• In a small baking dish, spread a thin layer of sauce. Add one layer of eggplant, another of sauce and so on until all eggplant is used.
• Finish with a layer of sauce. Top with cheeses and bake until cheese is melted.