03/30/2026
While still a bit chilly, thought it was a good time to have a filling vegetarian dinner.
I take every opportunity to hide veggies under a thick layer of cheese, honey!
Ingredients:
3 med to small eggplants
Handful of kosher salt
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 jar (28 oz) of prepared pasta sauce
5 ounces fresh spinach
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4 oz fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
Handful of fresh basil, chopped
Cut eggplant into 1/4” rounds and layer in a colander. Sprinkle each with some kosher salt, let sit while your oven heats up to 400 degrees.
Retrieve each piece and remove salt and any accumulated moisture with paper towels for kitchen towel.
Lay rounds on oiled baking sheet, brush tops with more oil. Slide into heated oven.
Bake about 15 mins. Or until eggplant soft and pliable.
In a 9” x 13” or similar oven safe dish, add a thin layer of tomato sauce to coat bottom.
Lay eggplant rounds to cover the bottom of dish.
Add a dollop of sauce, a generous teaspoon on each round and smooth out.
Add a dollop to each corner as well.
Pile on fresh spinach ( yes uncooked) then sprinkle with half of the parm and half of the mozzarella cheeses.
Start another layer of eggplant, sauce, parm and mozzarella.
Place into heated oven and bake 35 to 45 mins.
Remove from oven add thin sliced fresh mozzarella and put back into oven on broil.
Once cheese is melted and starting to brown at edges remove from oven.
Let sit 5 mins then top with fresh basil and serve!!