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Healthy Eggplant Parmesan Bake

A heartwarming and healthy dish featuring oven-baked eggplant layered with marinara sauce and melted cheese, perfect for family dinners.
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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Eggplant Preparation
  • 2 large eggplants, sliced into ½-inch rounds Sliced eggplants need to be salted to remove excess moisture.
  • Salt salt, for sweating the eggplant Helps to remove bitterness and excess moisture.
Main Ingredients
  • 2 cups marinara sauce Can be store-bought or homemade.
  • 2 cups fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil For roasting the eggplant.
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Fresh basil leaves fresh basil leaves, for garnish
  • Black pepper black pepper, to taste

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Place the sliced eggplants in a colander and sprinkle them with salt. Let them sit for about 30 minutes.
  3. Rinse the salted eggplant slices under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
Roasting and Layering
  1. Place the eggplant slices on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with black pepper. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, turning halfway through.
  2. In a baking dish, start layering your ingredients with marinara sauce, followed by roasted eggplant, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Repeat layers, finishing with cheese on top.
Baking
  1. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 15 minutes to let the cheese turn golden and bubbly.
  2. Once baked, let it cool for about 5-10 minutes and garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.

Notes

For best results, sweat the eggplant with salt and experiment with different cheeses. This dish can be made vegan by using dairy-free alternatives.