Eggplant lasagne

Author: Daniel Green

Photographer: Peter Cassidy

A twist on a classic lasagne by replacing the lasagne sheets with slices of eggplant.

Serves: 4

Time to make: 1 hr 15 mins

Hands-on time: 20 mins

Ingredients

More weights & measures

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large eggplantaubergineXs, cut into 5mm slices
½ white onion, finely chopped
450g lean beef mince
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato purée
2 tablespoons tomato purée
1 tablespoon shredded fresh basil, plus extra leaves to garnish
1 1/4 cups vegetable stock (we used salt-reduced stock)
Oil spray
1 bag salad leaves, to serve

Instructions

Stay Awake

1. Heat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas 4. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large non-stick pan over a high heat, and cook the eggplant slices for a couple of minutes on each side until nice and brown (you may have to do this in batches as it’s important not to crowd the pan).

2 Heat the remaining olive oil in a large sauté pan, then cook the onion over a medium to high heat for 2–3 minutes. Add the mince and sauté for 2–3 minutes to brown, then add the garlic, both tomato purées, basil and stock. Cover and simmer for 3–4 minutes.

3 Take a lasagne dish and line the base with eggplant slices. Spoon over half of the bolognese sauce, then cover with a layer of eggplant slices and repeat, finishing with a layer of eggplant on top.

4 Cover with foil, then place in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, spray the eggplant slices on the top with a little oil and bake for a further 20 minutes.

Serving suggestion

Serve with a scattering of fresh basil leaves and a bright, fresh green salad.

HFG tip

Sun-dried tomato purée gives a slight natural sweetness that brings out the flavour of the eggplant. To make this dish gluten-free, use stock that’s free from gluten.

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 256 cal

Kilojoules 1071 kJ

Protein 25.8 g

Total fat 13.7 g

Saturated fat 6.2 g

Carbohydrates 8.1 g

Sugar 6.6 g

Dietary fibre 6.2 g

Sodium 354 mg

Calcium 48 mg

Iron 3 mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.