Italian-inspired layers of eggplant, sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan baked to golden perfection.
# Components:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 large eggplants, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch thick slices
02 - 1 tablespoon salt
→ Breading
03 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
04 - 2 large eggs, beaten
05 - 1 1/2 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
→ Cheeses
06 - 2 cups ricotta cheese
07 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese (optional)
→ Sauce
10 - 4 cups marinara sauce
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ For Assembly
17 - 9 no-boil lasagna noodles (or regular, pre-cooked)
18 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Set oven to 400°F.
02 - Arrange eggplant slices on a baking sheet, sprinkle both sides with salt, and let sit 30 minutes to extract moisture. Pat dry with paper towels.
03 - Coat each slice by dredging in flour, dipping in beaten eggs, then covering with breadcrumbs.
04 - Place breaded slices on parchment-lined baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and bake for 20 minutes at 400°F, flipping halfway until golden and tender.
05 - In a saucepan over medium heat, sauté onion in olive oil until soft (about 5 minutes). Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Stir in marinara sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes.
06 - Combine ricotta with half the Parmesan and all Pecorino Romano (if using). Season with salt and pepper.
07 - Reduce oven to 375°F.
08 - In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of sauce. Layer 3 noodles, half the baked eggplant, half the ricotta mixture, and one-third of the mozzarella. Add another sauce layer. Repeat with remaining noodles, eggplant, ricotta, and mozzarella. Top with remaining noodles, sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
09 - Cover dish with foil and bake 30 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until golden and bubbly.
11 - Allow to rest 10–15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped fresh basil.
