Opera Singer in the Kitchen

Artistry in Food, Music, and Life

Eggplant-Mushroom Lasagna

by 6 Comments

So the incentive after buying groceries for the month is to really do without having to go to the store to purchase more items. I am really trying hard to use the items in my fridge and pantry before I REALLY need to go to the store. So far, so good…..thank God! Friday’s dinner consisted of items of had in my fridge. Sometimes I feel like the guys off that Food Network show that open their basket and see what meals they have to prepare from what the judges have given them. Well, I do not have anyone who gives me these items; I do it myself! I guess I challenge myself and if it sometimes does not come out, I feel sad for a second and then get over it. It was not the case Friday evening.

I looked inside my fridge and knew I wanted to do something with eggplant. Now that I know my hubby will eat, I try to plan carefully. “How can I use it this time,” I ask myself. Seeing that I did not have all the ingredients for a real Eggplant Parmesan, I decided to modify this recipe. I grilled eggplant slices and mushrooms and alternated layer of the veggies with a ricotta/fontina mixture. The results! YUM! This will definitely go on my recipe book. It is not only delicious but it is also a super quick version of lasagna without having PASTA…c’mon, I know you carb-conscience like this already! Try it!

Eggplant-Mushroom Lasagna

by Noelle Kelly
Keywords: bake entree vegetarian low-carb eggplant Italian

Ingredients (serves 4)
  • 1 medium globe eggplant
  • 1 pint mini-portabella mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 24 oz can all-purpose tomato sauce (I use 6-1 sauce)
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp parsley
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 tsp salt for sauce
  • 1 tsp salt for eggplant
  • 2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 3/4 cup low-fat ricotta
  • 1 1/2 cup fontina, grated
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp parsley
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450F. Heat a grill over stove. Slice eggplant lengthwise, about 1/2 thick. In a bowl, mix salt, pepper, and olive oil. Brush oil mixture on both sides of eggplant and grill, for 5 minutes on each side or until somewhat soft. The oven will do the rest of the cooking. After the eggplant is cooked, saute mushrooms with garlic for 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan, heat tomato sauce and the following 4 ingredients. Boil the sauce for 10 minutes.
In another bowl, mix the ricotta, 1 cup fontina, parmesan cheese, and parsley.
In a 9×9 glass pan, start the layering process. Place 1 cup sauce on the bottom. Next add 4-5 eggplants, evenly on the pan. Layer with 1/2 ricotta mixture. Repeat the process, ending with sauce. Sprinkle the top with the 1/2 cup grated fontina. Bake for 20 minutes.
Serve with your choice of pasta.
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  • Very nice! Completely understand what you mean about feeling that you’ve “challenged” yourself. Sometimes toward the end of the week, I look in my fridge and go, “Uh, okay, I’ve got a carrot and some baking soda… what can I make with that?” So satisfying to get something tasty like this noodle-less lasagna out of that experience.

  • Gillian

    Very attractive dish and I believe it taste as good as it looks. Thanks for sharing.

    You should see the stuff we make at home from leftovers in the fridge.

    Works every time!!

  • lasagne is one of my favorite things to make when I’m scrummaging through the fridge! I also love eggplant and mushrooms in them – makes it extra hearty that you won’t even miss the meat.

  • I am trying to do that more, I tend to stock up my pantry, and cook some things out of it, but end up with some “extras.” I have times where I’ll decide it’s “clean out the pantry” time, and we’ll make meals based on what’s around. This sound delicious!

  • I’ve never tried eggplant lasagna, this sounds terrific!

  • This looks really, really good. It would go well with the spaghetti squash sitting on my counter!