Best 20 Eggplant Lasagna Recipes

EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Oil 2 baking sheets and a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 teaspoon olive oil.
• Whisk eggs and water together in a shallow dish. Combine Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, salt, and ground black pepper in a separate shallow dish.
• Dip eggplant slices into egg mixture, then press each gently into bread crumb mixture. Gently tap off any excess crumbs. Arrange slices on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake eggplant slices in the preheated oven until tops are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Flip eggplant and bake an additional 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove eggplant from the oven and increase temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and stir in ground beef. Season beef with salt and ground black pepper. Cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Drain excess grease. Stir tomato sauce into ground beef; bring to a simmer and set sauce aside.
• Place 1/3 of the eggplant slices on bottom of the dish. Pour 1/3 of tomato sauce with ground beef on top of eggplant layer. Sprinkle 1/3 of mozzarella cheese on top of sauce layer. Repeat 2 more times, finishing with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before slicing.

EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Arrange sliced eggplant in a single layer on 2 sheet pans. Brush on both sides using 3 tablespoons of oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast the eggplant until it is soft and golden. Turn slices halfway through, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and the sliced mushrooms. Saute until soft for about 7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and chopped thyme. Cook for another 2 minutes. Once the mushrooms are cooked remove and set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl add the ricotta, eggs, 1/2 cup Parmesan, oregano, mushrooms, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Mix well. Brush an 8-inch baking dish with oil.
• Spread half of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Lay 4 slices on top followed by the ricotta mixture. Lay another 4 slices of eggplant and finish with marinara sauce. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Bake until golden brown, at 350 degrees, for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel 5 cloves garlic and place them in a square of foil. Sprinkle the cloves with salt and pepper and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Wrap up the foil and place it directly on the oven rack. (Be sure that the foil packet is secure so no oil will leak out.) Roast the garlic until it's brown and tender, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool enough to touch and squeeze the garlic from the skins. Set aside.
• Saute onions and carrots with the oil in a medium saucepan. Add tomato paste and stir well. This will cook off the tomato paste and give a nice orangy color. Cook for about 10 minutes. When vegetables are softened add the roasted garlic, salt, pepper, basil, oregano and stir together until incorporated. Pour in the tomatoes. Fill the empty can with water and add it to the pan. Bring to a boil then lower the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 1 hour, uncovered. Stir occasionally. Once sauce is ready carefully pour it into the food processor and puree until smooth.

MEAT AND EGGPLANT SAUCE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onions start turning clear, 5 to 10 minutes. Add ground beef; season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes. Fill the empty tomato can with water and pour into the sauce.
• Stir eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, tomato puree, 2 tablespoons salt, basil, black pepper, oregano, and bay leaf into the sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors are well blended, about 1 hour. Remove and discard bay leaf.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and lay the noodles out on paper towels to dry; remove and discard any broken pieces.
• Combine ricotta and egg in a bowl; season with salt and pepper and whisk thoroughly.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Coat the bottom of a large baking pan with the sauce. Layer noodles, ricotta mixture, sauce, mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top. Repeat layering until all used up. Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling furiously, 30 to 35 minutes. Uncover pan and increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Continue baking until top is golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes more. Let lasagna sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

MUSHROOM-EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Sauce: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Add mushrooms and eggplant and saute 10 minutes. Add onion, carrots, celery, and 1 teaspoon salt; cook until vegetables have browned in places and most of moisture is cooked out of mushrooms and eggplant, about 15 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red-pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add tomato paste; cook 2 minutes more. Puree tomatoes in a blender or food processor; add to pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened slightly but still very loose, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together ricotta, milk, eggs, 1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, 2 1/2 cups mozzarella, parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Assembly: Spread 2 cups sauce evenly in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, preferably ceramic or enameled cast iron. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over sauce (space noodles evenly; they will expand as the lasagna cooks). Spread 2 cups cheese mixture over noodles; top with 3 more noodles. Repeat layering of vegetable and cheese mixtures between noodles twice more. Spread 2 cups sauce evenly over top layer of noodles. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano. Loosely cover with parchment-lined foil and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake until noodles are tender but still al dente (easily pierced with the tip of a knife), 40 to 45 minutes. Uncover; continue baking until bubbly and puffed slightly along edges and golden brown in places on top, 20 to 25 minutes more. (There may appear to be a lot of liquid in the dish. It will be absorbed as the lasagna cools.) Transfer dish to a wire rack and let cool slightly and set, about 20 minutes; cut into squares to serve.

EGGPLANT AND GOAT CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Arrange one fourth of eggplant slices in a layer in the bottom of the dish.
• Pour one fourth of pasta sauce on top of eggplant layer.
• Dot pasta sauce layer with one fourth of goat cheese slices.
• Repeat layers three more times with remaining ingredients, ending with a top layer of goat cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until pasta sauce is bubbling and goat cheese is melted, 45 to 60 minutes.

EGGPLANT AND GROUND BEEF LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Grease the bottom and sides of 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the lasagna noodles at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes; drain and set aside.
• Cook and stir ground beef, onion, mushrooms, and garlic in a skillet over medium heat until the beef is completely browned, about 10 minutes.
• Stir canned tomatoes into ground beef; simmer until sauce has formed, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour about one-fourth of the sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
• Layer noodles on top of sauce.
• Spread a thin layer of sauce on top of noodles.
• Place a layer of eggplant slices on top of noodle and sauce layer.
• Sprinkle about one-fourth of the cheese on top of eggplant slices.
• Repeat layering with remaining ingredients, until ending with a layer of sauce topped with remaining cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until cheese is bubbly and brown on top, about 40 minutes.

LASAGNA WITH ROASTED EGGPLANT, MUSHROOMS AND CARROTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Place the eggplant slices on a sheet pan or a cooling rack and sprinkle with salt. Let sit 15 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients. Pat dry with paper towels and toss in a large bowl with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Place on the baking sheet in a single layer (you may have to do this in two batches) and roast in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, close the oven door and, using tongs, flip the eggplant slices over. Return to the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until the eggplant is tender when pierced with a knife and browned in spots.
• Toss the mushrooms, carrots and thyme with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place on the parchment-lined baking sheet and roast for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the carrots are lightly caramelized and the mushrooms tender. Remove from the oven and reduce the heat to 350 degrees.
• Lightly oil a rectangular baking pan. Stir the mushrooms and carrots into the marinara sauce. Spread a small spoonful of the sauce over the bottom of a baking pan. Top with a layer of lasagna noodles. Top the noodles with a spoonful of sauce, then a layer of eggplant slices. Top the eggplant with half of the mozzarella and a sprinkling of Parmesan. Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of lasagna noodles topped with a layer of tomato sauce and a layer of Parmesan.
• Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and place in the oven. Bake 40 minutes, until the noodles are tender and the mixture is bubbling. Uncover and, if you wish, bake another 10 minutes, until the top begins to brown. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

ROASTED EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cut eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes and red pepper into 1-in. pieces; place in a large bowl. Add onion, oil, 2 tablespoons basil, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; toss. Transfer to two greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake at 450° for 20-25 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in olives. , In a large saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk. Add bay leaf and nutmeg. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in 3 tablespoons Parmesan, Asiago and remaining basil, salt and pepper. Discard bay leaf. , Spread a fourth of the sauce in a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Top with 2-1/3 cups vegetables, 1/4 cup mozzarella and three noodles. Repeat layers. Top with a fourth of the sauce, remaining vegetables, mozzarella, sauce and Parmesan. Cover and bake at 375° for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

ROASTED EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Place eggplant slices on a wire rack; sprinkle with salt. Let sit until some liquid starts beading on slices, about 20 minutes. Rinse salt off eggplant slices and pat dry. Brush olive oil over both sides of each slice. Arrange eggplant slices on a baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Flip eggplant slices and continue roasting until slices are tender and lightly browned, 15 to 20 more minutes. Remove eggplant from oven and reduce temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix ricotta cheese, Italian cheese blend, egg, garlic, oregano, thyme, and black pepper together in a bowl.
• Line a 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil. Coat the bottom of the pan with about 1/2 cup tomato sauce; top with 1/2 of the eggplant slices. Layer eggplant slices with 1/2 of the spinach, 1/2 of the ricotta mixture, and 1/2 of the remaining tomato sauce. Continue layering with remaining ingredients, ending with sauce. Top with mozzarella slices. Cover pan with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and continue baking until cheese is brown and bubbling, 5 to 10 more minutes.

LOW FAT CHEESY SPINACH AND EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Drop lasagna noodles into water and add 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Cook until noodles are tender but still slightly firm, about 8 minutes.
• Drain water from the noodles and let cool.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Cook and stir garlic and eggplant chunks until eggplant is partially cooked, about 7 minutes.
• Pour tomato sauce into the skillet and simmer until eggplant is tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Combine ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and egg in a bowl.
• Mix spinach into ricotta cheese mixture.
• Spread a layer of tomato sauce mixture into the bottom of a 9x12-inch baking dish.
• Place 4 noodles on top of the sauce, overlapping if necessary.
• Spoon 1/3 of the remaining tomato sauce over noodles.
• Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the tomato sauce
• Repeat layers twice more, starting with noodles and following with sauce and ricotta mixture.
• Top the lasagna with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until the ricotta filling is set and mozzarella cheese topping is lightly browned, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

MEATLESS EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Coat 2 baking sheets and a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Stir together 2 eggs and water in a shallow dish. Combine panko and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese in a second shallow dish. Dip eggplant slices in egg mixture and dredge in panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere and shaking off excess. Place on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden, turning once and rotating baking sheets after 15 minutes, about 30 minutes total.
• Combine ricotta cheese, basil, 1 egg, Parmigiano-Reggiano, garlic, red pepper, and salt in a bowl to make filling.
• Spoon 1/2 cup marinara sauce into the prepared baking dish. Layer 1/2 the eggplant slices over sauce and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Top with 3/4 cup marinara sauce. Spread 1/2 the ricotta mixture on top; add 1/2 the yellow and green bell peppers and top with 1/3 the mozzarella cheese and 1/4 the Fontina cheese. Repeat layers, ending with 1 cup marinara sauce. Cover tightly with aluminum foil coated with cooking spray.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.
• Remove aluminum foil; top with remaining mozzarella cheese and Fontina cheese. Continue baking until sauce is bubbly and cheese melts, about 10 minutes more. Cool 10 minutes before serving.

EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Using a mandolin or a thin knife, slice eggplant lengthwise into thin strips. Toss the eggplant with 1/4 cup coarse salt. Transfer the eggplant to a colander and allow to sit overnight. (This will remove any excess water from the eggplant and allow it to crisp nicely when fried.) Brush the salt off the eggplant slices. Heat oil in a large skillet until approximately 350 degrees. Carefully fry eggplant slices in the oil until golden brown, approximately 30 seconds on each side. Drain the slices on paper towels, set aside until needed. In a medium bowl mix together 2 cups tomato puree, oregano and 1 tablespoon chopped garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Grease a 8 by 8-inch square pan, and layer the eggplant on the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle some of the mozzarella cheese mixed with the parmesan cheese, pepper, and drizzle the tomato sauce over the cheese. Repeat the process the pan is full. Bake the lasagna for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown.

EGGPLANT MATZO LASAGNA

Steps:

• For the tomato sauce: Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onions are translucent and very soft, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, oregano and red pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until the tomato paste deepens in color, about 4 minutes. Add the wine and cook, scraping the bottom of the pot, until the liquid mostly evaporates, about 3 minutes. Add the crushed and diced tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt and several grinds of black pepper. Rinse out each tomato can with 1/2 cup of water and add it to the sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until reduced by about one-fourth and thickened, about 1 hour.
• Blend the sauce with an immersion blender until smooth. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper and stir in the basil. Set aside (see Cook's Note).
• For the eggplant: Arrange the eggplant slices on a rack set over a baking sheet and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon salt. Set aside to draw moisture out from the eggplant, flipping them over halfway through, about 30 minutes.
• Combine the matzo meal, thyme, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a shallow bowl. Whisk the eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper together in another shallow bowl.
• Blot the eggplant slices very dry on both sides with paper towels. Working one slice at a time, dip the eggplant into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip back into the bowl, then dredge it in the matzo mixture, pressing gently to coat. Place coated slices back on the rack and repeat with the remaining eggplant.
• Pour enough oil into a large skillet to reach a depth of about 1/4 inch and heat over medium-high heat until very hot and shimmering and a slice of eggplant immediately sizzles as when it touches the oil. Working in batches, fry the slices until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Place cooked eggplant back on the rack to drain and season lightly with salt while hot. Repeat until all the eggplant is fried.
• For the ricotta filling: In a medium bowl, stir the ricotta, Parmesan, egg, basil, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper together. Refrigerate until ready to assemble the lasagna.
• To assemble the lasagna: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray all sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan or casserole dish at least 2 1/2 inches deep with nonstick spray. Set aside 3/4 cup of the tomato sauce, 3/4 cup of the ricotta filling and 1 1/2 cups mozzarella.
• Spread 1 cup tomato sauce evenly over the bottom of the dish. Top the sauce with full sheets of matzo, then break others to fit as needed. Spread 3/4 cup ricotta filling evenly over the matzo with a small offset spatula. Layer one-third of the eggplant over the ricotta, top with one-third of the mozzarella and top with one-third of the remaining sauce. Repeat the layers of matzo, ricotta, eggplant, mozzarella and sauce two more times. Add a final layer of matzo, then spread with the reserved 3/4 cup ricotta, the reserved 3/4 cup sauce and sprinkle with the 1 1/2 cups reserved mozzarella and 3 tablespoons Parmesan.
• Spray a piece of foil large enough to fit over the baking dish generously with nonstick spray and cover the baking dish tightly. Place on a baking sheet and bake until the matzo is soft and the sauce is bubbling, about 45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until the mozzarella is lightly browned in spots, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

VEGETARIAN EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Slice eggplant in 1/4" slice, spray with Pam on both sides and broil both sides in batches till soft and brown, set aside.
• Put oven to bake at 350°F.
• In large lasagna pan layer as follows:.
• 1/3 spaghetti sauce.
• 1/3 lasagna sheets.
• 1/3 spaghetti sauce.
• 1/2 the eggplant.
• 1/2 the mozzarella.
• 1/3 lasagne sheets.
• remaining spaghetti sauce.
• chopped red peppers.
• remaining lasagna sheets.
• remaining eggplant.
• Spread Pesto over top layer of eggplant.
• make white sauce as follows,.
• melt butter in saucepan, add flour cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk and whisk until thickened. Whisk grated cheese in and stir until smooth.
• Pour white sauce over casserole and bake 30 minutes until bubbly and heated through.

VEGAN EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Put unpeeled garlic cloves in a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Toast, shaking the pan occasionally, until skins are brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat; when cool enough to handle, remove and discard peels.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Paint the eggplant slices with a light coat of olive oil. Combine eggplant and half the tomato sauce in a lasagna pan. Season with dehydrated garlic, dried savory, salt, and pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven until eggplant is tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer eggplant to a bowl.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine olives, 4 of the pan-roasted garlic cloves, and 1/4 cup parsley in a food processor. Blend well. Add chickpeas and white beans. Blend until smooth.
• Coat the bottom of the lasagna pan with 1/4 of the remaining tomato sauce. Layer 1/4 of the cooked lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the blended beans, and 1/3 of the cooked eggplant slices. Repeat 2 more times. Finish with a layer of lasagna noodles and the remaining tomato sauce.
• Chop the remaining 2 pan-roasted garlic cloves; sprinkle garlic granules and 1 tablespoon parsley on top of lasagna.
• Bake in the hot oven until bubbly, about 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the griller.
• Combine the lemon juice and olive oil and brush it on the eggplant slices.
• Lay them in a single layer on a nonstick baking tray and grill both sides for about 3 minutes each or until golden brown.
• Preheat the oven to 180C degrees.
• In a bowl combine the tomato puree, tomatoes, oregano, basil, cayenne pepper and garlic.
• In another bowl combine the parmesan and breadcrumbs.
• Spoon one third of the tomato mixture into the base of a lasagne or casserole dish.
• Sprinkle with one third of the breadcrumb mixture and cover with a layer of eggplant.
• Spread half the ricotta cheese over the eggplant and continue to layer in the same order, ending with the breadcrumb mixture (in my case hopefully).
• Scatter the mozzarella cheese over the top and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
• Serve with salad and crusty bread.

JEWISH EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Sprinkle salt over eggplant slices. Place in a colander or large bowl for 30 minutes and allow eggplant to release extra liquid.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Rinse eggplant slices with cold water and lightly press dry with paper towels or a clean dish towel.
• Whisk egg and water in a bowl.
• Measure matzo meal into a separate shallow bowl.
• Dip eggplant slices into egg mixture and then press both sides into matzo meal. Set aside breaded eggplant; do not stack.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat; cook and stir onion, red bell pepper, and mushrooms in hot oil until lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in the same frying pan over medium heat.
• Place a layer of eggplant slices in the pan and cook until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook other side until browned, about 3 minutes, adding more olive oil as needed.
• Spread 1/2 cup of tomato basil sauce in bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.
• Place a layer of cooked eggplant on top of pasta sauce.
• Cover eggplant layer with half of mushroom mixture.
• Layer the remaining eggplant slices on top of mushroom mixture, followed by remaining half of mushroom mixture.
• Pour pasta sauce over all the layers.
• Top casserole with sliced mozzarella cheese.
• Cover dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven until sauce is bubbling, about 45 minutes.
• Remove from oven and remove aluminum foil. Return to oven until mozzarella cheese is lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• Cool for 15 minutes to allow the lasagna to set up.

CRISPY EGGPLANT AND MUSHROOM LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a deep-fryer or heavy-bottomed pot, heat enough canola oil to come halfway up the sides of the pot, to 375 degrees F. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the flour, eggs, and bread crumbs in 3 separate shallow dishes. Add the water to egg dish. Dredge the eggplant slices through the flour, shaking off the excess. Then coat the eggplant with the eggs and then the bread crumbs. Put the breaded slices on a quarter sheet tray and set aside. Repeat the same procedure with the portobello caps. Working in several batches, fry the eggplant slices and mushroom slices in the fryer until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove them from the fryer to a half sheet tray lined with paper towels. Season the eggplant and mushrooms with the tablespoon of salt and pepper, after removing them from the fryer. Set aside.
• In a medium-sized saucepan, whisk together the soup and the milk. Bring it to a simmer over low heat. Stir in the pesto and tomatoes until well incorporated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Ladle a few ounces of pesto sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish. Put a layer of fried eggplant on top of the sauce. Spoon an even amount of tomatoes over the eggplant. Ladle a few ounces of pesto sauce over the tomatoes. Sprinkle with some Parmesan and add a few slices of mozzarella. Top the cheese with the fried mushrooms and more sauce. Repeat with the remainder of ingredients finishing with pesto sauce and cheese. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese begins to brown and sauce is bubbling.

RICH BEEF AND EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees, with racks in middle and upper third. Divide eggplant between two rimmed baking sheets. Toss each with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until tender, 20 minutes, stirring eggplant and rotating sheets halfway through. Let sheets cool on wire racks.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, 4 minutes. Add allspice, mint, and oregano, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 3 minutes. Transfer beef to a medium bowl.
• Spread 1 cup sauce in an 8-inch square baking dish. Top with 2 noodles. Layer with half the beef, then 1 cup sauce and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Top with 2 more noodles, half the eggplant, 1 cup sauce, and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients, reserving the last 1/4 cup Parmesan. Cover lasagna loosely with foil and bake on top rack until sauce is bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes. (Place a rimmed baking sheet on middle rack to catch any drippings.) Remove lasagna from oven and heat broiler. Sprinkle with reserved Parmesan and broil until cheese is browned and bubbling, 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes before slicing.

VEGETARIAN EGGPLANT LASAGNA WITH GARLIC BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Place eggplant slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let stand for 30 minutes to release the bitter juices. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
• Place eggplant on the prepared baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Bake in the preheated oven until browned, about 10 minutes. Flip and bake until browned on the other side, about 10 minutes more. Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a rectangular baking dish.
• While eggplant bakes, prepare bechamel sauce. Combine milk and garlic in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and set aside. Melt butter in a saucepan; stir in flour. Cook, stirring constantly, until flour cooks to a light, golden color, 5 to 7 minutes. Gradually pour hot milk through a sieve into the saucepan with the flour mixture; reserve garlic cloves. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until a thick, smooth bechamel forms, about 5 minutes. Reduce temperature to very low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Stir in cream and season with salt and white pepper. Set aside.
• Crush reserved garlic cloves and sprinkle over baked eggplant. Season with basil and pepper.
• Reheat bechamel sauce over low heat, while stirring well. If it is too thick, add a small amount of milk.
• Pour a few tablespoons of the bechamel sauce into the bottom of the baking dish. Place a layer of lasagna noodles on top and cover with a layer of eggplant. Add a layer of bechamel. Sprinkle with a layer of mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Continue layering until all lasagna noodles, eggplant, bechamel sauce, and mozzarella cheese are used up. End with a layer of lasagna noodles and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Press down gently on the lasagna so noodles completely covered with bechamel sauce. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and bake until lasagna is cooked through and lightly browned, about 15 minutes more. Remove from oven at let stand at least 10 minutes before serving.