EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CREOLE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Wash and slice the eggplant.
• Sprinkle well with some salt in a strainer and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Rinse salt off well, and pat dry on towelling.
• Heat the first amount of oil in a fry pan and saute each slice of eggplant just until golden with brown colourings.
• Arrange eggplant in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking pan.
• Hint: sometimes I brush oil on my eggplant and place on a cookie sheet, and bake in the oven turning once to brown each side, maybe a total of 12 minutes, instead of the frying.
• Also with the pan frying you might have to add more oil, as the eggplant will absorb the oil.
• (or use peanut oil which does not get too absorbed into vegie.).
• After layering into your baking dish set oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the second tablespoon on olive oil in a skillet and saute onion, peppers, and celery for 5 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and cook two minutes.
• Add the paste, and water and spices.
• Cook until thickened.
• Pour over the eggplant evenly.
• Sprinkle with the romano cheese.
• Sprinkle with the cheddar cheese.
• Sprinkle with the black pepper freshly ground.
• Bake in the oven until cheese is melted and browned and all is heated thru.
• approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
• As you can tell from this recipe each item is already cooked to your preference before going into the oven for final 15 minutes.
• So the thickness of the sauce and doness of the eggplant is already almost to its peak.
• Alternative topping.
• 3 whole eggs, a quarter cup of cheese grated and 1 cup bread crumbs, make a paste and smear over the top evenly (like a pie crust) then place in oven to bake the 20 minutes.