This recipe was a complete joy to create and quite easy to execute. There is no pasta in this lasagna, nor is there any ricotta or cottage cheese for the filling. Rather, I pureed some steamed cauliflower and flavored it with some Parmesan cheese, fresh basil, garlic and olive oil to shave off a gaggle of calories and fat, without compromising the flavor. The end result is a wonderful, creamy, delicious and more nutritious vegetarian meal, loaded with Vitamins B6 and C, plus Calcium, Magnesium and Iron. My 6 year old Bronwyn LOVED it!! The rest of the family received the dish well including my sisters Hollie and Gayle. No one missed the cheese filling and that to me speaks volumes for a meatless and less cheese version of anything. I will definitely be making this recipe again soon for an upcoming family affair!
Recipe:
About 1 1/2 lbs. eggplant, cut into 1/4 inch slices crosswise
16 oz. of your favorite spaghetti sauce, homemade or store bought
1 lb. cauliflower, steamed
2 tbsp. milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
16 fresh basil leaves, 8 whole and 8 torn
1 clove garlic, pressed or finely minced
1 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided, plus more for garnish
8 oz. whole mozzarella, sliced
olive oil for drizzling
SPST
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush eggplant slices on both sides with olive oil and roast for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375*F after removing eggplant.
Meanwhile steam cauliflower and drain.
Place in large bowl and add milk, 1/2 c. Parmesan cheese, 8 torn basil leaves and garlic. Drizzle in a little olive oil and add cheese. Temper the eggs and fold in. SPST
In a square baking dish, ladle about 8 oz. of sauce into bottom of dish and spread it evenly.
Place half the eggplant in atop sauce.
Sprinkle about 2 tbsp. grated Parmesan atop eggplant and half of the mozzarella slices
Add cauliflower filling and spread gingerly over eggplant.
Add remaining sauce.
Repeat eggplant layer and remaining cheeses. .
Add remaining whole basil.
Cover tightly with foil and bake until bubbly and the filling is set, about 25-30 minutes.
Let stand for about 20 minutes before cutting. Garnish with Parmesan if desired.
Serves 4-6.