Lighter Eggplant Gratin Recipes

EGGPLANT GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat about 1/8-inch of olive oil in a very large frying pan over medium heat. When the oil is almost smoking, add several slices of eggplant and cook, turning once, until they are evenly browned on both sides and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Be careful, it splatters! Transfer the cooked eggplant slices to paper towels to drain. Add more oil, heat, and add more eggplant until all the slices are cooked.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the ricotta, egg, half-and-half, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
• In each of 2 individual gratin dishes, place a layer of eggplant slices, then sprinkle with Parmesan, salt and pepper and spoon 1/2 of the marinara sauce. Next, add a second layer of eggplant, more salt and pepper, half the ricotta mixture, and finally 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan on top.
• Place the gratins on a baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the custard sets and the top is browned. Serve warm.

EASY EGGPLANT GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Preheat a grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Grill eggplant slices until cooked through and evenly browned on both sides, about 5 minutes.
• Mix half-and-half, egg, ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper together in a bowl.
• Arrange a layer of eggplant slices in each of 2 individual gratin dishes. Sprinkle each with 1/8 cup Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. Spoon half the marinara sauce into each dish. Top each with a second layer of eggplant slices, more salt and pepper, half the ricotta mixture, and 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese. Place the dishes on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the custard sets and the top is browned, 25 to 30 minutes.

LIGHTER EGGPLANT GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat sherry and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until bubbling. Add shallot, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add eggplant, zucchini, and red bell pepper. Saute, stirring frequently, until pepper is soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add basil, salt, and pepper.
• Melt margarine in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; season with salt and pepper. Whisk rapidly until smooth, about 1 minute. Add milk. Bring to a boil; stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add 1/4 cup cheese blend and stir until melted. Toss eggplant mixture in the cheese sauce; transfer to a nonstick baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Top evenly with remaining 3/4 cup cheese blend; continue baking until set, about 15 minutes more.

EGGPLANT AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Brush both sides of eggplant slices with oil. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 8 minutes. Turn and bake 7-8 minutes longer or until lightly browned and tender. Cool on a wire rack., Place one eggplant slice in each of two 10-oz. ramekins coated with cooking spray. Top each with 2 tablespoons spaghetti sauce and 2 tablespoons mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers twice. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted.

EGGPLANT GRATIN

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet cook the onion in 2 tablespoons of the oil over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until it is golden. While the onion is cooking, in a steamer set over boiling water steam the eggplant, covered, for 10 minutes, or until it is tender, transfer it to a colander, and let it drain 5 minutes. In a bowl toss together the eggplant, the onion mixture, 1/3 cup of the parsley, and the salt and pepper to taste and spread the mixture in a greased 3-cup shallow baking dish. In a small bowl stir together the Parmesan, the bread crumbs, and the remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, sprinkle the mixture over the eggplant mixture, and drizzle the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Bake the gratin in the middle of a preheated 400°F. oven for 20 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the mixture is bubbling around the edges.

EGGPLANT AND TOMATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Roast the eggplant.
• Meanwhile, to make the tomato sauce, heat the olive oil in a large, heavy, preferably nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes, and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about a minute, and add the tomatoes, salt (1/2 to 1 teaspoon), pepper, sugar, and basil sprigs. Turn the heat up to medium-high and when the tomatoes are bubbling, stir well and turn the heat back to medium. Cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and are beginning to stick to the pan, about 25 minutes. Remove the basil sprigs, wiping any sauce that adheres to them back into the sauce.
• Put the sauce through the fine blade of a food mill if you have not peeled the tomatoes. Otherwise pulse in a food processor fitted with the steel blade until coarsely pureed. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Set aside 1/4 cup of the Parmesan and mix with the breadcrumbs. Oil a 2-quart gratin or baking dish with olive oil. Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce over the bottom of the dish. Slice the roasted eggplant about 1/4 inch thick and set an even layer of the slices over the tomato sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon a layer of sauce over the eggplant and sprinkle with basil and Parmesan. Repeat the layers one or two more times, depending on the shape of your dish and the size of your eggplant slices, ending with a layer of sauce topped with the Parmesan/breadcrumb mixture you set aside. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top. Place in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until bubbling and browned on the top and edges. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm, or room temperature.

LIGHTER EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Arrange eggplant on two rimmed baking sheets. Brush eggplant on both sides with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden brown and very tender, 20 to 25 minutes, turning slices and rotating sheets halfway through.
• Meanwhile, make sauce: Off heat, in a medium saucepan, whisk together 1/4 cup milk, flour, and garlic. Gradually whisk in remaining 3/4 cup milk and 1/2 cup marinara sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, and cook until pink sauce has thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spread 1/4 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a shallow 2-quart baking dish. Alternate layers of baked eggplant with pink sauce. Dollop with remaining 1/4 cup marinara sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake on upper rack until browned and bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes.

EGGPLANT AND TOMATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Place eggplant slices in a single layer of the baking sheet.
• Coat slices with cooking spray; sprinkle with salt.
• Bake in a 375° oven for 16 minutes, turning eggplant after 8 minutes.
• In a small bowl, mix together the cheese, oregano, pepper, and garlic.
• Arrange half the eggplant slices in an 8x8 square baking dish that has been coated with cooking spray.
• Place half the tomato slices over the eggplant.
• Top with half the zucchini slices; sprinkle with half the cheese mixture.
• Repeat layers; bake, covered, at 375° for 1 hour.
• Uncover and bake 10 more minutes or until vegetables are tender and cheese is golden.