Feast your taste buds on a culinary journey to Italy with our exquisite Cheesy Italian Eggplant Delight. This delectable dish is a symphony of flavors, textures, and aromas that will transport you to the heart of Italy. Eggplant, that versatile vegetable, takes center stage, sliced and pan-fried to golden perfection. Layers of savory marinara sauce, creamy ricotta cheese, and a blend of Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses create a rich and flavorful filling.
Each bite of this Cheesy Italian Eggplant Delight is a burst of contrasting textures—the tender eggplant, the soft and creamy cheeses, and the crispy mozzarella. The tangy marinara sauce adds a delightful acidity that balances the richness of the cheeses. This dish is a perfect main course or a hearty side dish that pairs well with a fresh garden salad and a glass of your favorite Italian wine.
But that's not all! This article features a collection of tempting recipes that showcase the versatility of eggplant. From classic Italian dishes like Eggplant Parmesan and Eggplant Rollatini to modern twists like Eggplant Fries and Eggplant Bruschetta, there's something for every palate and occasion.
So, prepare to embark on a culinary adventure with our Cheesy Italian Eggplant Delight and explore the diverse world of eggplant recipes. Let your taste buds be captivated as you savor the flavors of Italy and discover new ways to enjoy this amazing vegetable.
CHEESY BAKED EGGPLANT
This is a very cheesy and easy to make baked eggplant dish with an Italian flair. An excellent alternative to a pasta dish.
Provided by Julie3333
Categories Fruits and Vegetables Vegetables Eggplant
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Brush eggplant slices with olive oil on both sides, and place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle garlic powder over the top. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, tomatoes and spinach. Cook and stir for a few minutes until fragrant, and the tomatoes have released their juices. In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
- Place the eggplant slices in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with the spinach mixture. Spoon the cheese mixture over the spinach, and spread into a thin layer. Pour the spaghetti sauce over the cheese layer. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
- Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until heated through and the eggplant is easily pierced with a fork.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 244.1 calories, Carbohydrate 15.4 g, Cholesterol 20.7 mg, Fat 16.1 g, Fiber 5.4 g, Protein 11.7 g, SaturatedFat 5.1 g, Sodium 447.9 mg, Sugar 6.7 g
CHEESY EGGPLANT PIZZA RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: large globe eggplant, salt, olive oil, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, marinara sauce, parmesan cheese, fresh basil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes
Provided by Merle O'Neal
Categories Appetizers
Yield 5 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Slice the eggplant into ½-inch (1 cm) pieces.
- Salt the slices and leave them to "sweat" for 20 minutes then wipe them off.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180˚C).
- Slather each slice with olive oil.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, combine all pizza sauce ingredients and stir until homogenous.
- Remove eggplant slices from the oven and pour about 2 tablespoons of the sauce mixture onto each one.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar on each slice.
- Put the slices back in the oven for 1-2 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Allow to cool before serving.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 463 calories, Carbohydrate 23 grams, Fat 30 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 28 grams, Sugar 9 grams
CHEESY EGGPLANT AND RIGATONI BAKE
Put on your cozy pants and get comfortable with a giant bowl of this cheesy, eggplant-studded pasta. Don't be shy about adding plenty of reserved pasta cooking water to the sauce; it's the magical ingredient that creates a silky sauce and keeps the pasta moist while baking. A little grated ricotta salata to finish adds a slight tangy bite that rounds everything out - but, truthfully, more Parmesan or any firm, salted cheese will do.
Provided by Sue Li
Categories dinner, pastas, main course
Time 1h15m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cook rigatoni according to package instructions but keep it slightly more al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking water, then drain and rinse pasta under cold water, and transfer to a large bowl while you cook the eggplant.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium. Add half the eggplant, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until golden brown on all sides, 9 to 10 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the rigatoni. Repeat with 2 tablespoons olive oil and remaining eggplant and transfer to the bowl.
- Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the skillet over medium. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in red-pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Add tomatoes and their juices, crushing the tomatoes with your hands as you add them. Cook until the tomatoes are very soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the reserved pasta cooking water, adding up to 1 1/2 cups as needed to create a silky sauce.
- If the skillet is large enough, add the rigatoni and eggplant mixture, Parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella and 1 cup basil and toss to coat. Otherwise, add the tomato sauce, Parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella and 1 cup basil to the large bowl with the rigatoni and eggplant, toss to coat and then return to the skillet or transfer to a greased baking dish.
- Top with remaining 3 cups mozzarella and bake until the sauce is bubbling on the sides and the cheese is melted, about 25 minutes. Top with grated ricotta salata and torn fresh basil to serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 557, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 57 grams, Fat 26 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 25 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 880 milligrams, Sugar 10 grams
Tips:
- To ensure the eggplant is cooked properly, use a fork to check its tenderness before removing it from the oven.
- For a crispy crust, sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top of the eggplant before baking.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of cheese and herbs according to your preference.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ground beef and add more vegetables such as zucchini or bell peppers.
- Serve the Cheesy Italian Eggplant Delight hot for the best flavor and texture.
Conclusion:
The Cheesy Italian Eggplant Delight is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or as a side dish. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own dietary preferences. Enjoy this delightful recipe and impress your friends and family with your culinary skills!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
#60-minutes-or-less #time-to-make #course #main-ingredient #preparation #occasion #for-1-or-2 #main-dish #vegetables #easy #dinner-party #number-of-servings
You'll also love