Welcome to a culinary adventure, where flavors dance and textures harmonize to create an unforgettable dish: Eggplant Ricotta Bake. This delectable vegetarian delight tantalizes the taste buds with its medley of roasted eggplant, creamy ricotta cheese, and tangy marinara sauce. Whether you seek a hearty main course or an impressive side dish, this versatile recipe offers endless possibilities. Get ready to embark on a journey of culinary delight as we explore the symphony of flavors and textures that make Eggplant Ricotta Bake a true masterpiece.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll provide you with three distinct variations of this classic dish. The original Eggplant Ricotta Bake recipe forms the foundation of this culinary exploration, combining roasted eggplant slices, ricotta cheese filling, and marinara sauce, all harmoniously baked to perfection. For those seeking a lighter option, the Eggplant Ricotta Bake Light recipe offers a delightful twist, featuring grilled eggplant slices and low-fat ricotta cheese, resulting in a healthier yet equally satisfying dish. Finally, the Eggplant Ricotta Bake with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes recipe adds a burst of color and flavor with the incorporation of vibrant spinach and savory sun-dried tomatoes, creating a dish that's both visually appealing and bursting with taste.
Prepare to be captivated by the symphony of flavors and textures in each variation of Eggplant Ricotta Bake. With detailed instructions and insightful tips, we'll guide you through the culinary process, ensuring success in your kitchen. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and let's embark on this delectable journey together.
EGGPLANT RICOTTA BAKE
This eggplant ricotta bake satisfies a craving for simple comfort food.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Main Dish Recipes Casserole Recipes
Time 1h10m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Arrange eggplant slices in a single layer on two rimmed baking sheets. Brush lightly on both sides with oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast until eggplant is tender and golden, turning halfway through, 25 to 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together ricotta, eggs, 1/2 cup Parmesan, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Brush an 8-inch square baking dish with oil.
- Lay a fourth of eggplant slices in bottom of prepared dish; spread with half of marinara sauce. Top with another fourth of eggplant; spread with half of ricotta. Repeat layers, ending with ricotta; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Bake until bubbling and golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
EGGPLANT SPINACH RICOTTA BAKE
Delicious! Hope you try it!
Provided by Cassie *
Categories Other Main Dishes
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut eggplant into rounds about 3/4 inch thick. Coat front and back with olive oil. Put eggplant on two baking sheets. Add salt & pepper. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes-flipping them half way. Eggplant should be nice and golden brown. While eggplant bakes, mix the ricotta, eggs, spices and 1 cup of Parmesan together in a small bowl. Add some salt & pepper.
- 2. In an oven safe casserole dish, layer the bottom with a bit of the marinara sauce. Add 1 layer of your eggplant on top, a handful of spinach. Then add more sauce, and a layer of ricotta.
- 3. Repeat until you run out of eggplant. Top layer should be remaining spinach, sauce and Mozzarella cheese. In that order. Reduce oven temp to 375. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 20 - 30 minutes, or until desired brownness. The cheese should be melted and the marinara should be bubbly. Let sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. I served with a salad and crusty bread.
EGGPLANT RICOTTA BAKE
Pinched from Gourmet Girl Cooks
Provided by Lisa Johnson
Time 1h40m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Brush both sides of the eggplant slices with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast in oven till tender and golden, about 20-30 minutes (you could also cook eggplant slices on a gas or charcoal grill until tender
- 2. In a bowl, whisk ricotta, eggs, 1/2 cup of the Romano cheese, fresh basil, salt and pepper.
- 3. Lower temperature to 375. Brush the bottom and the sides of an 2-1/2 to 3 quart square or oblong casserole dish with oil. Place 1/4 of the roasted eggplant down, spread with marinara, more eggplant, half of the ricotta mixture, repeat everything ending with ricotta on top. Spread remaining 1/2 cup of Romano over top.
- 4. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Serve with a side of pasta, if desired.
- 5. ***Important: Let cool for about 15 minutes so that everything sets and it isn't runny.
EGGPLANT RICOTTA BAKE
Steps:
- Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Slice eggplant into 1/3" circles and place on cookie sheet. Add salt. Bake 15 min at 350 F. Saute onions and garlic until soft. Combine the cheeses. Combine wheat germ and spices. Coat large baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, then layer ingredients: eggplant, wheat germ, cheese, tomato, eggplant, tomato wheat germ. Cover and bake 350F for 30 min Uncover and continue baking 5 min. Serve warm. Reheats nicely in microwave.
Tips for Making an Eggplant Ricotta Bake:
- Choose small to medium-sized eggplants. They tend to be less bitter and have fewer seeds.
- If you don't have a baking dish, you can use a large skillet instead. Just make sure it's ovenproof.
- You can use any type of marinara sauce you like. If you don't have time to make your own, you can buy a good quality store-bought sauce.
- If you don't have ricotta cheese, you can use cottage cheese instead. Just make sure it's well drained.
- Top the eggplant bake with a generous amount of mozzarella cheese. This will help it brown and bubble in the oven.
- Bake the eggplant bake until the eggplant is tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly. This usually takes about 20-25 minutes.
- Serve the eggplant bake hot, with a side of crusty bread.
Conclusion:
Eggplant ricotta bake is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that's perfect for a weeknight meal. It's also a great way to use up leftover eggplant. With its simple ingredients and flavorful combination of eggplant, ricotta cheese, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese, this dish is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy dinner recipe, give eggplant ricotta bake a try. You won't be disappointed!
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