**Peggy's Eggplant Casserole: A Comforting and Flavorful Dish**
Peggy's eggplant casserole is a delectable dish that combines the tender texture of eggplant with a flavorful blend of spices, vegetables, and cheese. This classic comfort food is perfect for a family dinner or a special occasion. With its hearty and satisfying taste, it's sure to be a hit with everyone. This recipe provides step-by-step instructions to create a delicious eggplant casserole that is both easy to make and packed with flavor. Additionally, the article includes variations and tips for customizing the dish to suit your preferences, ensuring that everyone can enjoy this delightful casserole. From a vegetarian version to one with added meat, there's a recipe for every taste. Get ready to indulge in this mouthwatering eggplant casserole that will leave you craving for more.
EGGPLANT PARMESAN CASSEROLE
I really like this recipe. It's a lot easier and fewer calories than traditional fried eggplant Parmesan.
Provided by Chef John
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Cut 5 crosswise slices from center area of each eggplant, about 1/2-inch thick, to total 10 slices. Peel and dice remaining pieces of eggplant.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until oil is very hot. Sprinkle eggplant slices lightly with a pinch of salt and cook in hot skillet in batches until slightly softened, about 3 minutes per side. Set eggplant slices aside on paper towels.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in skillet and cook garlic for about 10 seconds; add diced eggplant and season with a pinch of salt and red pepper flakes. Saute until eggplant is softened, about 5 minutes. Pour in marinara sauce and water. Turn heat to medium-low and cook until eggplant is tender, about 15 minutes; stir occasionally. If sauce gets too thick, add a little more water.
- Combine ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, pepperjack cheese, a pinch of salt, and a pinch black pepper in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Spread about 2 tablespoons cheese mixture over each eggplant slice. Fold eggplant slices in half to enclose the cheese mixture.
- Spread about half the sauce into an 8x8-inch baking dish. Lay folded eggplant slices in a single layer into the dish. Spread remaining sauce over eggplant slices.
- Combine bread crumbs, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a bowl; mix thoroughly. Spread crumb mixture over eggplant casserole.
- Bake in the preheated oven until casserole is bubbling and crumbs are browned, 35 to 40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 397.4 calories, Carbohydrate 41.1 g, Cholesterol 20.1 mg, Fat 21.4 g, Fiber 11.6 g, Protein 12.7 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Sodium 905.9 mg, Sugar 17.3 g
EGGPLANT CASSEROLE
With lots of vegetables, this good-for-you dish is low in calories, but full of flavor. I make it often in summer when fresh produce is abundant.-Marelyn Baugher, Holdredge, Nebraska
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil; add eggplant. Boil for 5-8 minutes or until tender;drain and set aside. , In a skillet, cook beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until tomato is tender. Remove from the heat. Stir in milk, egg and eggplant; mix well., Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Toss bread crumbs and butter; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 30 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 278 calories, Fat 15g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 93mg cholesterol, Sodium 151mg sodium, Carbohydrate 15g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 21g protein.
PEGGY'S EGGPLANT CASSEROLE
My mom's original recipe. Use your food processor not only to process the ham, but to chop the vegetables, too. Freezes well.
Provided by gailanng
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h15m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven 350 degrees.
- Lightly butter 13"x9" baking pan.
- Peel and cube eggplant. Boil in just enough water to cover until very tender; drain well and set aside.
- Using a food processor, process ham until coarsley chopped; set aside.
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, fry together onion, bell pepper and garlic until tender.
- Add basil, salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika and reserved ham, stirring well. Cook about 5 minutes.
- Turn off fire.
- Add eggplant, mashing well and breaking up chunks.
- Add to the eggplant mixture 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese; combine.
- Turn mixture into prepared baking pan, smoothing top.
- Sprinkle top with the additional breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
- Dot with butter.
- Bake 350 degrees about 20 - 30 minutes or until crumbs and cheese on top become slightly browned.
OLD FASHIONED EGGPLANT CASSEROLE - A SOUTHERN EGGPLANT CASSEROLE RECIPE
How do you make eggplant taste good? Follow this Southern Eggplant Casserole Recipe. Adding cheese, cracker crumbs and butter to eggplant makes this Old Fashioned Eggplant Casserole the perfect side dish to any dinner.
Provided by Barbara
Categories Casserole Side Dish
Time 45m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 2 quart baking dish (or 8x8 inch) with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook peeled, diced eggplant in boiling water until fork tender; drain well.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked eggplant, beaten eggs, crushed crackers, milk, shredded cheese, melted butter and salt and pepper.
- Pour into prepared baking dish.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
MOUSSAKA
Here is a great recipe for moussaka, a Greek dish. It includes sliced eggplant baked in a ground beef sauce and then smothered in a thin white sauce.
Provided by PEGGY AYSCUE
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 1h45m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Lay the slices of eggplant on paper towels, sprinkle lightly with salt, and set aside for 30 minutes to draw out the moisture. Then in a skillet over high heat, heat the olive oil. Quickly fry the eggplant until browned. Set aside on paper towels to drain.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the ground beef, salt and pepper to taste, onions, and garlic. After the beef is browned, sprinkle in the cinnamon, nutmeg, fines herbs and parsley. Pour in the tomato sauce and wine, and mix well. Simmer for 20 minutes. Allow to cool, and then stir in beaten egg.
- To make the bechamel sauce, begin by scalding the milk in a saucepan. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Lower heat; gradually pour in the hot milk, whisking constantly until it thickens. Season with salt, and white pepper.
- Arrange a layer of eggplant in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover eggplant with all of the meat mixture, and then sprinkle 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese over the meat. Cover with remaining eggplant, and sprinkle another 1/2 cup of cheese on top. Pour the bechamel sauce over the top, and sprinkle with the nutmeg. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 567 calories, Carbohydrate 29.1 g, Cholesterol 123.1 mg, Fat 39.4 g, Fiber 5.4 g, Protein 23.6 g, SaturatedFat 18.3 g, Sodium 1017.4 mg, Sugar 14.1 g
DONALD LINK'S EGGPLANT CASSEROLE
Donald Link is a New Orleans restaurateur with a passion for the Cajun food of his youth and a restaurant, Cochon, devoted to its delicious execution. His eggplant casserole is warmed with the spicy North African sausage known as merguez. But it works extremely well with lamb sausage, too, or with fresh chorizo.
Provided by The New York Times
Categories dinner, weekday, sauces and gravies, main course
Time 55m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- For the béchamel: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk until pale golden, about 5 minutes. Add milk, salt, white pepper and nutmeg, and whisk to combine thoroughly. Cook, whisking frequently, until thickened and smooth, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- For the casserole: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread eggplant slices in a single layer on a baking sheet, and thoroughly coat both sides with olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and black pepper. Roast until fully cooked, 12 to 15 minutes, then remove from heat but do not turn off oven. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet over medium-low heat, sauté merguez until browned and fully cooked. Remove from heat and slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds.
- Oil an 8-by-11, 2-inch-deep baking dish. Spread one-third of béchamel in baking dish. Top with half the eggplant, then half the fontina and half the merguez. Coat with half of the remaining béchamel. Top with remaining eggplant, fontina and merguez. Spread with remaining béchamel and the Parmesan.
- Bake until hot, bubbling and lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to rest for a minute or two, then serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 668, UnsaturatedFat 22 grams, Carbohydrate 17 grams, Fat 52 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 34 grams, SaturatedFat 27 grams, Sodium 1269 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams, TransFat 0 grams
CHEESY EGGPLANT CASSEROLE
I am not real big on eggplant but I cook it for my husband. This dish was thrown together in a hurry and it turned out to be DELICIOUS. I even ate the leftovers.
Provided by Renee' Levins
Categories Side Dish Casseroles
Time 45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Place the eggplant in a medium microwave safe dish. Cook, stirring once, in the microwave 5 minutes on High, or until tender. Transfer to a 9x9 inch baking dish. Mix in 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, stuffing mix, garlic, onion, and egg. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Top with remaining cheese, and continue baking 15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 413.4 calories, Carbohydrate 46.2 g, Cholesterol 91.5 mg, Fat 17.3 g, Fiber 5.7 g, Protein 18.9 g, SaturatedFat 9.8 g, Sodium 1078.3 mg, Sugar 7.4 g
Tips:
- Choose fresh, firm eggplants for the best flavor and texture.
- Salting the eggplant slices helps to remove excess moisture and prevent them from becoming bitter.
- Be sure to cook the eggplant slices until they are golden brown and tender.
- Use a good quality Italian breadcrumb for the topping.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a delicious nutty flavor to the casserole.
- Top the casserole with a generous amount of mozzarella cheese for a gooey, melted topping.
- Bake the casserole until it is bubbly and golden brown.
- Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Conclusion:
Peggy's Eggplant Casserole is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The combination of tender eggplant, flavorful sauce, and cheesy topping is sure to please everyone at the table. Serve it with a side of garlic bread or a salad for a complete meal.
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