GREEK EGGPLANT AND CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a 9 X 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Lay eggplant slices on paper towels and sprinkle tops with 3/4 teaspoon of salt. Let stand 20 minutes to draw moisture out.
• Meanwhile, coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned, breaking up meat as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft, about 3 minutes more. Add fresh parsley, dried herbs, cinnamon, nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and stir to coat. Cook 1 minute, until herbs and spices are fragrant.
• Add tomatoes and tomato paste and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until sauce thickens, about 15 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and set aside.
• Off heat, coat surface of same skillet with cooking spray and set pan over medium-high heat. Wipe salt from eggplant slices with paper towel and add eggplant to hot skillet. Cook, until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.
• Arrange half of eggplant slices on bottom of prepared baking pan, slightly overlapping pieces to cover entire surface of pan. Top eggplant with chicken mixture and then top chicken with 1/4 cup of grated topping. Top with remaining eggplant slices and remaining 1/2 cup of grated topping.
• Bake until top is golden brown and filling is hot, about 45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes, slice into 6 pieces and serve.