Peggy's Eggplant Casserole

Submitted by gailanng

"My mom's original recipe. Use your food processor not only to process the ham, but to chop the vegetables, too. Freezes well."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 15mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 2 medium eggplants
• 453.59 g ham seasoning or 453.59 g ham steak
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 1 small bell pepper, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1.23-2.46 ml dried basil
• 14.79 ml paprika
• 118.29 ml Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• salt
• black pepper
• 0.25 ml cayenne
• 59.14 ml parmesan cheese (or more)
• additional breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese
• butter

directions

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees.
2. Lightly butter 13"x9" baking pan.
3. Peel and cube eggplant. Boil in just enough water to cover until very tender; drain well and set aside.
4. Using a food processor, process ham until coarsley chopped; set aside.
5. In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, fry together onion, bell pepper and garlic until tender.
6. Add basil, salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika and reserved ham, stirring well. Cook about 5 minutes.
7. Turn off fire.
8. Add eggplant, mashing well and breaking up chunks.
9. Add to the eggplant mixture 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese; combine.
10. Turn mixture into prepared baking pan, smoothing top.
11. Sprinkle top with the additional breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
12. Dot with butter.
13. Bake 350 degrees about 20 - 30 minutes or until crumbs and cheese on top become slightly browned.

Reviews

[Rita1652]

This sure isn`t a pretty dish but it sure does taste pretty good! I sauteed the onions, peppers and garlic in in Pam sprayed pan. Used prosciutto in place of the ham. The eggplant i cooked in the microwave then finished in the pan with the onions. I did make half the recipe. Plated it on tomato sauce. Next time I would give a light layer of tomato sauce instead of the butter then top with grated cheese. Thanks!!!

 

[Andi Longmeadow Farm]

Double darn this is so good, I know you will be licking the casserole dish. I followed this exactly, except since I had some very fresh, and very small eggplants that were as tender as a baby flowers. So the change I made was not to peel the eggplant and mash it. It was just so good, and I wouldn't change one other thing. Your Mom is a winner and has a winner on her hands! Thank her for me, please? Made for *Everyday is a Holiday* tag. Septembre 2009.

 

[katew]

I adored this. I have never tried a recipe where the eggplant is peeled nor have I ever boiled eggplant so I was keen to give this a go. I used a large red onion and diced bacon instead of ham. I am very grateful to Peggy and Gail !! Made for Holiday Tag.