Cheesy Eggplant (Aubergine) Pesto Stacks

"I found this recipe on the internet somewhere, but have tweaked it a bit. Eggplant is one of my favorite vegetables, but I haven't found all that many recipes where it is allowed to take center stage; it is usually buried under so many other ingredients and flavors. This recipe is also a nice way to use up left-over pesto. Preparation time is mainly standing time for the eggplant as it drains its bitter juices."
 
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photo by manrat photo by manrat
photo by manrat
photo by xo_elizabeth_08 photo by xo_elizabeth_08
photo by PalatablePastime photo by PalatablePastime
photo by Chippie1 photo by Chippie1
photo by Chippie1 photo by Chippie1
Ready In:
35mins
Ingredients:
5
Serves:
4
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ingredients

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directions

  • Pre-heat oven at 375°F, and oil a shallow baking pan.
  • Cut the eggplant crosswise into 12 1/3 inch thick slices, discarding the ends.
  • Arrange in one layer on paper towels.
  • Sprinkle both sides of slices evenly with salt and cover with another layer of paper towels.
  • Let eggplant stand 30 minutes.
  • Rinse salt off, and pat dry with paper toweling.
  • Arrange 4 eggplant slices in one layer in pan and spread each slice evenly with 1 teaspoon pesto.
  • Sprinkle 2 tablespoons mozzarella evenly over pesto on each slice.
  • Continue to layer remaining eggplant slices, pesto, and mozzarella in the same way.
  • Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon parmesan or romano evenly over each stack and bake in middle of oven until eggplant is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

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Reviews

  1. I have made all kinds of variations of this recipe, and they all turn out great. I have used pesto alone, tomato sauce alone, and both. I have layered the eggplant with tomatoes and zucchini, and put parmesan or feta in the stacks before topping with tomato sauce and parmesan. I serve this atop orzo pasta as a beautiful and filling vegetarian meal. Thanks for the great idea!
     
  2. This is a great way to "change up" the way I normally serve eggplant -- delicious! I used Classico brand pesto sauce, and the only thing I added was a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts to each layer for a bit of crunch. I baked everything at 400 degrees for a half hour. The eggplant was tender and the flavors were incredible. This will be a regular in my household, as it works beautifully for a main dish or a side dish.
     
  3. Very good. I made the recipe as directed stacking mine 2 high. They were great.
     
  4. Very tasty!
     
  5. Great recipe. I usually don't like eggplant, but this was good. I just put the stacks on parchment paper so that I wouldn't have to use any extra oil to grease the pan and it worked out well. Will make again!
     
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Tweaks

  1. Very nice, i really love eggplants and this was a good one to try. I tried to make it lower in fat so used just 40g of low fat chedder instead of the mozzarella. Still very cheesey and alot less calories. Thanks
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

I am an American married to a Belgian, and have lived in Belgium since December 1999. Cooking is my major hobby. I'm also an avid reader, but I have difficulty finding the time. I love to travel. Since moving to Europe I've been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to go a couple of times per year to Paris, as well as having visited London, Rome, Florence, Naples, Amsterdam, and of course Brussels and Antwerp. I've seen at least parts of most regions of France, as well as parts of Germany, Austria, a great deal of Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Luxembourg, and Monaco. I'm absolutely in love with the Bay of Naples and Sorrento coast areas of Italy, which my husband and I recently re-visited on a trip that included Rome, Puglia, Umbria and Marche. I'm still looking forward to Ireland, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic . . . the list is too long ! One of the bonuses of travel is getting to taste the local cuisine, and afterward trying to figure out how to duplicate it at home. I think cooking is one of the nicest things a person can do for someone they love (including themself!) I had to submit a picture with me and my cat, Sophie, as she insists on sitting in my lap when I'm sitting at the computer. If you are wondering what all that stuff hanging on the wall behind us in the photo is, it is just a small part of my husband's military medal collection. He was appalled by my posting this picture-- Our study is the messiest room in our house (thank god!)
 
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