More Eggplant! Three Cheese Eggplant Bake

Spreading spinach over eggplant and tomatoes

Finished product- half eaten

1 eggplant

½ cup olive oil

1/2 yellow Spanish onion, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic minced – can substitute garlic powder

3-4 tablespoons sun dried tomatoes- diced

4- 6 cups spinach leaves

2 tomatoes, cut into wedges

2 cups tomato sauce

1 cup ricotta cheese

1 cup shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 to 5 fresh basil leaves

1. Preheat the oven to 325 F.

2. Cut eggplant into ½ inch slices or into strips. Brush both sides of slices with the olive oil.

3. Bake eggplant slices for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

4. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add onion, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, and spinach.  Cook until onion softens.

5. Place cooked eggplant slices in a baking dish.  Place tomato wedges over the eggplant slices. Spread the spinach mixture on top. 

6. Pour tomato sauce over spinach. 

7. Mix together ricotta and mozzarella in a bowl. Spread the cheese mixture over the tomato sauce and sprinkle with basil. 

8. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese or a little Gruyere.

9. Bake uncovered until bubbling and the cheese is melted- roughly 25-30 minutes.

Note: I prefer to make my own tomato sauce rather than use store bought.  It's pretty easy to make a simple tomato sauce. Here's a simple recipe that lasts well in the freezer or in the fridge for a few days. I usually make this a day or two ahead of time so I don't have to assemble the entire eggplant bake all in one night.

1/2 onion, chopped
3 heirloom tomatoes cut into wedges OR 3 handfuls of cherry tomatoes cut in half
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 leaves fresh basil

1. On medium-low heat, cook tomatoes and onions in olive oil.  Season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
2. Let cook covered for 10 minutes, reduce to low and let cook for 25 more minutes.
3. Transfer to a food processor and add basil.  Blend (with vent open but covered with paper towel) until desired consistency.  Add garlic powder and pepper to taste.