Ingredients

The following ingredients have 8 Servings
  • 1 large eggplant
  • 6 cups Hearty Tomato Meat Sauce (get recipe here)
  • 2 cups full fat ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
  • 8 small fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano

Instruction

  • Preheat oven to 400° Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  • Cut ends off eggplants and slice lengthwise in ¼ inch slices.  You should end up with about 10 slices total.
  • Brush each slice of eggplant with olive oil on both sides and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.  Bake about 7 minutes each side.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan and basil. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated.
  • Pour 2 cups of sauce into the bottom of an 8x13 baking dish.  Spread into an even layer.  On top of the sauce, layer half of the eggplant slices.
  • Layer on half of the ricotta mixture, spreading evenly across the entire dish.  Sprinkle ½ cup mozzarella cheese on top of the ricotta mixture.
  • Pour 2 cups of meat sauce on top of the cheese and spread in an even layer across the entire dish.  Layer the remaining eggplant on top of the sauce.
  • Layer second half of the ricotta mixture, spreading evenly across the entire dish.  Sprinkle ½ cup mozzarella cheese on top of the ricotta mixture.
  • Pour remaining 2 cups of meat sauce on top of the cheese and spread in an even layer across the entire dish.
  • Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly across the entire dish.  Sprinkle oregano on top of cheese.  Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove foil and broil on high 5-8 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.