Eggplant Lasagna

Ingredients

2 large eggplants (brinjal)
Eggs - 5 or 6
Flour
Bread crumbs
Marinara sauce
Ricotta cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Salt
Black pepper powder
Lasagna sheets

Preparation

Boil water in a big bowl (big enough to cook the lasagna sheets. Place the uncooked lasagna sheets into the boiling water and add a pinch of salt. Let this boil and keep checking and stirring to make sure the sheets are not sticking to each other. Once they are cooked, maybe 10 minutes or so, drain off the water. The lasagna sheets are now ready to be used. Keep them aside to cool.

Slice the eggplant into thin slices. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the slices and keep it aside for about 10 to 15 minutes so that the slices become soft. In the meantime, whisk a couple of eggs in a bowl for the egg wash. Now set aside three plates, first one with flour, second one with the egg wash and final one with bread crumbs. I prefer the breadcrumbs which are garlic flavored. Adds a good flavor to the dish.

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.

Once the egg plant slices are soft, take a slice and place it in the first plate with the flour. Ensure the egg plant has flour on both sides of the slice, next place the slice into the egg wash plate and finally into the third plate with bread crumbs. Try to make sure the slice is fully covered with the breadcrumbs.

Follow the above process for all the slices. Egg plant takes a long time to cook, so I prefer to cook the  eggplant separately so that it is cooked well and integrates well with the dish. Fry the egg plants in a little bit of oil and then transfer to a baking dish. Fry it only for a bit to brown the bread crumbs. Bake the egg plants at 350 degree Fahrenheit for about 20 to 30 minutes.

While the eggplant is cooking in the oven, whisk the whites of a couple of eggs in a bowl. Add the ricotta cheese and whisk till they are blended.

Once the egg plant is cooked, we are ready to put the dish together. Take a deep baking dish and spread a couple of spoons of marinara sauce. Next place the lasagna sheets in a layer. On top of this, spread some ricotta cheese and egg mix. Place the breaded eggplant on top as another layer. On top of this layer, spread some marinara sauce and then layer the lasagna sheets again. Follow this layering again to form 2 layers. The topmost layer should be the lasagna sheets. Now spread some more of the marinara sauce and sprinkle Mozzarella cheese on top of the lasagna sheets. Cover the baking sheet with an aluminum sheet. Cut small holes in the aluminum sheet with a knife so that some steam can escape.

Bake the dish in the oven at 350 degree Fahrenheit for another 30 minutes or more so that all the ingredients blend together. Take it out of the oven and let it cool down a bit before you dig in !! Enjoy !!