Aubergine Bake - Parmigiana Di Melanzane

Return to Light Lunches

We used to make this years ago at work and I’ve since rediscovered it, having a glut of aubergines and a passion for cooking.
Serve with a simple salad.

Preparation time: 30 - 40 minutes   Quantity: 4 or 6 as a side dish   Cooking time: 1 hour or so all together

Ingredients

1 lot Tomato Sauce -
1 tin plum tomatoes
1 tin of water from above
1 onion - peeled and chopped
1 stick celery - chopped
2 cloves garlic - sliced
1 red pepper - chopped
1 tablespoon fresh oregano or 1/2 of thyme - chopped
1 teaspoon caster sugar
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons tomato puree
seasoning

1 lot White Sauce -
400 ml / 3/4 pint milk
1 oz / 30g butter
1 oz / 30g plain flour
tip teaspoon mustard - optional
1 clove garlic - optional
touch of ground nutmeg - optional
seasoning

Everything Else -
pinch salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 aubergines - 1 cm slices (or 2 very large)
60 g / 2 oz mozzarella - sliced
60 g / 2 oz parmesan - grated
Plus an extra 60 g / 2 oz of grated parmesan to top

Method

First make the Tomato Sauce -

  • Put all the ingredients in a large saucepan except the puree and seasoning and simmer for 30 minutes
  • Blend or liquidize until smooth
  • Stir in the puree
  • Season to taste


Meanwhile get the White Sauce on -
All in One Method -

  • Place all ingredients to a saucepan
  • Simmer for 15 minutes stirring occasionally
  • When soft and thickened, liquidize or pass through a sieve
  • Season to taste


All Else -

  • Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil
  • Add the salt, oil and aubergines
  • Rapid simmer for 5 minutes
  • Drain and set aside


To Assemble -

  • In a four portioned ovenproof dish
  • Spoon in 1/2 the tomato sauce
  • Top with half the aubergines
  • Place half the mozzarella and sprinkle on half the parmesan over the aubergines
  • Spoon over the remaining tomato sauce
  • Top with the remaining aubergine
  • Place the remaining mozzarella and parmesan on top of the aubergines
  • Cover with the white sauce
  • Top with the extra parmesan


To Cook -

  • Bake in a preheated oven gas 7 / 210*c / 420*f - for 30 minutes until golden
  • Serve