Chelle's Baked Eggplant & Tomatoes
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3 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 large eggplant
olive oil to saute eggplant
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 c. mushrooms, chopped
1 tbs. butter, sliced
1 pkg. Mozzarella/Parmesan cheese mixture, shredded
1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 tbs. sugar
1 tbs. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper, to taste
oregano, to taste
basil, to taste
Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil
in a large skillet. Add the garlic
to the skillet and saute for 30 seconds.
Add pepper, onion, and mushrooms with
the butter and saute lightly.
Remove to small bowl to sweat together,
this will make them juicy.
Slice the eggplant lengthwise, then halve slices.
Add the slices to the skillet and
cook them in oil for about 3 to 4 minutes
on each side, or until just tender.
(You will have to cook them in batches,
adding more olive oil as necessary.)
Remove the eggplant slices with
a slotted spoon or tongs, and
drain thoroughly on absorbent paper towels.
Place a layer of eggplant slices in
a jelly roll pan sprayed with olive oil.
Place eggplant in pan, season with salt,
pepper, and basil to taste.
Cover the eggplant with a layer of
cheese mixture and then layer with sauteed veggies.
Mix tomatoes, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder,
and oregano in small bowl.
Ladle tomato mixture over eggplant,
veggies, and cheese.
Generously sprinkle the rest of the
cheese mixture over the top and then
bake in a preheated oven at 400F for 20 to 25 minutes.
Transfer the baked eggplant and tomatoes
to serving plates and serve warm or chilled.
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