Vegetarian

Eggplant and Ricotta Lasagne

9 September, 2020 . 0

This eggplant lasagne puts a tasty vegetarian twist on the traditional Italian dish. It’s perfect for a special Sunday meal, with enough to feed the extended family.

Ingredients

For the bolognese

4 large aubergines, trimmed and diced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
3 celery stalks, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp fennel seeds
200 ml dry red wine
400 ml vegetable stock
400 g (1 3/4 cups) tinned chopped tomatoes
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

For the béchamel

60 g (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
50 g (1/3 cup) plain flour
750 ml whole milk
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 medium egg yolks
120 g (1/2 cup) mascarpone

To assemble

16 – 20 lasagne sheets
500 g (2 cups) whole milk ricotta
250 g (2 cups) grated mozzarella

Method

Step 1.
For the bolognese: Place the aubergine in a large colander and generously salt, tossing to coat. Set in a sink for 15 minutes.

Step 2.
In the meantime, heat the olive oil in a casserole dish or heavy-based saucepan set over a moderate heat until hot.

Step 3.
Stir in the onion, carrot, celery, and a pinch salt, sautéing for 6-7 minutes until starting to colour. Stir in the garlic and cook for a further 1 minute, stirring. Set the dish off the heat.

Step 4.
Wipe away any excess salt and water from the aubergine using some kitchen paper.

Step 5.
Add the aubergine to the dish and set it back over a moderate heat, cooking and stirring until the aubergine is softened, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 6.
Add the red wine and deglaze the base of the dish, stirring and scraping the base with a spoon to release any stuck-on food.

Step 7.
Let the wine reduce by about two-thirds before stirring in the stock, tomatoes, and dried herbs. Bring the sauce to a steady simmer and cook over a low heat for 45-50 minutes until thickened, stirring frequently from time to time to stop it from catching on the base of the pan.

Step 8.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.

Step 9.
For the béchamel: Melt the butter in a saucepan set over a moderate heat. Sprinkle over the flour and whisk well to form a roux. Cook until blonde in appearance, 2-3 minutes.

Step 10.
Whisk in the milk in a slow, steady stream until incorporated. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cayenne and then the egg yolks, one by one. Whisk in the mascarpone and season to taste with plenty of salt and pepper.

Step 11.
To assemble: Preheat the oven to 190°C.

Step 12.
Spoon a little of the béchamel onto the base of a large baking dish. Arrange lasagne sheets on top, breaking to size if needed, and spoon over some of the aubergine bolognese. Top with dollops of ricotta and a layer of béchamel. Repeat this layering order, finishing with a layer of béchamel on top. Sprinkle grated mozzarella on top and cover the dish with foil.

Step 13.
Bake for 1 hour, discard the foil, and continue baking until golden-brown on top, about 10-20 minutes.

Step 14.
Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 8