Favorite Roasted Eggplant Lasagna
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With layers of no-boil noodles, roasted eggplant rounds, sautéed Swiss chard, and a mix of parmesan and mozzarella, this eggplant lasagna is a summer favorite 🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆
This time of year, you can’t have too many eggplant recipes up your sleeve, so today I’m sharing a favorite way to use up a heap of it: roasted eggplant lasagna.
As far as lasagna recipes go, this one is on the unfussy side: there’s no layer of bechamel, no layer of ricotta and egg, and it calls for no-boil noodles. Moreover: there’s no need to salt the eggplant to draw out its moisture — roasting takes care of that.
In sum, this lasagna is a layering of homemade tomato sauce, noodles, roasted eggplant rounds, sautéed Swiss chard (optional), and a mix of parmesan and mozzarella. As noted, I’ve omitted the classic ricotta + egg layer here because I’ve never loved it, but feel free to add it. This is a recipe that can be tailored to your liking.
In fact, use it as a guide! You can really add any cooked vegetables you like: roasted red peppers, sautéed mushrooms, roasted butternut squash, sautéed beet greens, roasted cauliflower, etc. Any number of roasted (or sautéed! or grilled!) vegetables will work — the key is to use cooked vegetables to ensure the water has been removed.
How to Layer Eggplant (or other) Lasagna
This is the layering process outlined in the recipe below:
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce (such as this one or this one)
- 3 sheets no-boil noodles (I love the Barilla brand)
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- layer of cooked vegetables
- 1/2 cup grated cheese
- repeat
The goal is to have 1/2 cup of sauce on either side of the layer of no-boil noodles.
If you’ve got homemade sauce and a stash of roasted or sautéed or steamed—cooked!—vegetables on hand, the assembly here is fast thanks to no-boil noodles (a miracle!). Otherwise, save this one for the weekend. It’s not hard, but making the sauce, roasting the eggplant, sautéeing the chard, grating the cheese, etc., all take time.
How to Freeze Eggplant Lasagna
After the lasagna bakes for 40 minutes covered with foil, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely. Wrap the pan tightly in plastic wrap or cover with a foil lid if using a disposable pan and transfer to the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw: Transfer to the fridge 24 hours before baking. To bake: Place covered pan in preheated 350ºF for 30 minutes; uncover and bake for 5-10 minutes more.
How to Make Roasted Eggplant Lasagna
Here’s the play by the play: You need about 3 pounds of eggplant.
Slice the eggplants into 1/4-inch thick slices, toss with olive oil and salt, and roast for about 20-25 minutes or until the undersides are lightly golden.
Meanwhile, if you wish, sauté some Swiss chard.
Gather your components: roasted eggplant rounds, grated parmesan, mozzarella, tomato sauce, sautéed Swiss chard, and no-boil noodles.
Begin the layering by spreading 1/2 cup sauce into a 9×13-inch pan and topping it with 3 sheets of no-boil noodles. Add another layer of sauce, the vegetables, and cheese; then repeat.
On top of the fourth and final layer of noodles, spread atop more sauce and a final blanket of cheese.
Cover with foil. At this point, you can stash the lasagna in the fridge for 24 hours or you can bake it immediately at 350ºF for 40 minutes; then uncover and bake for 5 to 10 minutes more.
PrintFavorite Roasted Eggplant Lasagna
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: Serves 8 to 10
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
With layers of no-boil noodles, roasted eggplant rounds, sautéed Swiss chard, and a mix of parmesan and mozzarella, this eggplant lasagna is a favorite.
Use this recipes as a guide. I have made countless variations of this same formula: tomato sauce + mozzarella+ parm + cooked vegetables + no-boil noodles.
You really can add any cooked vegetables you like: roasted red peppers, sautéed mushrooms, roasted butternut squash, sautéed beet greens, roasted cauliflower, etc.
I like the Barilla no-boil noodles. The box is 9 oz, but I don’t use all 15 sheets — you need 12 here. Save the remaining 3 sheets in a ziplock bag.
I’ve never loved the ricotta-egg layer of lasagna, so I’ve omitted it here.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 small-ish eggplant (about 2 to 3 pounds)
- grapeseed oil
- kosher salt
- 10 to 12 ounces greens, such as Swiss chard, kale, or mustard greens, leaves removed from stems and finely chopped (you should have about 8 oz. greens post trimming)
- 1 quart tomato sauce, such as this one or this one
- 1 box no-boil noodles (about 9 oz, you’ll need 12 sheets, see notes above)
- 4 ounces Parmigiano Reggiano, grated (about 1 cup)
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella (not stored in brine), pulled into small pieces or low-moisture, whole milk mozzarella, grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450° F (convection roast if possible). Slice the eggplant into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Spread into single layers on two baking sheets. Drizzle 3 to 4 tablespoons grapeseed oil over top. Toss to coat. Spread back into a single layer and season generously with kosher salt. Roast the eggplant for 20 minutes or so, rotating the pans halfway—the eggplant is done when the undersides are golden brown and release easily from the pan with a metal spatula. This may take longer than 20 minutes and may require more than one rotation of the pans. Be sure to check the eggplant slices periodically—for instance, the slices on the perimeter of my sheetpan always brown/finish cooking first. Transfer eggplant to a plate. Turn the heat down to 350° F.
- Meanwhile, place a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil. When the oil shimmers, add the greens, and sauté turning the greens with tongs to help them cook evenly. Season with a good pinch of salt. When the greens have shrunk way down, they’re done—this will happen in 1 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and transfer the greens to a plate to cool.
- Set up an assembly line with your tomato sauce, no-boil noodles, plate of eggplant and greens, grated parmesan, pulled-apart mozzarella. Spread a 1/2 cup of tomato sauce over the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan. Top with 3 no-boil noodles. Spread another 1/2 cup of sauce over top. Layer eggplant in a single layer over top. Spread a thin layer of greens over top. Spread about 1/4 cup of parmesan over top, then 1/4 cup mozzarella. Repeat this layering until you have four layers of noodles, then top the final layer of noodles with another 1/2 cup tomato sauce (or more) and the remaining cheese. (The idea is to always have about 1/2 cup tomato sauce on either side of the noodles, but you can’t go wrong here.)
- Cover pan with foil and refrigerate until ready to bake or transfer to oven and bake 40 minutes covered. Remove foil, and bake for 5 to 10 minutes if desired to lightly brown the top. If you like a darker, more caramelized top, increase the oven temperature to 400ºF for the last 5-10 minutes.
- Let stand 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
- To Reheat: Transfer slices (or the entire leftover pan … whatever amount you wish) to a small sheet pan, cover with foil, and heat for 15 minutes at 350 F. Uncover and cook for 5 minutes more.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian, American
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25 Comments on “Favorite Roasted Eggplant Lasagna”
Dear Ali. Anything worthwhile does take some time, does it not? Denver, yes! Be sure to drink lots of water and there is a wonderful bookstore on 16th Street downtown called Tattered Cover. The free trolley up and down 16th Street is great. We took the train from the airport to 16th and then the trolley to a stop near our hotel, which was downtown. Have a wonderful, super time and I hope all is well with you and yours.
My friend Darcy just recommended the same store. Headed there now! Thank you Allison. Hope you are well!! It has been too long. xo
Eat at Root Down!!! LOVE this restaurant. It is near downtown Denver. Good farm to table place!!
They also have a restaurant in the airport on Concoure C!!
https://m.yelp.com/biz_redir?s=c5e4eb9593d1bc60ad2edb49b3346bb9392d258b5b35042036c11f7f80ca35d2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rootdowndenver.com&website_link_type=website
I also like True Food Restaurant. This is another god food restaurant started by Dr. Weil (integrated medicine doctor and one of his friend’s who is big in the restaurant biz.
https://m.yelp.com/biz_redir?s=7d0fd51f270d4d3617304b7c70997c205f0a87312d6ecd534fd136c04a4dc2ab&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.truefoodkitchen.com%2Fdenver&website_link_type=website
Have fun!
Thank you Rinee!! I’m headed out now to explore, and I am starved. Both of these sound great!! I’m wondering if the True Food I went to when I lived in CA was the same Dr. Weil restaurant?? I think it must be. I loved their kale salad.
God = good ??
All good 🙂 🙂 🙂
Love the photos here!
Rebecca
xx
http://www.peppermintdolly.com
🙂 🙂 🙂
Drinks at the Oxford Hotel’s Cruise Room.
Oh fun! Thanks, Christine. I unfortunately didn’t have as much time in Denver as I had originally thought — it was essentially one afternoon/evening/breakfast and some of those meals were already planned. But, I LOVED Denver. Need to get back soon to explore.
I have never roasted eggplant before, but you sure did hit the mark! Excellent!
This was delicious! I love how adaptable you made it. I used CSA eggplant and squash and added grocery store spinach. We really enjoyed it!
Great to hear, Susanna! Thanks so much for writing. I am actually making this this weekend, too. Can’t wait!
I have used my George Foreman grill to cook eggplant before adding it to the dish- quick and easy…especially if you are making it for a small family.
Great tip, Becky! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this absolutely delicious recipe! I have made it twice this week, including as a special side in Father’s Day. I used fresh lasagne noodles the first time, and the Barilla noodles the 2nd time….both worked great. I used a jar and a half of my favorite marinara sauce. SO easy! I may never go back to ricotta cheese in my lasagne!
Oh Yay! Wonderful to hear this, Sylvia! Thanks so much for writing. I’m with you: ricotta (in lasagna) is overrated 🙂 🙂 🙂
I’ve found that softening regular lasagna noodles in hot water (in the pan ur going to bake the lasagna in) for 20-30 mins works as well as the no bake noodles and saves a lot of time. Use layers of foil to keep them from sticking together. A neighbor suggested using some olive oil in the water.
So smart! Love this idea, Roger. Will try. Thanks so much for writing and sharing these notes. So helpful.
I’m making this lasagna as I write…for the third time this year. It is now my favorite vegetable lasagna recipe, subbing spinach for the Swiss chard. I have never soaked the no-bake lasagna pieces. I’m using Ronzoni no bake lasagna and it really cooks up well in this recipe. It’s flat with no ridges or ruffled edges…more like the flat pastas the Italians make at home.
Great to hear, Lisa! I will look out for the Ronzoni brand … thanks so much for the recommendation and thanks for writing!
Very tasty. Our 1.5yr old ate it happily too 🙂
Great to hear, Martha! What a good little dolly 😇
This dish turned out exactly as the recipe prescribed and was absolutely delicious. I agree, there is no need for ricotta cheese here. Looking forward to enjoying the leftovers. Thanks.
Brent
Great to hear, Brent! Thanks so much for writing and sharing this. Enjoy your leftovers!