Meatless Eggplant Lasagna

Directions

Ingredients :

cooking spray

2 large eggs

lightly beaten

1 tablespoon water

2 cups panko bread crumbs

¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

2 eggplants

peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds

1 (16 ounce) container ricotta cheese

½ cup chopped fresh basil

1 large egg

lightly beaten

¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1 ½ teaspoons minced garlic

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper

¼ teaspoon salt

1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce

1 yellow bell pepper

diced

1 green bell pepper

diced

¼ teaspoon salt

8 ounces thinly sliced mozzarella cheese

¾ cup finely grated Fontina cheese

Methods :

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Coat 2 baking sheets and a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Stir together 2 eggs and water in a shallow dish. Combine panko and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese in a second shallow dish. Dip eggplant slices in egg mixture and dredge in panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere and shaking off excess. Place on prepared baking sheets.

Bake in the preheated oven until golden, turning once and rotating baking sheets after 15 minutes, about 30 minutes total.

Combine ricotta cheese, basil, 1 egg, Parmigiano-Reggiano, garlic, red pepper, and salt in a bowl to make filling.

Spoon 1/2 cup marinara sauce into the prepared baking dish. Layer 1/2 the eggplant slices over sauce and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Top with 3/4 cup marinara sauce. Spread 1/2 the ricotta mixture on top; add 1/2 the yellow and green bell peppers and top with 1/3 the mozzarella cheese and 1/4 the Fontina cheese. Repeat layers, ending with 1 cup marinara sauce. Cover tightly with aluminum foil coated with cooking spray.

Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.

Remove aluminum foil; top with remaining mozzarella cheese and Fontina cheese. Continue baking until sauce is bubbly and cheese melts, about 10 minutes more. Cool 10 minutes before serving.