Eggplant cassarole (updated)

Ah ! Eggplant again ! How about a different preparation? A lasagne type cassarole this time , prep ahead to be later baked.

Make up a quick batch of dough, eggs , flour and salt pulsed in a food processor, kneaded and let rest.

Peel and slice horizontally the egg plants  (2  medium, )about 1/4 inch thick, sandwich between layers of paper towel after salting o both sides, apply weight and let stand about 30 minutes. Rinse with plain water.

Tomato sauce already prepared. Cook ground beef, also canned red beans to bulk up the cassarole.

My cheese will be the typical store b ought sliced mozzarella

.

Ready?   Oops !  roll out the pasta dough also.

Assemble the layer as you see fit to vary the ingredients, on the fly measurements, so amounts will dictate the layers.

Ok , done , to the fridge for baking tomorrow.

Now the finished product, It was just the right consistency, not overly juicy, easily sliced. 

Thin pasta and meat, red beans, eggplant throughout. Minimal sauce and cheese. 

Excellent when cool or even cold from the fridge.

Roasted Tomato and red pepper lasagna

Not to be redundant, but here is another what have you recipe for lasagne with on hand ingredients.
The leek and potato soup was used as a cream sauce for the layering. See:/potato and leek soup
Layers were composed of roasted red peppers and tomato with garlic, cooked ground beef, american cheese.

Roast veggies in a covered container and strain. This was for a small amount. A small oven proof dish for two servings sufficed. />
note : also use your favorite herbs

The leek and potato soup made this a tasty lasagna filling.

garden lasagna

        from the Garden Lasagna

       peel, slice, salt and let drain the eggplant,

roast on a baking sheet till some what limp

set aside for assembly

• sauté an amount of  garlic in a saucepan with oil

season with salt & pepper, add flour and more oil if needed and  cook like a roux

add milk, I guess about 1/2 cup

more  stock than milk,

several slices of American cheese

cook slightly to reach a boil,

temper in two eggs,

simmer, should be  pretty thick and rich to compliment the

vegetables and  enough for a 13×9 size lasagna

• add about several tablespoons of tomato paste, heat through, remove from heat, set aside. Since the stock is rich, a slight salt and pepper is all I use, oops, and  a wicked small amount of smoked hot red pepper flakes, no more than a pinch, you want the flavors of the veggies up front.

make wide pasta noodles, I like noodles between each vegetable so I go down to #2 setting.

I don’t fuss, mix about 1 cup flour and 1 egg in the kitchen aid with the beater, add a bit of water till it’s almost together.

no waiting either, right to the pasta machine. I made the pasta on demand, it ended up being 2 batches

  boil, drain, trim as necessary, dry on kitchen towel                                           spread sauce on bottom of the pan

start assembly

•   noodles
• fresh sliced tomato
• noodles
• roasted eggplant
• noodles
• raw sliced green peppers for crunch

repeat

use a small amount of sauce with each layer

top with fresh herbs

last, cover with noodles

and sauce

mmmmmmmmmmmmm…. now were talking lasagna ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

off to a 325 oven, bring it up slowly till slightly bubbly

I don’t know about 1/2 hour or more

if you made the sauce at the right consistency, it won’t be really bubbly or bubble over

of course give it time to rest before serving

I hit the mark with this one, I could cut a piece from the pan and pick it up with my hand without it falling apart.

the simplicity and freshness of the flavors are apparent.

Now, to food bloggers who post REAL pictures of their food and kitchen my salute !!!!

Eggplant spinach lasagna

Eggplant spinach lasagna

cut eggplant lengthwise, season and oil, roast in oven
set aside;

sauté chopped onion and garlic, green pepper in oil
add flour, season etc.
add cream, milk etc. to make a white sauce
add cheese
add chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce
cooked till thickened
set aside;

make wide pasta noodles
about 2 cups flours 2 eggs

assemble (13x9x2) as you would with layers of
pasta, eggplant and baby spinach with the sauce.

Bake till bubbly

sorry no pix maybe if I make it again I’ll take some pictures