recipe - Eggplant lasagne

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

 

 

 

When I left Australia I made a sort of souvenir/remembrance book of recipes

collected from friends and relatives. I prefaced each person's

contributions with a short biography then distributed copies of the book to

all the people who had given me recipes. This lasagne recipe was one of my

own 'contributions' and I have lost count of how many times I have prepared

it and also how many times I have been asked for the recipe. It is a great

vegetarian dish to serve to non-vegetarians as they don't seem to feel too

'meat deprived' after eating this!!

 

 

 

On Friday evening Hans and I went to a buffet dinner arranged by friends.

It was more than just a dinner - the main purpose of the evening was to give

Hans the opportunity to speak about his insights into the spiritual

symbolism in the Harry Potter books.

 

 

 

The lady who was hosting the evening decided to have a Harry Potter theme to

everything and, just for fun, we were all asked to make up HP related names

for our dishes. One of the people who came along did one better. In

English the headmaster of the school Harry goes to is called Albus

Dumbledore. In the Dutch translation this is Albus Perkamentus (perkament

is Dutch for 'parchment') so one of the people brought along a 'Perkamentus

vegetable tart' complete with spectacles made from wire and a very luxuriant

beard made from alfalfa sprouts. I think I might have taken the photo from

a bit too low down but I'm sure you can see enough to get the overall idea.

It was a real highlight of the buffet table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dish which is being unwrapped was a delicious curried vegetable quiche

('disappearing quiche') and the little pasties ('filled puff adder

stomachs!!!!!!) were filled with a delicious mixture of beans and corn.

 

 

 

I made 'time turner' tabbouleh and 'Luna Lovegood lasagne [aka eggplant

lasagne!!]'. I don't know if you have read the HP books but Luna is a

character in one of the books and a time turner is a special magical device

which is also an important part of the plot in one of the books. The

lasagne is at the front of this picture and the tabbouleh is at the back (in

the glass bowl).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EGGPLANT LASAGNE

 

 

 

I used to participate quite frequently in market research groups where we

'road tested' new products or services. These groups were convened by Toni

Horberry who gave me this recipe. She told me it was a great favourite with

her 'non eggplant loving' family who had not `discovered' the rogue

ingredient. Several people who have tasted this lasagne have said that they

would never have picked it as being a vegetarian dish.

 

 

 

2 c peeled, diced eggplant

 

2 medium green bell peppers, diced

 

1 /2 clove garlic, chopped

 

1 tsp chopped parsley (plus extra for garnish if desired)

 

1 1/2 c tomato puree

 

125 g each parmesan cheese & mozzarella cheese (plus extra for topping)

 

1/2 tsp each cinnamon & salt

 

instant lasagne noodles

 

approx 3 tblsps oil for frying vegetables

 

 

 

Brown eggplant, peppers & garlic in oil 5-8 mins. Add puree, cook 1/2 hour.

Stir in parsley, salt & cinnamon. Stir well. Place alternate layers of

lasagne noodles, sauce & cheeses in casserole dish. Sprinkle with extra

parsley and cheese. Bake, covered, 30 mins in a moderate oven and uncovered

for another 10 mins to brown cheese.

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES - I always pre-cook my lasagne sheets, no matter what it says on the

box. I find that the 'instant' ones often end up the consistency of old

leather if they are not cooked first.

 

 

 

As Hans can not have dairy products from cows I used pecorino cheese (from

sheep milk) instead of parmesan and buffalo mozzarella.

 

 

 

Cheers from Marie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Lovely recipe, Marie! I have uploaded it to the Files - Italian folder!

Thanks!!!

 

Love, Pat