Baked Eggplant Antipasto

Delicious and unique vegetarian meal, could be vegan if cheese is omitted. Serve with a thick crust French or Italian bread and salad. Leftovers are amazing as a sandwich.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 108 Calories

Ingredients

• salt to taste
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• ground black pepper to taste
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup pine nuts
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, or to taste
• 2 large eggplant, cut into 1/4-inch rounds
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (8 ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, undrained
• 1 (8 ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained and cut into strips
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano, or to taste
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese, or to taste
• ¼ cup grated Pecorino-Romano cheese, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Step 2

Layer eggplant slices in a bowl, sprinkling salt onto each layer. Set aside for 30 minutes. Spread a layer of paper towel on a work surface; drain eggplant slices on paper towels.

Step 3

Mix diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, artichoke hearts, and roasted red peppers in a bowl.

Step 4

Heat a skillet over medium-low heat; toast pine nuts, stirring occasionally, in the hot skillet until fragrant and lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir toasted pine nuts, garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, and black pepper into tomato mixture using a fork.

Step 5

Spread a layer of eggplant in the bottom of the prepared baking dish; spoon 1/3 the tomato mixture atop eggplant layer. Sprinkle 1/3 the red onion, 1/3 the mozzarella, and 1/3 the Pecorino-Romano cheese over tomato layer. Repeat layering until all ingredients are used.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and golden brown, about 40 minutes.