“Every Italian cook has their own version of this classic aubergine dish ‘Melanzane alla Parmigiana’. It’s even better made a day ahead”

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 4 aubergines, cut into long, 5mm thick slices
• 85g Parmesan, freshly grated
• 20g pack basil, leaves torn
• 1 egg, beaten

Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. In a shallow pan, mix together the garlic and 4 tbsp of the olive oil. Cook over a high heat for 3 mins, tip in the tomatoes, then simmer for 8 mins, stirring every now and then. Stir in the tomato purée.

Meanwhile, heat a griddle pan until very hot. Brush a few of the aubergines with a little oil, then add to the pan. Cook over a high heat until well browned and cooked through, about 5-7 mins. Turn them halfway through cooking. Lift onto kitchen paper and do the next batch.

When all the aubergines are cooked, lay a few of them in the bottom of an ovenproof dish, then spoon over some sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan and basil leaves. Add seasoning, then repeat this process with the remaining ingredients. Finally, pour the egg over the top, sprinkle over a little more Parmesan, then bake for 20 mins or until the topping is golden.

Tip : When griddling or frying aubergine slices, you’ll find that they will absorb any amount of oil instantly. Don’t be tempted to add more! As they cook, aubergines release their juices along with some of the absorbed oil.

Source : Good Food April 2009

Servings/Yield : 6 servings

Rating : 4 out of 5

Difficulty : Moderately Easy

Course : Main

Preparation Times : Prep : 10 mins Cook : 50 mins

Nutritional notes : Per Serving: 225 kcalories, protein 10g, carbohydrate 8g, fat 17 g, saturated fat 5g, fibre 5g, sugar 7g, salt 0.52 g

Tags: baked, eggplant, grilled, italy, lasagne, melanzane, recipe