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Roasted Vegetable "Lasagna"

Ingredients

  • 2 firm, medium eggplants

  • Salt

  • 2 firm, medium zucchini

  • 1 bulb garlic

  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), divided

  • 4 potatoes, peeled

  • Pepper

  • 1/4 cup rosemary and thyme, finely chopped

  • 2 cups fresh ricotta cheese

  • 2 cups grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, divided

  • 1 ball mozzarella, shredded, divided

  • 1/4 cup mint and parsley, finely chopped

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • 1 can San Marzano tomatoes (32 ounces)

  • A few leaves of basil

  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar

  • 3 tablespoons grated red onion

Directions

Pre-heat the oven to 450ºF. Peel the eggplant so that there are stripes going down the sides, then slice the eggplant into 1/4-inch discs. Salt and drain on layered kitchen towels for 30 minutes. Slice the zucchini into 1/4-inch-thick pieces on an angle. Salt and drain on layered kitchen towels along with the eggplant. When the eggplant and zucchini are done resting with the salt, pat them dry with kitchen towel. Divide them in half on two baking sheets and roast in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until slightly golden in color. Peel the garlic and place the whole cloves in a pot. Cover with EVOO and heat over low heat to gently cook the garlic until the cloves are soft and caramel in color, 15-20 minutes. Peel and slice the potatoes 1/8-inch thick with a mandoline or sharp knife. Season with salt and pepper. Combine the ricotta with half of the grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, half of the mozzarella and the mint, parsley, egg, salt and pepper. In another bowl, combine the remaining Parmigiano Reggiano and mozzarella. Place the tomatoes in food processor and add all the garlic cloves and 3-4 tablespoons EVOO, basil, sugar, salt, pepper and grated red onion. Lower the oven temperature to 400ºF. In a casserole or baking dish, spread half the red sauce, then layer in half of the roasted eggplant and zucchini, then dollop a third of the cheese mixture over top. Next, shingle half of the potatoes in the dish and season with a sprinkling of chopped rosemary-thyme and a drizzle of garlic oil. Top with a third of the cheese mixture. Layer the remaining roasted eggplant, zucchini and ricotta mixture. Layer the last of the potatoes and season with a drizzle of garlic oil and a sprinkling of chopped herbs. Top the lasagna with the rest of the sauce and remaining cheese mixture. Bake, covered with parchment and foil, on a baking sheet for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for 30-40 minutes more to deeply golden. Let stand for 15-20 minutes, cut and serve.