No-Pasta Lasagna

No-Pasta Eggplant Lasagna

Recipe by: Susan Voisin
Yield: 8 servings

Using eggplant instead of lasagna noodles makes this normally rich dish light and healthy–but still great tasting!  Perfect for the Fuhrman Eat to Live program.

  • 2 medium or 1 very large eggplant
  • salt for sprinkling on eggplant
  • 10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry (or fresh)
  • 1 lb tofu (regular, not silken)
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 2  tsp oregano
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 tsp basil
  • 1 tsp. salt (eliminate if following a salt-free diet)
  • dash cayenne pepper
  • 1 26-oz jar of spaghetti sauce (or your favorite homemade sauce)

Cut each eggplant lengthwise into very thin, even, 1/4-inch slices.  Sprinkle each slice with salt and place it in a colander to drain for 20 minutes.  (This will draw out moisture from the eggplant and also make it less bitter.)  After 20 minutes, rinse each slice briefly and press with a paper towel to remove all the moisture.

While the eggplant is draining, preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Place the tofu and thawed spinach in the food processor and process briefly. Add the remaining ingredients–except the eggplant and sauce–to the processor and blend until smooth.  (You may do this without a food processor by using a potato masher on the tofu.)

Spread a thin layer of the sauce in the bottom of a 9X11-inch pan (spraying the pan first with non-stick spray will help prevent sticking). Place a layer of eggplant over the sauce, covering the entire bottom of the pan. Spread half of the tofu mixture on the eggplant. Cover with another layer of  eggplant and then spread the remaining tofu mixture over it. Top with a final layer of eggplant, and pour the remaining sauce over this.  Cover with foil and bake for  20 minutes; remove the foil and bake for 10-20 more minutes, until eggplant is tender. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

NOTE:  The thinner your eggplant slices, the less time your lasagna will need to bake.  For perfect, thin eggplant slices, use a mandolin or other slicer.  If you cannot get your eggplant 1/4-inch thick or less, consider pre-cooking it in a non-stick skillet or on a baking sheet in the oven until lightly browned.

Please follow and like us:

Submitted by: