Microwave Eggplant Recipe

The Headlines:

This is the best Eggplant you'll ever have.

Because it's all done in the microwave!




Let's be honest here guys... we all love the microwave.  It's an amazingly convenient tool that's quick, doesn't get your house hot and it's just so easy.  If I could use it for everything, I would.  But, most of us know if you do a dinner in the microwave - it's probably either not that healthy or not that tasty.  Certainly, nothing you would serve to guests.

It's time to change that!  Presenting...

Why is it so cool and so different?  Because it's an Eggplant dish done entirely in the microwave!!! No joke.  BP (the husband) loves it for the taste but also because there's no pasta, bread or even "crumbs" in the dish!  Just sauce, eggplant and cheese!  Overall, pretty healthy.  Plus, kids love it and it would even make a good dinner to serve to friends.  Just be prepared for the talk at the table (I can hear it now): "You seriously made this in the microwave????"

YEP.

And the best part, as always, it's very little work for you!

Here's what you need:

1 large eggplant or 2 small ones (so you can get about 8-10 slices worth)
salt and pepper
2 cups of your favorite Marinara sauce
3/4 cup part skim ricotta
3/4 cup grated parmesan
1 large egg
5 minced garlic cloves
2 cups shredded part skim mozzarella

Here's what you do:

Cut eggplant into slices.  Find a microwave dish that has a lid and, after you season the eggplant slices with salt and paper, stack them in the dish and cover.  Microwave for 8 minutes.  They'll come out looking like below.

Then, put them (careful - they're hot) on top of paper towels that are laid on a cookie sheet so they can sort of dry out for 10 minutes or so...  use the same microwave dish (dry it) and put about 1/2 cup (or a little more) of the marinara sauce on the bottom.

In a small bowl mix ricotta, parm, egg, garlic 1/2 tspn salt and 1/8 tspn pepper.  Spoon a little of the mix onto the flat end of an eggplant piece and roll.  Put seam side down like below.

Add the remaining marinara sauce to top it off and once the lid is on again - stick it back in the microwave for another 17 minutes.  Take out, sprinkle with the mozzarella and microwave again for 3 more minutes.  Serves 4-5.  It will look like this...

YUM.

It's hot so be careful, but with a salad, it's a beautiful and tasty dish!  Done completely in the microwave!  Perfect for people with no time - no oven - and/or cooking skills for that matter!

I'm sure Italians everywhere are mortified.  But I couldn't be happier!

Ciao!