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Mary Berry’s Lasagne Aubergine Melanzane

As seen on her BBC series, Mary's Foolproof Dinners, this vegetarian bake from Mary Berry is a genius combination of two classic Italian dishes. With layers of baked aubergines, rich garlicky tomato sauce, and gooey mozzarella cheese, it's utterly irresistible.

From the book

Introduction

A simple and delicious vegetarian lasagne using the classic flavours of Melanzane Parmigiana, it’s more healthy, too, as there is no white sauce.

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Ingredients

3 aubergines, sliced lengthways into 1cm (½in) slices
3-4 tbsp olive oil
2 large onions, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely grated
1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
1 x 500g carton passata
2 tbsp sun-dried tomato paste
1 tbsp freshly chopped oregano
1 small bunch of basil, leaves roughly chopped
3 fresh or dried lasagne sheets
250g (9oz) mozzarella, broken into pieces
115g (4oz) Parmesan, coarsely grated

Essential kit

You will need a 1.75-litre (3-pint) wide-based, shallow ovenproof dish

Method

Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C Fan/Gas 7. Line two large baking sheets with non-stick baking paper. You will need a 1.75-litre (3-pint) wide-based, shallow ovenproof dish.

Arrange the aubergines on the prepared baking sheets, brush with oil and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Roast in the preheated oven for about 20–25 minutes until golden and soft. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Reduce the oven temperature to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas 6.

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a deep frying pan over a high heat. Add the onions and fry for 5 minutes, stirring. Add the garlic and fry for 1 minute. Pour in the tomatoes, passata

and sun-dried tomato paste, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the fresh herbs and season well.

Meanwhile, if using fresh lasagne sheets, soak them in a shallow dish in boiling water for 5 minutes, then drain.

Spoon a quarter of the tomato sauce into the base of the ovenproof dish and spread to the corners. Scatter a quarter of the mozzarella and Parmesan on top, then lay half the aubergine slices on the cheeses. Spoon another quarter of the tomato sauce on top, then add the sheets of lasagne another quarter of the cheeses. Spoon half the reaming sauce, then add the remaining aubergine slices and another quarter of the cheeses. Finally, spoon on the remaining tomato sauce and arrange the remaining cheeses in 8 piles on top. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes until bubbling and golden.

Serve hot with dressed salad leaves.

Mary’s Tips: Can be asssembled up to 8 hours ahead. Freezes well.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars

4 Ratings

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5 Comments

    default user avatar J Farey

    Not sure whether to freeze before or after cooking

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    default user avatar The Happy Foodie Team

    Hi J,

    Thank you for your comment. We would advise freezing before cooking.

    Happy Cooking!
    The Happy Foodie Team

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    default user avatar Jean bland

    Tweaked it a bit and put two layers of aubergine and two layers of lasagne. Didn’t cut my aubergines thick enough so the aubergine got a bit lost but that’s my fault. The sauce is tasty and the whole thing is a good recipe. Will definitely do again.

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    default user avatar Rifath

    As a big meat eater and a lover of traditional lasagne; this recipe has surprised me, full of flavour and texture!

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    default user avatar Helen Price

    Making for 2nd time with a bit more lasagna but was very popular. Great veggie dish.

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From the book: Mary’s Foolproof Dinners

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