🌟 Crispy baked aubergine gratin
🧄 Ingredients:
For the gratin:
- 2 medium aubergines, cut into 12mm-thick rounds
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste.
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 250 g minced beef (optional; substitute with mushrooms for a vegetarian option).
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 cup of tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon of tomato purée
- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley or basil
- ½ tsp sugar (optional, to reduce acidity)
- 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the béchamel sauce:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 cups of warm milk
- Salt and nutmeg to taste.
- 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
For the topping:
- ½ cup of panko breadcrumbs (or regular breadcrumbs).
- 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil or melted butter
- Fresh parsley (optional).
👩🍳 Instructions:
1. Prepare the aubergine:
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- Lightly salt the slices and leave for 20 minutes to draw out the bitterness.
- Rinse and pat dry.
- Brush with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, then roast in an oven at 200°C (400°F) for 20 minutes until lightly golden. Set aside.
2. Cook the meat sauce:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté the onions until soft.
- Add the garlic, then the minced beef (or mushrooms) and cook until browned.
- Stir in the tomato paste, tomato sauce, herbs, paprika, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Simmer for 10–15 minutes. Add the chopped parsley or basil. Set aside.
3. Make the béchamel sauce:
- Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the flour and stir constantly for 1–2 minutes.
- Gradually add the warm milk, whisking continuously until smooth.
- Add salt, nutmeg and Parmesan cheese. Cook until thickened. Set aside.
4. Assemble the gratin:
In a greased baking dish:
- Add a few spoonfuls of meat sauce.
- Add a layer of roasted aubergine.
- Pour over some béchamel sauce and sprinkle with mozzarella.
- Repeat until all the layers have been used up, finishing with béchamel.
- Arrange the remaining aubergine slices in a circular pattern on top, as shown in the image.
5. Add the topping and bake:
- Mix the breadcrumbs, Parmesan and olive oil together.
- Sprinkle evenly on top.
- Bake at 200°C (400°F) for 25–30 minutes, until golden and bubbling.
🍽 Serve:
Leave to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Thank You AND Enjoy
