If you love lasagna but find it too filling (or are trying to cut back on pasta), you need to try this vegetarian eggplant lasagna recipe! Mushrooms add an extra savoriness to the cheesy filling.
Arrange sliced eggplant in a single layer on 1 large or 2 standard sheet pans lined with foil or parchment. Brush both sides using 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the eggplant until it is soft and golden, flipping halfway through, about 25 minutes total. After removing the eggplant from the oven, lower the temperature to 350 degrees F.
While the eggplant is roasting, heat the remaining olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add the mushrooms, and a pinch of salt. Cook for 5-7 minutes until soft and fragrant. Add the garlic and thyme, then cook for another minute.
In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta, eggs, 3/4 cup parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, oregano, the mushroom mixture, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish using olive oil or cooking spray. Spread 1/2 cup marinara on the bottom. Top with 4-5 slices of eggplant (depending on how large the slices are). You can optionally overlap them slightly. Top with half the mushroom cheese filling, spreading evenly. Top with 1/2 cup marinara, a layer of eggplant, the remaining mushroom cheese filling, a layer of eggplant, and 1 cup marinara. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan and mozzarella evenly over the top. Bake until golden brown for 40 minutes. Allow to set for 20 before slicing.
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Notes
You can make the marinara from scratch if you have a recipe you love (this tomato sauce recipe would also work). However, I prefer to save time since the eggplant needs to be roasted and the mushrooms need to be sautéed. I’m a fan of Rao’s Homemade.
I used a 9x13 casserole dish, which is slightly deeper than most 9x13 baking dishes (they type you would use for brownies).
You need approximately 12-15 slices of eggplant total. Keep in mind that the eggplant will shrink as it roasts. Thicker slices mean a more textured lasagna. If you slice thinner than 3/4 inches, the roasting time will decrease, so keep an eye on them. You don’t have to salt the eggplant before roasting. It will not impact the flavor or texture. However, you can choose to salt it beforehand to extract some of the water, which might seep out a bit on subsequent reheats. See my post notes for instructions on how to salt the eggplant.