Baked Eggplant and Lamb

Christine Datian layers Mediterranean flavors - seasoned ground lamb and slices of eggplant - then tops the works with bread crumbs and feta cheese and bakes it. The result is a simple, hearty dish.

Yield: Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

• 2  pounds  pounds eggplant
• About 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2  slices (1/2 in. thick and 4 to 5 in. long) French bread
• 1  pound  ground lamb
• 1  onion (8 oz.), peeled and chopped
• 8  ounces  sliced mushrooms
• 1  tablespoon  minced garlic
• 1 1/2  cups  tomato sauce
• 1/2  cup  dry red wine
• 1  tablespoon  prepared mustard
• 1  teaspoon  dried basil
• 1/2  teaspoon  dried oregano
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  pepper
• 4  ounces  ounces feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/2  cup  chopped parsley

Preparation

1. Rinse and dry eggplant; slice crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds, discarding ends. Brush both sides of rounds lightly with oil and place in a single layer on two 12- by 15-inch baking sheets. Bake in a 400° regular or convection oven until browned and tender when pierced, 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, cut or tear bread into 1/2-inch chunks. Put in a food processor or blender and whirl into coarse crumbs; you should have 1 cup. In a 10- to 12-inch nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat, stir crumbs in 1/2 tablespoon olive oil until lightly browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Pour from pan.

3. In the same pan over medium-high heat, stir lamb until crumbled and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer lamb to a bowl. Drain all but 1 teaspoon fat from pan. Add onion, mushrooms, and garlic and stir occasionally until onion is limp and mushrooms are browned, about 8 minutes. Add tomato sauce, wine, mustard, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and the browned lamb. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, to blend flavors, about 10 minutes.

4. Arrange half the eggplant slices in a single layer over the bottom of a shallow 2- to 3-quart baking dish; top with half the lamb mixture. Repeat layers of eggplant and lamb mixture. Sprinkle top with bread crumbs and feta cheese.

5. Bake in a 350° regular or convection oven until browned and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley. Scoop out servings with a large spoon.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

228 (55% from fat)

Protein:

12g

Fat:

14g (sat 5)

Carbohydrate:

15g

Fiber:

2.7g

Sodium:

538mg

Cholesterol:

41mg