Eggplant Casserole

This Halal Greek Eggplant Casserole is a delightful blend of roasted eggplant, rich tomato sauce, and creamy béchamel, making it a comforting and flavorful dish. Perfect for a cozy dinner, it brings the essence of Mediterranean cuisine to your table.

Ingredients

• Eggplant - 1 medium (about 250g)
• Olive oil - 2 tablespoons
• Onion - 1 small (about 70g), finely chopped
• Garlic - 2 cloves, minced
• Ground beef (Halal) - 200g
• Tomato puree - 200g
• Dried oregano - 1 teaspoon
• Salt - 1/2 teaspoon
• Black pepper - 1/4 teaspoon
• Cinnamon - 1/4 teaspoon
• All-purpose flour - 2 tablespoons
• Milk - 250ml
• Butter - 1 tablespoon
• Grated cheese (Kefalotyri or Parmesan) - 50g
• Egg - 1 large

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. Slice the eggplant into 1 cm thick rounds, sprinkle with salt, and let sit for 15 minutes to draw out moisture.
3. Rinse the eggplant slices under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
4. In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat and sauté the chopped onion until translucent, about 5 minutes.
5. Add minced garlic and ground beef to the skillet, cooking until the beef is browned, approximately 7-10 minutes.
6. Stir in tomato puree, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cinnamon. Let simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from heat.
7. In another pan, heat the remaining olive oil, add flour, and stir for 1 minute to create a roux. Gradually whisk in milk, cooking until thickened, about 5 minutes.
8. Remove from heat, stir in grated cheese and beaten egg until well combined.
9. In a baking dish, layer half of the eggplant slices, followed by the meat mixture, then the remaining eggplant. Pour the béchamel sauce over the top.
10. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
11. Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Nutrition

• Calories: 540
• Protein: 30 g
• Carbs: 35 g
• Fiber: 8 g
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Cholesterol: 80 mg
• Total Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Water: 0.3 L

Health Benefits

• Eggplant is high in fiber, which promotes digestive health.
• Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, particularly lycopene, which may reduce the risk of certain diseases.

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