Hearty and budget eggplant casserole: enough for the whole family.

Eggplant is used to make a variety of appetizers and salads. And if you want a more substantial dish, you can make a casserole. You don't even have to add meat to it.

The idea of making a hearty eggplant casserole is published on the Instagram page of food blogger Natalia with the nickname nata.cooking. Add a lot of cheese.

Ingredients:

• eggplant - 2 pcs.
• mozzarella - 2 balls
• Parmesan cheese - 100 g
• salt
• oil for frying

Ingredients for tomato sauce:

• tomatoes - 500 g
• garlic - 1 clove
• salt, pepper, Italian herbs
• oil for frying

Cooking method:

1. Cut eggplant into slices or lengthwise into 0.5 cm thick slices.

2. Put them in a bowl, season with salt and leave for 20-30 minutes. This is necessary to get rid of bitterness and excess liquid.

3. Pat dry with a paper towel and fry on both sides until golden brown.

4. For the tomato sauce, fry chopped garlic clove for 1-2 minutes (you can also add finely chopped onion).

5. Add peeled and chopped tomatoes.

6. Season with spices to taste.

7. Simmer for 5-10 minutes over low/medium heat.

8. The sauce should thicken slightly.

9. Put 2 tbsp of the tomato sauce on the bottom of the baking dish, then put the fried eggplants, which should also be covered with the sauce.

10. Next, put mozzarella slices and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

11. Add basil leaves between the layers.

12. Continue layering in the same way: eggplant/sauce/cheese.

13. Bake at 180 degrees for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.