Vegetarian eggplant rolls with tomato basil sauce

Ingredients

• 2 small fresh eggplants, trimmed, sliced lengthwise into 4
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 3 individual fresh garlic, sliced
• 800 g Tomato, canned in tomato juice, whole, chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh basil, torn
• 1 small zucchini, finely diced
• 150 g Ricotta cheese, reduced-fat
• 1/2 cup Parsley, fresh, chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• 3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, chopped
• 1 medium egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 x 3 second spray oil spray

Method

Preheat oven to 230C. Spray a baking tray with oil and set aside.

Lay eggplant in a single layer on prepared baking tray and spray with oil. Bake for 20 minutes, turning once or until golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside.

To make filling, spray a large non-stick frying pan with oil and place over medium-high heat. Add onion and zucchiniåÊand cook for 5 minutes, or until onion starts to soften. Add a third of the sliced garlic and cook for a further minute. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile combine ricotta, parsley, basil and 2 tablespoons Parmesan in a separate bowl. Stir to combine. Add cooled onion mixture to ricotta mixture then add egg and season well with salt and pepper.

To make sauce, place the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add remaining garlic and saut̩ for 2 minutes, or until light brown. Add crushed tomatoes and stir to combine then reduce heat to low. Add basil and season well with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes then remove from heat and set aside.

To make eggplant rolls, reduce oven temperature to 210C. Spoon 3 tablespoons of tomato sauce into the base of a 20cm square ceramic baking dish. On a clean chopping board place a slice of eggplant. Spoon 2 tablespoons of ricotta filling at narrow end and roll up. Place in prepared baking dish, seam side down. Repeat with remaining eggplant slices.

Arrange rolls in a single layer in dish. Spoon over remaining tomato sauce and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and cheese has melted.

Notes:

• These can be made a day ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
• They are best reheated in a moderate oven for 15-20 minutes, however if you are short on time, the microwave is fine.
• This recipe was written by Weight Watchers for Kidspot.