Keto classic melanzane alla parmigiana

Keto classic melanzane alla parmigiana with aubergines, passata, mozzarella, hard cheese and basil – hearty, satisfying and straightforward from the oven.

At a glance

• Serves 4
• Prep time: 20 min
• Cooking time: 40 min
• Total time: 60 min
• Calories: 380 kcal per serving
• Protein: 18 g
• Fat: 28 g
• Carbs: 14 g

Ingredients

• 3 aubergines
• 500 ml passata
• 2 balls of mozzarella (250g in total)
• 80 g vegetarian hard cheese (Parmesan-style), grated
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1 bunch of basil (fresh)
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 pinch of pepper

Method

You’ll need: oven · baking dish · chopping board · knife · grater

1. Slice the aubergines, salt them and leave to stand briefly. Then pat dry so they release less moisture as they cook.
2. Spread the aubergines out on baking trays, brush with olive oil and bake in the oven at 200 °C (180 °C fan) for 15–20 min until golden brown. This makes them soft without soaking up lots of fat.
3. For the sauce, cook the onion and garlic gently in olive oil until soft. Stir in the passata, let it reduce and season to taste with salt, pepper and basil.
4. In a baking dish, layer the tomato sauce, aubergines, mozzarella and hard cheese alternately. Finish with a generous layer of sauce and cheese.
5. Bake at 200 °C for 20–25 min until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling at the edges. Leave to rest briefly before cutting so the bake holds together better.
6. Serve with fresh basil. A green salad with olive oil goes very well with it.

Good to know

The kind of oven dish that bubbles away quietly and instantly makes the kitchen feel cosy. Nicely simple, nicely honest – and almost even better the next day.

Swaps

Mozzarella → buffalo mozzarella (a little more protein and calcium, depending on the product), hard cheese → vegetarian hard cheese made from sheep's milk (stronger flavour, also contains protein), passata → chopped tomatoes without added sugar (more texture), onion → shallots (milder, also contain plant compounds)

Allergens

Contains milk from the mozzarella and hard cheese; usually well suited to children if the aubergines are cooked until soft, and fine in pregnancy with pasteurised mozzarella and thorough heating.