Layered Aubergine & Lentil Bake Recipe
This Layered Aubergine & Lentil Bake is a hearty and wholesome vegetarian dish featuring tender aubergine slices and protein-packed lentils layered with a rich and flavorful tomato sauce infused with aromatic spices. Baked to perfection, it offers a comforting, nutritious meal ideal for lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Aubergine Layer
- 2 medium aubergines, sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds
Lentil Layer
- 1 cup dried brown or green lentils, rinsed
- 2 1/2 cups water or vegetable broth
Tomato Sauce
- 2 cups tomato sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the lentils: In a saucepan, combine rinsed lentils and water or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for about 20-25 minutes until lentils are tender but not mushy. Drain any excess liquid and set aside.
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the dish.
- Prepare aubergines: Slice the aubergines into rounds about 1/4 inch thick. You may choose to lightly salt and let them sit to remove bitterness, then pat dry.
- Make tomato sauce: In a small saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Stir in tomato sauce, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes to combine flavors.
- Layer the bake: In a baking dish, spread a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom. Layer half of the aubergine slices evenly over the sauce. Next, spread all the cooked lentils over the aubergine, followed by half of the remaining tomato sauce. Finish with the remaining aubergine slices and top with the last of the tomato sauce.
- Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the aubergine is tender and the top is slightly caramelized.
- Rest and serve: Allow the bake to rest for 5 minutes before serving to let flavors meld and the dish set.
Notes
- For extra flavor, sprinkle some grated cheese or nutritional yeast on top before the final bake if not strictly vegan.
- You can substitute lentils with other legumes like chickpeas or black beans if preferred.
- If you want a richer tomato sauce, add a splash of red wine or balsamic vinegar while simmering.
- To reduce baking time, pre-roast aubergine slices until slightly softened before layering.
Keywords: aubergine bake, lentil casserole, vegetarian dinner, baked aubergine, healthy layered bake
