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Mexican Eggplant Casserole Recipe
Eggplant, as you may already know, is native to India and not the Americas. This vegetable (actually a berry, botanically speaking) is a relative newcomer to the Americas but like many Old World vegetables, eggplant has found a warm welcome in Mexico where fresh produce is very much appreciated and used in all kinds of Mexican food recipes, to add nutritional value and to enhance the flavors.
This Mexican eggplant casserole takes this vegetable and gives it a Mexican-inspired treatment. Something like a south of the border eggplant parmesan, the always-versatile eggplant is combined with old friends like tomatoes, garlic and cheese and new ones - chilies and cilantro. Together, this is an eggplant casserole recipe that will be greeted with excitement at your table.
Even those who profess to despise this vegetable will find themselves charmed by this savory, spicy Mexican eggplant casserole because of the way the flavors seem to blend together to make a perfect flavor and because this is a well-rounded and well-balanced dish. If you are used to the same casserole recipes every week, this Mexican eggplant casserole will make a real change and your family will love trying something new. You meanwhile will love the fact they are eating so healthily.
Mexican Eggplant Casserole
Ingredients -
1 large or 2 medium eggplants, cubed
3 cloves of garlic, minced
6 roma tomatoes, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium-sized yellow onion, diced
½ cup green chilies, diced - canned is fine, or 2 fresh poblano and 1 jalapeno pepper, diced
1 tbsp fresh cilantro, minced
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup Monterey Jack or Oaxaca cheese, grated
A pinch of salt
1 tbsp olive oil
Preparation:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
Boil the eggplant in just enough lightly salted water to cover and boil for about 10 minutes - this will partially cook the eggplant and remove its bitterness.
Drain the eggplant and layer in a lightly oiled baking dish.
Mix together the rest of the ingredients, other than the cheese and pour over the eggplant.
Bake casserole for 30 minutes, covered.
Remove from the oven, top with the cheese and reduce the heat to 350 degrees.
Bake uncovered for another 15-20 minutes, until the cheese bubbles and has started to brown.
Remove your Mexican eggplant casserole from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before bringing to the table and watching it disappear.
(Serves 4)
