Elegant Baked Eggplant with Cheese
Create Delicious Oven-Baked Eggplant Topped with Plenty of Cheese
A delightful snack that even children will love! We’ve baked eggplant generously topped with cheese in the oven. This dish is perfect for a quick and satisfying snack or a flavorful side.
Main Ingredients
- 2-3 fresh eggplants
- 1/4 red bell pepper
- 1/4 yellow bell pepper
- 1/4 onion
- 1 cup shredded pizza cheese
Seasoning & Others
- A pinch of salt
- A pinch of paprika powder
- A drizzle of olive oil
- A pinch of salt
- A pinch of paprika powder
- A drizzle of olive oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash and pat dry 2-3 eggplants. Slice them diagonally into about 1cm thick pieces. It’s best to cut them slightly thick, as they can crumble if sliced too thinly.
Step 2
Place the sliced eggplant in a bowl and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Let them sit for about 10 minutes. This step helps to draw out excess moisture and any bitterness from the eggplant, making it more tender when cooked.
Step 3
While the eggplant is salting, remove the seeds from the red and yellow bell peppers and finely dice them into about 0.5cm pieces. Finely dice the onion as well. Dicing the vegetables chunky adds a pleasant texture to the bite.
Step 4
Gently squeeze the excess water from the salted eggplant slices. Add the diced bell peppers and onion to the bowl with the eggplant. Season again with a pinch of salt. Mix in a pinch of paprika powder (or mild chili powder) for color and flavor, ensuring all ingredients are well combined.
Step 5
Add 1 cup of pizza cheese to the eggplant and vegetable mixture and stir to combine. Mixing the cheese well ensures it coats the vegetables and eggplant, leading to a delicious, gooey result after baking.
Step 6
Drizzle a little olive oil over the squeezed eggplant slices. For an even coating, place the eggplant and olive oil in a plastic bag and shake gently. This ensures the eggplant is lightly coated, leading to a crispier texture when baked.
Step 7
Generously top the oiled eggplant slices with the mixture of cheese and vegetables. Make sure to pile it high so the eggplant is well covered, creating a visually appealing dish.
Step 8
Bake in a preheated oven at 190-200°C (375-400°F) for about 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly, and the eggplant is tender. Cooking time may vary depending on your oven.
Step 9
Serve your elegant baked eggplant with cheese hot and fresh from the oven. It’s a wonderful dish to enjoy as a light meal, a flavorful side, or a crowd-pleasing snack for everyone!
