Italian Eggplant Ricotta Bake, a creamy delicious Italian Oven Baked dish, filled with a perfectly spiced sautéed eggplant and a Ricotta topping. The perfect side dish.
I guess you can’t get more Italian than eggplants and ricotta cheese. This easy, simple Italian Eggplant Ricotta Bake is a perfect summertime comfort food. Because sometimes we do need some summertime comfort.
Before I came to Italy I rarely ate eggplant and I never ate ricotta cheese, that is until I arrived at my mother-in-law’s table. I must admit though that I still don’t eat ricotta cheese on its own.
Ask my father-in-law what his favourite pasta is and without a doubt he will respond “a little pasta tossed with a lot of ricotta cheese”. Of course it will have to be spaghetti, none of that short pasta for him! Haha at least we agree on one thing!
So needless to say I rarely cook with ricotta. I make the occasional Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells and a tasty Ricotta and Chocolate Chip Cake recipe that I was lucky enough to get from a friend’s mother. But bake Eggplant and Ricotta as in casserole, nope never, until now.
Ricotta cheese is quite the amazing cheese, it doesn’t become watery, it doesn’t become stretchy, which can be a little embarrassing at times to eat!
It just becomes the perfect sort of soft, golden and a little bit crunchy, just the right cheesy topping.
Italian Eggplant Ricotta Bake
Even my youngest daughter who is a real picky eater, had two helpings of this Eggplant Ricotta Bake. Needless to say the Italian loved it. Like father like son I guess. Buon Appetito!
Italian Eggplant Ricotta Bake
Ingredients
- FILLING
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (45 grams)
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 large eggplant diced (or 2 medium)
- 1 large tomato seeded and diced
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 leaves fresh basil chopped
- pinch of thyme
- pinch of hot pepper flakes if desired
- 1/4 cup water (60 grams)
- TOPPING
- 1/2 cup ricotta (125 grams)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese (25 grams)
Instructions
- FILLING(in a medium bowl toss together diced eggplant and 1/2 teaspoon salt let sit for approximately 20 minutes, drain but do not rinse)
- In a large frying pan on medium heat add oil, onion and garlic, cook until transparent approximately 5 minutes, add drained eggplant and water cook until soft, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add chopped tomatoes, oregano, salt and basil, lower heat and simmer half covered for approximately 20-30 minutes until almost all the water has evaporated. Pre-heat oven to 350° (180° celsius), lightly grease 2 small baking dishes or 1 medium.
- TOPPING
- In a small bowl mix together ricotta cheese and egg.
- Place filling in baking dish and top with ricotta cheese topping and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until ricotta cheese is soft and golden. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Beulah says
June 14, 2018 at 11:07 amI will definitely try this. I love eggplant but I have never cooked it. So I’m willing to try thanks for sharing your recipe . I’m looking forward to more recipes.
Rosemary says
June 14, 2018 at 4:13 pmHi Beulah, thanks so much, I hope you enjoy it. Let me know.
Deb says
May 3, 2018 at 2:09 amWonderful1 For the sauce, I used Marcella Hazan’s simple sauce (simmer together a can of toatoes, crushed, with their juice; 5 tablespoons of butter, and an onion peeled and cut in half for 45 minutes). I spritzed the crumbs with olive oil spray before baking. And the eggplant took more like an hour to bake. This is a definite keeper!!! (If I have fresh basil next time, I’ll layer in a few leaves.(
Rosemary says
May 4, 2018 at 2:12 pmHi Deb, thanks so much, what a great idea, sounds delicious. Have a great weekend.
Marina says
September 15, 2016 at 10:34 pmThank you so much for this recipy. I just finished dinner. My partner promissed me everything when I allowed him to have an extra portion 🙂
I’m going to try more of your recipies, sonn will be more compliments!
Rosemary says
September 16, 2016 at 9:52 amHi Marina, thanks so much, I am so glad your partner enjoyed it. Let me know what else you try and how it goes! Have a great weekend. 🙂
[email protected] says
July 2, 2015 at 7:37 pmThis looks sooooo good! I’m actually curious about trying your father-in-law’s pasta, lol! Do you add any other seasonings to it- the ricotta with pasta? I love eggplant- they’re so beautiful right now and I’ve been wanting to buy one- this dish sounds perfect! 🙂
Rosemary says
July 5, 2015 at 8:04 pmHi Veronica, thank you, apparently my mother-in-law tosses the pasta, with some ricotta and a little bit of olive oil together and that’s it.
Ann says
July 2, 2015 at 12:20 pmI’ve made eggplant parmsean with ricotta and mozzarella. I’ve never diced the eggplant. Definitely trying your recipe. So glad I found you.
Rosemary says
July 3, 2015 at 5:11 pmHi Ann, let me know how you enjoy it. So glad you came.
ladygourmet says
July 1, 2015 at 10:15 pmDear Rose, this sounds and looks wonderfully comforting. A wonderful way to prepare eggplant next time. xo, Catherine
Rosemary says
July 3, 2015 at 5:13 pmHi Catherine, thank you.
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
June 30, 2015 at 10:45 pmIt looks scrumptious and Italian men can be a little on the stubborn side. If you would have asked my mamma she would have told you that I was just like my papa. But as far as food goes? I like just about anything if it is cooked right except insects or rodents 🙁 I shiver at the thought. I love eggplant and we just don’t make it enough. You’ve inspired to me to grab an eggplant at the Farmers Market. Gracie!