Ingredients
- medium eggplants, peeled
- /4 teaspoon salt
- ounces bacon, diced
- onions, sliced
- /2 green bell pepper, chopped
- (28 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes, drained
- /8 teaspoon black pepper
- /4 teaspoon dried thyme
- /4 teaspoon dried marjoram
- pinch garlic powder
- /2 teaspoon dried sage
- tablespoons olive oil
- ounces shredded Swiss cheese
- grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
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Step 1
Slice the eggplants lengthwise into half-inch pieces, sprinkle with salt, and let them drain in a colander to remove bitterness and excess moisture. Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook the diced bacon until crisp, then remove excess grease. Add the sliced onions and chopped bell pepper, cooking until tender. Stir in the drained tomatoes along with black pepper, thyme, marjoram, garlic powder, and sage. Let this mixture simmer to meld the flavors. While that's going, preheat the oven to 350°F. Pat the eggplant slices dry to remove any water, then fry them in hot olive oil until golden on both sides. Now it's time to layer: arrange half the eggplant in a baking dish, spread half the bacon-tomato mixture, and sprinkle half the Swiss cheese. Repeat with the remaining ingredients, ending with cheese. Bake uncovered for about 40 minutes until bubbly and golden. I always let it rest for 15 minutes before serving—this helps the layers set. Finish with a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan for that extra savory touch.