Eggplant Involtini Stewed in Tomato Sauce

HomeClinics & ProgramsELLICSR KitchenEggplant Involtini Stewed in Tomato Sauce

Skill Level	Intermediate

Preparation Time	15 minutes	Total Time	35 minutes
Servings	4	Cost Per Serving	$0.85 per serving

2	Eggplants, thinly sliced length wise
1 jar (500ml)	Tomato sauce
1 cup	Ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese for a lower fat option)
1/2 cup	Basil, roughly chopped
1	Egg
1	Zucchini, grated
2 tsp	Dried Oregano
1	Medium sized Onion, roughly chopped
2 cloves	Garlic, roughly chopped
1 tsp	Dried chili flakes (optional)
1 tbsp	Olive Oil
1 tbsp	Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (optional)
To taste	Salt and Black Pepper

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Thinly slice your eggplant lengthwise, about ¼ inch thick (use a mandolin if you are uncomfortable using a knife).
Sprinkle eggplant slices with a little salt, black pepper and olive oil. Either grill, pan fry, or bake (15 minutes)the eggplant until just cooked through.
Combine ricotta cheese, oregano, egg, grated zucchini and a little salt and pepper to make the filling.
Place about 1 tbsp of filling at one end of each eggplant slice and tightly roll up the eggplant into a neat package.
In a baking dish add tomato sauce, onion, garlic and chili (optional). Lay out your eggplant involtini (seam side down) and sprinkle the top with some parmesan cheese.
Bake in the oven for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Garnish with some fresh basil and enjoy.

PDF link to nutrition facts table for Eggplant Involtini Stewed in Tomato Sauce

Lycopene is a fat-soluble carotenoid found in tomatoes, so adding a small amount of oil or fat (such as the olive oil and cheese in this recipe) to lycopene-rich foods further increases the amount your body will absorb.
Tomatoes also contain potassium, vitamins, other carotenoids and antioxidants. It is not known whether these other compounds cause the health benefits or act together with lycopene. That's why whole foods are always a better choice than supplements!
Taking antioxidant supplements during radiation treatment is not recommended, as supplements contain high amounts of antioxidants. Getting these nutrients from foods is considered safe because foods contain smaller amounts.