eggplant and sun-dried tomato lasagna

Normally reluctant when it comes to preparing vegetables I gave up in my early teens. Eggplant was just never one of those vegetables that fared well with my palette, but these days I'm all about giving certain foods a second chance, and this time, I'm so glad I did.  This hearty eggplant is a healthy take on the usual comfort food, and its ability to absorb the savory flavors of the sauce make it quite ideal. Turns out this fruit layered between some non-fat ricotta, mozzarella, homemade sauce, and a few layers of pasta isn't so bad after all, especially when paired with a glass of dry red.

Eggplant and Sun-dried Tomato Lasagna adapted from Saveur Magazine, Serves 6-8

1 eggplant, thinly sliced 1 cup of sun-dried tomatoes 1 shallot, chopped Salt and pepper 3 tbsp. olive oil 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 tbsp. chopped flat-leaf parsley, and some for garnish 1 tbsp. chopped oregano 1/2 tbsp. chopped thyme 1/2 tbsp. chopped rosemary 1/2 tbsp. tomato paste 3 cups whole canned tomatoes, crushed 9 sheets of lasagna noodles 1/2 cups grated parmesan 3 cups low-fat mozzarella 16 ounce non-fat ricotta

Grease a 9"x 13" baking pan with 1 tbsp. butter. Cover dried tomatoes with 1 cup boiling water; soak for 20 minutes. Drain. Chop; set aside. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add one-third of the eggplant and cook for 2-3 minutes each side or until golden and tender. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel. Repeat, in 2 more batches, with the remaining oil and eggplant.  Add dried tomatoes,  garlic, parsley, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and tomato paste; cook 3 minutes. Add canned tomatoes. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set sauce aside. Pre-heat oven at 375˚.  Cover the bottom of a a 3 qt. or 6x9 in baking dish with 2 cups of the sauce, creating a thin layer.  Then place lasagna noodles over the sauce.  This will be the base of your lasagna.  Now, begin the layering process.  Top the base with 1/4 (4 ounces)of the ricotta, 1/4 of the eggplants, 1/4 (1/2 cup) of the mozzarella, 1/4 of the tomato sauce (doesn't have to be in that order).  Then another layer of noodles.  Repeat this process 2-3 more times, finishing the top layer with cheese, and making sure to leave 1/2 an inch at the top to insure that lasagna doesn't boil over.  Bake covered with foil on a baking sheet for 1 hour. Remove foil; raise oven to 500˚. Bake until golden, 15 minutes.

Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan and parsley.