Baked eggplants with bolognese sauce
Ever tried cooking a particular vegetable that your kid showed little or no interest in eating? If you did, would you give up after a few attempts? Then I urge you not to be discouraged as there is always a good chance of changing your little ones’ mind. You just have to be a bit creative in playing around with your cooking method and food presentation. That’s my little secret in tackling my son’s fussiness over certain vegetable that he dislikes initially.
By learning to cook a variety of non-Chinese cuisines, it opens up more cooking options to me. Take the example of eggplant (aubergine). When I first started cooking it using the common Chinese stir-fry method, my son only took a few bites. Then I discovered another method using Japanese seasoning. This time, he ate slightly more but didn’t give me that enthusiastic “Mommy, I want more!” look.
When I saw this Greek-inspired casserole dish (Moussaka) from Mitong’s blog (小小米桶的写食厨房), I felt confident that it was going to get my son’s taste buds excited as he never seem to ever get bored with bolognese sauce and cheese. The recipe shared a similarity to lasagna. The difference is layers of eggplants is used instead of layers of lasagna sheets. The dish is totally delicious and paired so well with pasta. You should see the speed in which my hubby and son walloped up the dish and pasta. By the time I finished my shooting, they had already cleaned up their plates. Yeah, we loved it very much. It was really a very satifying meal for my family. It looks like from hereon I will have no trouble clearing the eggplants in my fridge.
At first glance, the recipe looks complicated with its long list of steps. But, it’s a very versatile recipe. So, don’t be taken a back by it. It is actually very simple and involves only 3 basic steps: prepare ingredients (eggplants, sauce and cheese), assembly them in a casserole and bake. Get your little ones to help in the assembly process as it’s really fun and enjoyable!
This recipe guarantees zero leftover. The bolognese sauce is great for pasta dish. You can freeze any excess for later use. As for the eggplant and shredded cheese, you can turn them into a super easy side dish which is another hit in my family.
So next time if you have a little picky eater for eggplants at home, try this “never-fail” eggplant recipe. The result is definitely very rewarding. I bet your family will love it too.
>>>> Click on page 2 for recipe and step by step photo for baked eggplants with bolognese sauce….
>>>> Click on page 3 for recipe and step by step photo on how to make bolognese sauce…………..
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ellena, Lai Kuan. Lai Kuan said: Baked eggplants with bolognese sauce ….Totally delicious! http://bit.ly/bdhNs8 […]
I think maybe even my picky family would eat this! I’m pretty sure they would eat anything when it’s covered in cheese. And well. So would I!
Joanne: Yeah, you’re right. I can’t resist it too. LOL! 😉
Oh my! This looks really really good!
The Peach Kitchen
blowing peachkisses
peach and things
Peachkins: Thank you! 😉
now that looks positively delicious!!
thanks so much for sharing!
Chef Dennis: Thanks for dropping by and your kind compliment. 😉
This one sounds like a Greek dish, moussaka!
Quinn: Totally agreed with you. Thanks a lot for highlighting! I had included this name in my post now. 😉
yummy! what an interesting way to prepare eggplant! thanks for sharing 🙂
A very yummy recipe! Always like cheesy bakes, this one is perfect for me.
Angie: Cheesy bakes are always our all time favourite. This one is too good to resist. 😉
Fantastic looking eggplants with bolognese sauce! I have to admit that most of the time I don’t know what I should do with eggplants so I seldom buy them. Now, after seeing what you made, it gives me another idea!
Lee Mei (MCH): Yes, maybe we are too used to our Chinese style cooking and have neglected that eggplant can be cooked in many interesting ways. Do give it a try if you like cheesy bakes. 😉
😀 You definately heard me! I faced the same problem with my son too. He is very choosy when comes to vegetables, especially eggplant. Looks like I need to make this very soon! Thanks! 🙂
Alice: I hope Sean will start to love eggplants after trying this casserole dish later. Do share your feedback with me yeah. 😉
This sounds and looks perfect! Eggplant is my favorite vegetable so I would not give up trying to get my 4 kids to love it! You are right, trying several times in different ways really works with kids. Not being to pushy also helps. My pickiest eater only recently declared that he changed his mind and now loves eggplant!!!Yay!
Gwen: Glad we share the same view! *High 5* to you! 😉
This looks yummy. I will have to try it with my 1 1/2 year old son!
Kelsey: Thanks! You may need to reduce the amount of seasonings for your little tot. Hope he likes it! 😉
Not only kids, I bet adult love it too! I must try this!
Little Inbox: Yeah, you are right even my hubby also loved it. Definitely worth trying! 😉
I must try this recipe. Eggplant with bolognese sauce would be a great combo!
Kitchen Corner: Yes, a very yummilicious combo! Happy trying! 😉
Wow! This looks good! I am not a big fan of eggplants but I can totally see myself eating this! I just went and bought an eggplant because my husband likes it and I decided that I should try it in a different way to see if I like it. I will bookmark this recipe. Thank you!
Sook: Thanks! hopefully you will change your mind about eggplants after trying out my recipe. 😉
No surprise your hubby and son finished the dish so fast, and great presentation as well.
This is something I know I will definitely like! bookmarked to try, thanks for sharing =D
Noobcook: Looking forward to hearing your feedback. Happy trying! 😉
In the recipe for bolognese sauce you offer a vegan option. Although your instructions would make the sauce vegan, the cheese in this part of the recipe rules out a vegan dish…so maybe it should just say ‘vegetarian’?
A: Thanks so much for your kind suggestion. I had amended it. Thanks! 😉
Cheesy eggplants! yum!!
Pigpigscorner: Cheese + eggplants = irresistable! 😉
This is totally beautiful, and I am not even a tot! Congrats on Top 9. GREG
Sippitysup: Thanks for your compliment and kind comment. 😉
I just love thtwo combination! awesome taste!
Sidney Kan: Thanks for your wonderful compliments! 😉
I can see that your food is for toddlers but I think it sounds super delicious and I would love to have your baked eggplants!
Linn: Thanks for dropping by and hope you will like it! 😉
What a great idea! It looks appetizing to me.
LCOM: Thanks! Yes, it is indeed very delicious! 😉
You may not believe it but I was thinking of cooking eggplant + tomatoes this week. Well, I am not a fan of eggplant and thinking of cooking them with tomatoes to test myself ;p
Tigerfish: Wish you good luck and pass the test with flying colour! LOL! 😉
Ah LK I tried posting last night but your blog was not working!
This dish looks beautiful, as always, and reminds me of eggplant parmigiana, which I lurve….
Brilliant way to use extra bolognese sauce which I have in my fridge quite frequently!
Clare: Thanks for informing me and sweet comment! Do give it a try! 😉
Yea! I’ve been wanting to cook something Greek! I remember that Pizza Hut commercial I used to see a lot when I was young! Thanks for reminding me and the idea!
Keep it up! Seriously!
P.S. Sorry for the absence lately. Been busy. Now I’m down with cold and fever. Sigh …
Pei-Lin: Glad you like the idea and thanks for your words of encouragement! Take a good rest and drink plenty of water. Hope you have a speedy recovery! 😉
My children are well past the toddler phase, but I have just planted eggplant in my garden. With this recipe, maybe someone will enjoy eating them besides me! Thanks! Annie
Annie: Thanks for dropping by! Wow, you grow your own eggplants! How I wish I can do that to! 😉
That’s what I love about FoodBuzz–seeing what people on the other side of the world are cooking today. I live in Iowa in the middle of the United States, and am fortunate to have space for a large garden. It’s early in the season here, so I won’t have my own eggpplants for another two months.
Annie: I totally agreed with you! Foodbuzz is a great platform for me too. Unlike you, space is very limited here so it is very expensive to own a large garden. I’m so envy! It’s great to get close to nature. I hope I can do that when I retire. Still a long way…..! Hahaha! 😉
my girls have just begun enjoying eggplant, i am sure with this dish they will be completly on borad, cheese…who doesn’t like cheese..
sweetlife
Sweetlife: Hope your girls will like it. Yeah, we lOOOOOOVeeeeeee Cheese!!!!! 😉
Oh my …j’adore aubergines! Actaully , my family loves them a lot! Love this recipe…yep. Btw, during my absence, your blog improved so much..I’m so happy for you…Now, I’m a little less busy, it’s a breather for me too. I’m going to lurk at your blog… 😀
I’m going to add you to my Facebook too. Take care and keep it up!
Pixen: Hi! Thanks so much for your kind compliments and words of encouragement!!!! Really appreciate it! Also thanks for adding me in your FB!!!
Delish! My niece would love this dish. I like how you serve them in the smaller dish. Wonderful recipes! Thank you!
Lisa
Lisa: Thanks! Hope your niece will love it! Happy trying! 😉
Hi, I’ve been following your blog for quite some time. I find your recipes so easy and yet refreshing. Just wanted to say thanks!!!
Paik Ling: Oh! Thanks so much for your continuing supports!! Glad you like my recipes. 😉
Cool! I like creamy food. 🙂
Dora: Yes, I love creamy food too but can’t take too much. 😉
Wow…you have made the eggplant dish look very delicious. I would love to have it even if I hate vegetables 😀 I know how hard it is to feed picky kids. We moms just have to be very creative. My daughter is one of them. She is a big girl now but still picky 🙁
Mary Moh: Thanks! I strongly believe that kids can be trained if we start early. You still can try for your dd even though it is more challenging now. 😉
This is perfect for my dinner tomorrow!!!
My mom cooks the eggplants in the microwave for a lighter version…delicious…
Mika: Thanks for dropping by and happy trying! Never try to microwave eggplants. That sounds delicious to me too! 😉
jusr found your recipe and it looks great! I cook this very often for my family, found it at a restaurant years ago. I was wondering what does soaking the eggplants in vinegar add to the vegetable, does it help to hold more nutrients or soemthing?? just wondering because I have never done that before. But i’m defintely looking forward to your bolognese sauce:-)
German mommy: Thanks for dropping by. Soaking eggplants in vinegar diluted water will help to get rid of the bitterness of the eggplants. Happy trying! 😉
Where is the break-down of what us in the recipe? (fat, carbs,chol.,etc)
Libby: Sorry, I don’t have.