Baked Eggplant Rollatini
Fall in love with the flavors of this cheesy eggplant rollatini! No breading, no oils, just cooked eggplant stuffed with ricotta, parmesan cheese, and lots of fresh basil. Then baked to perfection with freshly grated cheese and rich tomato sauce – the most delicious low carb dish that the whole family will love.
Today I am serving one of my favorite eggplant dishes! Eggplant rollatini is an Italian-style dish that consists of thinly sliced eggplant that is usually dusted with flour then “rolled” up with ricotta cheese and herb filling. It’s a satisfying way to enjoy the Italian flavors you love without any meat being involved at all.
I love using eggplant specifically in Italian dishes because of its “meaty” texture! This vegetable is specifically popular in Sicily and pairs perfectly in dishes that call for red sauces, fresh herbs, and a blend of melted cheeses.
This meal requires just 8 ingredients and takes only a few simple steps to make. The whole family will fall in love with the flavors of this satisfying Italian dish!
Ingredients Needed
eggplant: use two large eggplants or several smaller eggplants.
ricotta cheese: for the filling!
marinara: we love using homemade marinara or Rao’s for store-bought!
Parmesan: fresh is always best.
egg: this helps bind the cheese filling.
garlic cloves: fresh garlic is best but you can swap for 1-2 teaspoons garlic powder.
basil: I always use a lot of fresh basil in Italian dishes for bright, fresh herb flavor. I don’t recommend swapping for dried basil.
Mozzarella cheese: for all that cheesy goodness on top. Use fresh slices or shredded mozz!
How to Make Baked Eggplant Rollatini – Step by Step
- Preheat oven to 400F. Salt eggplant on both sides and let sit to “sweat” for 10 minutes – Pat dry with paper towel and wipe off remaining salt.
- Lay eggplant on a lightly greased pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool.
- Mix in a bowl ricotta cheese, parmesan, egg, salt & pepper, minced garlic, and fresh basil.
- Then add sauce to the bottom of your baking dish (I used a 12-inch cast-iron skillet).
- After eggplant has cooled spoon 1-2 Tablespoons of ricotta filling on eggplant, then roll and lay in baking dish with sauce. Repeat until finished.
- Spoon 1 to 1 1/2 cups of sauce over eggplant, sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Cover and bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for 10 minutes.
How to Freeze and Reheat
Reheating tips: preheat oven to 350F and heat until warm (about 10-15 minutes).
Freezing tips: Prepare rollatini as directed, but don’t bake. Store in a sealed container and freeze as needed. Let thaw and bake as recipe instructs.
Serving Suggestions
This recipe would pair perfectly with a vegetable salad and crusty french bread served on the side.
You can also serve it with your favorite pasta such as penne, rotini, spaghetti, or bowtie pasta with extra tomato sauce. Simply delicious!
More Italian Eggplant Recipes
Love eggplant as much as I do? Then you may also be a fan of these delicious recipes as well.
If you tried this Baked Eggplant Rollatini recipe or any other recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think. I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, and FACEBOOK for more crave-worthy content.
Baked Eggplant Rollatini
Fall in love with the flavors of this cheesy eggplant rollatini! No breading, no oils, just cooked eggplant stuffed with ricotta, parmesan cheese, and lots of fresh basil. Then baked to perfection with freshly grated cheese and rich tomato sauce – the most perfect, low carb, Italian dish that the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 2 large eggplants, sliced lengthwise (1/4-inch thick slices)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 egg
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 Tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
- fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400F.
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Slice and salt eggplant: First, remove the stems from the eggplant. Cut eggplant lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Salt on both sides and let sit to "sweat" for 10 minutes. Pat dry with paper towel and wipe off remaining salt. Note: this process removes excess moisture from the eggplant and prevents a watery rollatini.
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Bake eggplant: Lay eggplant on a lightly greased pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool. Note: this softens the eggplant so you can easily roll it with the filling.
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Mix filling together: While eggplant is baking, add to a bowl: ricotta cheese, parmesan, egg, salt & pepper, minced garlic, and fresh basil. Mix together.
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Prepare rollatini: Then spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of your casserole or baking dish. After eggplant has cooled spoon 1-2 Tablespoons of ricotta filling on eggplant, then roll and lay in baking dish with sauce. Repeat until finished.
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Bake: Spoon 1 to 1 1/2 cups of marinara sauce over eggplant, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil or lid and bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Share your photos and tag @asimplepalate #asimplepalate.
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Can I peel the egg plant, I don’t like the chewy skin.
I’ve not tested it without the skin, but it should work!
I made this the other night. I used eggplants from my garden. Oh my goodness. It turned out so well. Everyone loved it. Definitely going to keep this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing it.
Yay! Thank you, Leslie! So happy you enjoyed it.
what do you do if you don’t have a cast iron pan???????????????
Hi Rosanne! Any baking dish works. 🙂
I use a disposable aluminum dish
Best eggplant recipe I’ve made. Had some fresh basil and added that to the cheese mix also.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you, Joyce!
Hello Any substitute for ricotta cheese?
Hi Tania! Instead of ricotta cheese I like to just use fresh herbs, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Or you can stuff with some small chopped roasted vegetables with parmesan/mozz and basil!
Thank you, this was delicious
Your recipe instructions were
Thanks so much, Donna! So glad you enjoyed it.
Such a crowd pleaser and so easy to make!
So happy to hear it!
I’m in the process of making this. It really looks like a great recipe. What would be an average size serving? What are the nutritional values based on?
Fantastic!! Definitely only use fresh basil. Making additional batches today as gifts.
so happy to hear that! Thank you, Barbara!
This sounds delicious. I will be cooking this for an upcoming dinner party. I hope this will turn good.
Hope you enjoy it, Albertina!
What I liked about the recipe was it was not fried so I tired it and it turned out great, my wife came home from work and was blown away with my surprise dinner and how good it was and so was I, made a simple side of pasta and opened a bottle of my Italian chianti from Tuscany.
One thing I did was when I placed the filling inside the eggplant I added a tablespoon of my homemade marinara sauce but that was it.
Very good recipe and saved the recipe for another time
So happy to hear that, David! I’m sure the chianti paired wonderfully with the meal. Thanks so much! 🙂
Fantastic! Will make again Flavor is incredible.
Great easy recipe. I would suggest slicing to 1/4 inch though, 1/2 inch was not easy to roll and thinly sliced eggplant is just better to me anyway. Also, the 12 x 16 pan was way too big! Delicious recipe and I plan to use it again and again!
So happy to hear it! Thank you, Maggie!
Nice clean recipe ! Light and satisfying !
Fabulous – I doubled it and added spinach in the ricotta.
I have a technical question about the method. Due to its acidity isn’t tomato sauce a no-no for cast iron? Thanks.
This is correct due to the taste changing. I would never recommend simmering a sauce in cast iron. But baking lasagnas and dishes like this are fine – especially if enameled! I used a cast iron skillet for photography sake. But I love baking Italian dishes in stainless steel!
We had an extra eggplant and came across this recipe online and it was DELICIOUS!!!! YUM! I followed the recipe and just used one huge eggplant and it was perfect! Thanks!
Ahhh thank you, Lori! That’s so wonderful. Really happy you enjoyed it so much 🙂
I have a Sicilian Italian neighbor who has been making this for us since he moved in two years ago. I asked if it could be baked cause we would rather not have fried stuff (even though it’s so tasty)…and was told probably not and won’t taste as good if so. So, I found your recipe as someone gave me eggplants and, first time making it…and it won’t be the last!!! SO DELISH!!! Flavors were amazing. Will make for my neighbor too after a few times under my belt!! Thank you for another “Yummly” recipe!!!
I’m so so happy to hear you enjoyed it!
I made a few changes to your recipe. 1) 1/2″ is too thick, do 1/4″ 2) Use fine table salt, not Kosher salt and you want a lot of surface contact 3) After salting for 30 minutes, rinse the salt off and squeeze the water out of each slice, squeeze firmly. It turned out great. I used more cheese than you said. One eggplant took 24 oz of grated cheese.
Could this be made ahead of time? Assembled today and baked tomorrow before serving? Or would it get too soggy?
I’ve never tried it and fear it would be soggy. You could prepare the eggplant and the ricotta mixture then assemble when needed for better results! Hope this helps. 🙂
I loved the recipe! Came out great. I actually grilled the eggplant the day before. I then placed the eggplant on parchment paper, not the shiny side, to absorb a little of the moisture. I assembled before I was ready to put in oven. It did not come out soggy at all!
wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing Erin 🙂
Can I freeze this recipe
it should freeze well, yes!
Just made this for a SECOND time!! Delicious!
So happy to hear! 🙂
Mine was definitely not crispy looking on the top like yours. What is giving it the crispy look? I will try again
Broil on HIGH for 1 minute!