> Skip to content

Recipe  •  20 December 2024

 

Turkey Eggplant Lasagna

This recipe is every bit just as delicious as classic lasagna.

You know by now that I am not against carbs, and I didn't eliminate them completely during my weight-loss journey, but when it comes to being mindful of calories and portion sizes, you can get more bang for your calorie buck with vegetables. This is one of those recipes that feels like a cheat meal but it isn't! 

MAKES: 6 servings
SERVING SIZE: 1 piece
PREP TIME: 20 minutes
COOK TIME: 50 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 medium eggplants
  • ½ tsp salt, plus more for salting
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • Olive oil cooking spray
  • 1 large shallot, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 lb (454g) 94%-lean ground turkey
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • 1 (24oz/680g) jar marinara sauce (I like Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce), divided
  • 2 cups shredded reduced-fat mozzarella, divided

METHOD

  1. Cut the eggplants lengthwise into ½-inch (1.25cm) slices. (You'll need about 12 slices.) Lay the slices on paper towels and sprinkle each slice with salt. Allow to sit for 15 minutes and then pat any remaining moisture from the slices with paper towels.

  2. Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Lightly spray an 8x12-inch (20x30.5cm) baking dish with olive oil cooking spray and set aside.

  3. Season the eggplant with the salt and pepper, then spray lightly with olive oil cooking spray. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the eggplant slices to the skillet and cook for about 3 minutes or until browned, flipping the slices halfway through the cooking process to ensure both sides are cooked and the slices are slightly browned on both sides. Set aside.

  4. Lightly coat the same skillet with additional olive oil cooking spray and then add the sliced shallot and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes and then add the ground turkey. Season with the oregano, paprika, and chili powder; stir; then add the marinara sauce and stir again. Continue cooking until the turkey is fully cooked, about 12 minutes, using a wooden spoon to break up the meat as it cooks.

  5. Add a layer of eggplant slices (about 4) in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with a layer of meat sauce and then a layer of the shredded mozzarella, about ⅓ of each. Add another layer of eggplant slices and then top with another layer of meat sauce and a layer of the mozzarella. Top with a final layer of eggplant slices and the remaining mozzarella. Bake for 35 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned. Cut into 6 equal-size servings.
  6. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Feature Title

The Rebel Diet
Cook lighter, leaner, and happier with TikTok and Instagram star Benji Xavier.
Read more

More features

See all recipes
Recipe
Chicken-Avocado Lettuce Cups

Think of this recipe almost as a marriage between guacamole and chicken salad, but without the mayo!

Recipe
Chicken Fajita-Stuffed Bell Peppers

This delicious, colourful meal is satisfying and packed with protein. 

Recipe
Verena’s potato salad

Growing up in Germany, Verena remembers two camps when it came to potato salad: camp mayo and camp oil/broth.

Recipe
Chicken and veg kebabs

One of my guilty go-to takeaways, perfect with a homemade flatbread and a yogurt dip. It’s so moreish and a lot cheaper than ordering in.

Recipe
Courgette & leek ijeh (Arabic frittata)

What better way to welcome the weekend than with the smell and sound of frying herb-loaded ijeh?

Recipe
Samkeh Harra (fish with tahini sauce and nuts)

‘Fish doesn’t have to be boring—my mother taught me that. Samkeh harra translates to “spicy fish,” though it’s more about a gentle kick than true heat. It’s a perfect balance of creamy, nutty tahini and the crunch of golden, roasted nuts. Oh, I do love nuts! I usually overload my plate so you almost can’t see the fish anymore, but that’s me. The nuts bring a deep, toasty richness that elevates the dish into something truly irresistible.’

Recipe
Rick Stein’s hazelnut pavlovas with white chocolate and dark berry sauce

These festive pavlovas are dipped in white chocolate and topped with toasted hazelnuts, cream and berry sauce to make an impressive dessert.

Recipe
Portuguese Chicken and Fries

Think of this as exactly what Nando’s wishes it was: vibrant spicy chicken with crispy skin served with crunchy fries and a spicy dipping sauce. Piri piri chillies aren’t widely available in Australia, unless you grow them yourself, but bird’s-eye chillies are easy to find and they do the trick.

Recipe
Cherry clafoutis

I don’t remember much about the circumstances of my first cherry clafoutis. But I must have loved the classic French farmhouse dessert, because I’ve been trying to reproduce that first custardy, almond-scented pancake ever since.

Recipe
Panang-style beef with coconut rice

Not quite a red curry, not quite a satay, this dish is the best of both worlds, inspired by Thai flavours and it is divine. It’s a throw-and-go recipe and I know we all love those at BOL. Perfect served with creamy coconut rice, some sliced red chilli and flatbreads.

Recipe
Stir-fried peppers with paneer – Kadai mirch paneer

Camellia Punjabi's recipe for the classic North Indian dish of stir-fried peppers with paneer is flavoured with a medley of spices and aromatics and makes for a brilliant vegetarian dish.

Recipe
Rick stein’s mini brioche toasts with whipped feta, fresh figs and pickled walnuts

‘I always think that canapés should box slightly above their weight – in other words, they need to be vividly flavoured to succeed. Here, the combination of crisp brioche, salty feta, pickled walnuts, figs, honey and thyme is just that. If you like, there’s a recipe for pickling your own green walnuts on page 275 of Rick Stein’s Christmas. You can also make this with slices of goat’s cheese from a log instead of the whipped feta.’

Looking for more recipes?

See all recipes
penguin pop image
penguin pop image