Jul 14 2026

Melenzane Recipe

Time1h
Serves4

Our traditional tomato sauce topped with ricotta, grilled eggplant and fresh basil, drizzled with pesto

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Ingredients

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Tomato Sauce

Grilled Eggplant

Assembly

Method

Tomato Sauce Preparation

  1. 1

    Sauté the Aromatics

    In a medium saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

  2. 2

    Add Tomatoes and Seasonings

    Pour in the canned crushed tomatoes and stir in the dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Grilling Eggplant

  1. 3

    Prepare the Eggplant

    Slice the eggplant into 1/2 inch thick rounds. Sprinkle both sides with salt and let them sit for about 15 minutes to draw out excess moisture, then rinse and pat dry.

  2. 4

    Grill the Eggplant

    Drizzle the eggplant slices with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with black pepper. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the eggplant for about 4-5 minutes on each side until tender and grill marks appear.

Assembly

  1. 5

    Layer the Ingredients

    In a serving dish, spread a generous layer of the prepared tomato sauce on the bottom. Place grilled eggplant slices on top of the sauce.

  2. 6

    Add Ricotta and Basil

    Spoon dollops of ricotta cheese over the eggplant, then sprinkle fresh basil leaves on top.

  3. 7

    Finish with Pesto

    Drizzle the pesto sauce over the entire dish. Serve warm, garnished with additional basil if desired.

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