CHEESEY LOW CARB EGGPLANT PARMESAN

I have made this recipe as written and I have also made it lactose free. Please feel free to view my website for the Ricotta alternative and use plant-based Mozzarella cheese.

AI image, the real dish deal looks much better

INGREDIENTS

2 Medium sized eggplants

1 Jar of tomato sauce (or you can use "Tomato Sauce My Way" found on my website

2 Cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

2 Cups Ricotta cheese

1 Pound of ground beef

1 Cup of Parmesan cheese (or Nutritional yeast)

1 Egg (can use 2 if large amount of eggplant)

2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees, Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet and spray with olive or avocado oil

2. In bowl #1 beat eggs and in bowl #2 combine parmesan cheese and seasonings

3. Slice eggplant into 1/2-inch slices, dip into egg, cover with parmesan mixture.

4. Place each slice on the parchment covered cookie sheet and cook in oven for 10 minutes then turn and cook additional 10 minutes.

5. While cooking eggplant, brown ground beef.

6. After eggplant is cooked, lower oven to 350 degrees

7. Spray a 9x13 inch casserole dish with olive oil or avocado oil and put a small amount of the tomato sauce on the bottom.

8. Layer eggplant, tomato sauce, ricotta cheese then hamburger. Cover with mozzarella cheese and start a new layer. Cover final layer with Mozzarella cheese and a small amount of sauce.

9. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and dish is bubbly. Remove from oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.

This recipe takes a little more time than some of my other recipes. There is slicing, seasoning, layering, and baking. It requires patience.

Life can be like that too.

We often want quick results, quick healing, quick answers, and quick success. But some of the most meaningful things in life take time.

Growth takes time.

Healing takes time.

Learning healthier habits takes time.

Just like this eggplant parmesan, beautiful things are often built one layer at a time.

If your journey feels slow right now, do not give up. Progress may not always be fast, but slow progress is still progress. Keep taking faithful steps forward.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.”

— Galatians 6:9

Totals for entire dish

• Protein: ~243g

• Total Carbs: ~146g

• Fiber: ~40g

• Net Carbs: ~106g

Per serving

8 servings

• Protein: ~30g

• Total Carbs: ~18g

• Fiber: ~5g

• Net Carbs: ~13g

6 servings

• Protein: ~40.5g

• Total Carbs: ~24g

• Fiber: ~6.7g

• Net Carbs: ~17.7g