Layered Eggplant Hamburger Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 large eggplant, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until cooked through, about 8 minutes.
3. Add the onion, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper and cook for another 5 minutes.
4. In a 9x13 inch baking dish, layer half of the eggplant slices in the bottom. Top with half of the cooked beef mixture. Spread 1 cup of tomato sauce over the beef.
5. Repeat the layers, ending with the remaining tomato sauce.
6. Sprinkle cheese over the top and bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Interesting Facts

• Eggplants are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals.
• Ground beef is a good source of protein, iron and zinc.
• Tomato sauce is a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant that can help reduce the risk of cancer.