Eggplant Ratatouille Bake

Ingredients:

• 1 large or 2 medium eggplant
• 3 zucchini
• 1 package mushrooms, sliced
• 3 large of 2 cups mini red, orange, or yellow bell peppers, diced
• 1 large shallot, sliced
• 5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 1.5-2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup kefir, buttermilk or fermented cashew beverage (sub extra cup of chicken broth with juice of 1 lemon, but won’t be as creamy)
• 1 pound ground turkey or chicken
• ¼ cup shredded gouda or mozzarella cheese (sub nutritional yeast if DF)
• Salt, pepper, onion salt, red pepper flakes
• Chopped parsley

To Prepare:

Slice eggplant into ½ inch rounds and spread evenly on a large baking sheet. Thinly slice zucchini longways, about ¼ inch, and spread onto another baking sheet. Spray both with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and roast in the oven for 30 minutes or until tender, flipping eggplant rounds halfway through.

While those cook, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Add in garlic and saute a minute more before adding the bell peppers and mushrooms. Continue to cook until caramelized and tender, approximately 5 more minutes. Set aside to cool.

Using the same skillet, heat again on medium heat and add ground meat along with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and onion salt. Cook until browned, about 7 minutes.

In a blender or food processor, add ⅓ of the mushroom and pepper mixture, 3-4 slices of eggplant, a generous pinch of red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and chicken stock. Pulse until roughly blended. Add kefir, fermented cashew beverage, or buttermilk (or more chicken stock with lemon) and continue to pulse until almost smooth but not completely pureed. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

Pour a little bit of the red pepper sauce into the bottom of a 9×13 pan and begin layering eggplant, sauteed vegetables, ground turkey, and zucchini, filling in sauce periodically. Top with the remaining sauce and cheese or nutritional yeast and bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until bubbling.

Note: Can me made ahead up and stored in the fridge for up to 1 day before ready to bake.