Ingredients
1 medium eggplant
2 ripe beefsteak tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
12 fresh basil leaves
8 thin slices unsalted fresh mozzarella (about 4 ounces total)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Slice the eggplant and tomatoes crosswise into ½-inch-thick pieces. Place 8 eggplant slices in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Set the tomatoes aside.
- In a small bowl combine the olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Brush the mixture over the eggplant and tomato slices, then set the remainder aside.
- Bake the eggplant slices for about 10 minutes. Turn them over, brush with more of the olive-oil mixture, then bake for another 10 minutes; set aside. Place the tomatoes on the same baking sheet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until they're soft.
- Place a slice of cooked eggplant on a work surface. Top with a tomato slice, a basil leaf, a slice of mozzarella, a tomato slice, another slice of cheese, then a basil leaf. Finish the stack with a slice of eggplant. Repeat to make three more stacks.
- When ready to serve return the stacks to the oven for about 5 minutes to reheat and melt the cheese. Top each with a drizzle of the remaining olive-oil mixture and a fresh basil leaf.