It’s been a wonderful year for tomatoes and aubergines and I have had a bumper crop! But, to be honest I’d make this dish at anytime of year as the flavours are somehow rich, lively and vibrant yet comforting. Just what you want in any season. Layers of soft aubergine, bright tomatoes, zingy fresh basil and unctuous, stringy mozzarella topped with a crunchy breadcrumb and parmesan topping. Yum yum pigs bum! Except there is no meat in this – pig or otherwise!
The first time I made this for Chloe (my goddaughter) was before she was vegan. She loved it so much that I now regularly make it for her using vegan mozzarella and parmesan both of which are really excellent in this dish. The brand I use is Violife. When I make if for myself I use dairy cheese. If I am making for both Chloe and me then a cocktail stick pushed in to the assembled dish stops any confusion and – in our house – leads to a chorus of “spot the vegan” sung to the cartoon tune of “stop the pigeon”. I make it in individual dishes but there is nothing to stop you making this in one large dish for a family sharing meal though you’ll need to adjust the cooking time by adding an extra 15 mins. I usually accompany the dish with either a dressed salad or green beans as a side. Continue reading