Vegetarian lentil and eggplant moussaka

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1½ tbsp picked lemon thyme leaves
• 400 g tin tomatoes with herbs
• 400 g tin lentils, drained and rinsed
• ¼ cup picked oregano leaves
• salt and black pepper
• 140 g chargrilled eggplant slices, cut into 3 cm pieces
• 80 g fresh ricotta
• 80 ml (⅓ cup) Greek yoghurt
• 1 egg
• mixed green leaves, to serve

Instructions

Preheat oven to 200˚C. Brush 2 x 500 ml oven-proof dishes with olive oil.

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon lemon thyme and a pinch of salt, and cook for 3–4 minutes or until the onion softens. Add the tomatoes, bring to the boil and cook for 2 minutes. Add the lentils and cook until heated through. Stir through the eggplant and oregano, and season to taste.

Whisk the ricotta and yoghurt together until smooth. Add the egg and whisk until combined. Season to taste. Spoon the ricotta over the lentils and sprinkle with extra lemon thyme.

Transfer to the oven and bake for 18–20 minutes until golden. Serve immediately with green leaves.

Photography by Benito Martin. Styling by Lynsey Fryers. Food preparation by Suresh Watson.

Robert Welch mulberry fork from Tomkin.