Eggplant Rollatini – Lightened!

Eggplant Rollatini – Lightened! Roasted thin slices of eggplant are stuffed with cheese then rolled and topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and pecorino cheese. Bakedย  until the cheese is fully melted, making these eggplant rollatini very easy, light, and best tasting ever!

We took our mom’s eggplant rollatini casserole recipe and modified it to make it easier, healthier, and amazingly lighter!

Serve our eggplant rollatini as a side with any main dishes like our London Broil Steak Grilled Perfectly, and our recipe for Chicken Cutlets.

Eggplant Rollatini - Lightened! by 2sistersrecipes.com

A lighter eggplant rollatini than most recipes and especially our mother’s recipe which is weighed down with a lot of ingredients.ย 

We love eggplant,ย especially when roasted or baked, but not fried!

In the past, she would fry the eggplant slices, then stuff themย with a heavier filling made with a mixture of ricotta cheese, eggs,ย and mozzarella and topped them with a bread crumb mixture.

They were delicious but definitely too heavy, and much higher in fat and calories.

Eggplant Rollatini - Lightened! by 2sistersrecipes.com

This Eggplant Rollatini Lightened is made differently.ย 

Eggplant slices are quickly roasted then stuffed with a simple filling, and topped with a simple tomato sauce and grated cheese.

Simple recipe creates a very light and delicate texture but without sacrificing flavor.

Best of all, it is gluten-free!

Eggplant Rollatini -Lightened! by 2sistersrecipes.com

My family enjoyed the lighter side of this eggplant rollatini.ย  They did not miss the heavy ricotta cheese filling either.

Just anotherย delicious recipeย to get your family to eat more eggplant!

This rollatini is even terrific to serve as an appetizer, or as a side dish at dinner.

Perfect for meatless meals too!

Nothing fancy – just simple, light, and delicious!

Serve them warm and enjoy!ย  ย …they won’t disappoint!

*Follow along with our step-by-step directions, or jump down for our full recipe card.

ย Ingredients for Eggplant Rollatini- Lightened!

  • 1 large eggplant

  • 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella

  • 1+1/2 cups tomato sauce ( I used our mom’s quickย marinara sauce)

  • olive oil cooking spray

  • chopped fresh basil

  • olive oil cooking spray

  • grated Romano Pecorino cheese

Directions to make Eggplant Rollatini:

1.ย  Preheat oven to Roast at 375 degrees.ย  Spray a large roasting pan with cooking spray.ย Set aside.
Also, spray the second baking (8 x 11) dish with cooking spray, set it aside.

2.ย  Rinse eggplant, dry with a paper towel, and cut off the top.
3.ย  Hold the eggplant upright on top of a cutting board, and thinly slice off the outer skin, and discard.ย  Then begin to slice the eggplant into 1/4-inch slices, rotating the eggplant to help slice easily.

QUICK TIPS and NOTES:ย 

  • If you keep the skin on the eggplant (as I did in our photos), they will become very charred and crispy.ย  Some will like it … and some won’t.ย 

  • So for this recipe, I recommend removing the skins.ย 

  • You should get approximately 16 slices from one eggplant, depending on how thin you slice them.

4.ย  Transfer slices into a large roasting pan.ย  Lay them side by side, or slightlyย overlap them if youย need to.
5.ย  Drizzle very lightly with some olive oil over them.ย  Place pan in the oven on the center rack.
6.ย  Roast eggplant slices for 18 to 20 minutes, or until lightly brown and softened, turning them over once halfway through.
7.ย  Remove from oven, and set aside to cool for a few minutes.

Slices of eggplants in a roasting pan. by 2sistersrecipes.com

8.ย  Change oven temperature (from Roast) to BAKE, and REDUCE temperature to 350 degrees.

9.ย  Take each eggplant slice and lay it on a flat surface or on a plate. Then sprinkle about 1 to 2 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella over each.ย ย Pick up one end and roll the eggplant.ย  Place each roll with seam side down, and lay them side by side into the prepared baking dish.

Eggplant slices are rolled and placed in a white baking dish. by 2sistersecipes.com

10.ย  Spoon lightly some tomato sauce over each eggplant rollatini evenly.

The tomato sauce is spooned onto the eggplant rollatini inside the baking dish. by 2sistersrecipes.com

11.ย  Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella on top.

12.ย  BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted.ย  Remove from ovenย and sprinkle onย top with some grated Romano-Pecorino cheese andย fresh chopped basil.ย  Serve warm.

Yields: 16 eggplant rollatini

Eggplant Rollatini- Lightened! by 2sistersrecipes.com

Finally, you might enjoy a few more eggplant recipes.ย 

Yield: 16 eggplant rollatini's

Eggplant Rollatini - Lightened!

Eggplant Rollatini - Lightened!

Eggplant Rollatini - Lightened! Thin slices of eggplant are lightly roasted in the oven until softened; then lightly stuffed with shredded mozzarella, rolled into a roll, and topped with tomato sauce and pecorino cheese and baked until the cheese is fully melted.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 large eggplant
  • 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 1+ 1/2 cups tomato sauce ( I used our mom's quick marinara sauce)
  • olive oil cooking spray
  • chopped fresh basil
  • olive oil cooking spray
  • grated pecorino cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to Roast at 375 degrees F (190.6 C).
  2. Spray a large roasting pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
  3. Also, spray a second baking (8 x 11) dish with cooking spray, set aside.
  4. Rinse eggplant, dry with a paper towel, and cut off the top.
  5. Hold the eggplant upright on top of a cutting board, and thinly slice off the outer skin, and discard. Then begin to slice the eggplant into 1/4-inch slices, rotating the eggplant to help slice easily.
  6. Approximately 16 slices from one eggplant, depending on how thin you slice them. Transfer slices into a large roasting pan.
  7. Lay the slices side by side, or slightly overlap them if you need to.
  8. Drizzle very lightly with some olive oil over them. Place pan in the oven on center rack.
  9. Roast eggplant slices for 18 to 20 minutes, or until lightly brown and softened, turning them over once halfway through.
  10. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool for a few minutes.
  11. Change oven (from Roast) to BAKE, and REDUCE temperature to 350 degrees (176.7 C).
  12. Take each eggplant slice and lay it on a flat surface or on a plate. Then sprinkle about 1 to 2 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella over each. Pick up one end and roll the eggplant. Place each roll with seam side down, and lay them side by side into the prepared ( 8 x 11) baking dish.
  13. Spoon lightly some tomato sauce over each eggplant rollatini evenly.
  14. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella on top.
  15. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted.
  16. Remove from oven and sprinkle on top with some grated pecorino cheese and fresh chopped basil. Serve warm.
  17. Yields: 16 eggplant rollatini

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8 servings

Serving Size:

2 eggplant rollatini

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 50Total Fat: 2.6gCholesterol: 2mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2.7gSugar: 3.7gProtein: 2.2g

Did you make this recipe?

Mention @2sistersrecipes on Instagram or tag #2sistersrecipes!

Hello friends! Are you cooking with us? If you try this delicious eggplant rollatini recipe, please let us know and leave a comment and a star rating below.ย  Your feedback is very important to us and to our readers.

For more delicious ideas and recipes, follow us onย Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook,ย andย Twitter!

Subscribe to our weekly NEWSLETTER and get our recipes FREE every time we post a new recipe!

Happy and Healthy Cooking! ๐Ÿ™‚

Thanks for stopping by!

ย xo Anna and Liz

anna and liz selfie

Welcome! From Anna and Liz

We believe the kitchen is the center and the heart of the home. It is where we cook, eat, and unwind with family and friends, creating memorable traditions! Read more…

Sign Up For Our Email List

Something delicious for your inbox! Subscribe and join our email list and get all our recipes FREE!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

19 Comments

  1. Am trying this as it looks delicious but why do the pictures show the slices with the skin still on when the recipe calls for cutting it off? Can you make it either way?

    1. HI Roey! To answer your question, yes you can do it both ways – with the skins on, or remove the skins. It’s a matter of preference. I prefer the eggplant rollatini with the skins on.
      I will go in and edit that – so it’s clear and not confusing. Thanks so much for asking a great question and bringing it up to my attention. Enjoy this recipe! Have a great weekend! ๐Ÿ™‚
      warmly,
      Anna

  2. Well I could eat this everyday! I love all these eggplant recipes. Lightened up is pretty great this time of year – Christmas recovery you know. Have a great week!

  3. This looks so good! I can't believe it's lightened. I adore eggplants and this is one gorgeous dish. Can't wait to try it.