Canadian Bacon and Eggplant Roll-Ups

This tasty dish is a great recipe for training young chefs in the family. Serve with crusty garlic bread and a green salad.

Recipe Ingredients:

10 slices Canadian bacon, about 1/8-inch thick (about 10 ounces)
1 large eggplant, about 1 1/2 pounds
3 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
Dash ground pepper and nutmeg
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 to 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Cooking Directions:

1. Wash eggplant; pare if desired; cut off stem and blossom end. Cut lengthwise into 10 thin slices. Brush slices lightly with oil and saute a few at a time in a 10-inch frypan until tender. Set aside.
2. Measure 1 tablespoon of oil into frypan; stir in flour, add milk; cook and stir until mixture boils and thickens. Season with pepper and nutmeg.
3. Combine ricotta cheese and parsley.
4. Lay one slice of bacon on each eggplant slice. Lap on small eggplant slice over a larger slice. Spoon a rounded tablespoon of cheese over eggplant and bacon. Roll around cheese and place seam-side-down in an 11x7-inch baking dish.
5. Pour sauce over eggplant rollups. Sprinkle with cheese.
6. Bake in a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven for 30 minutes or until heated through.

Makes 5 servings.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/5 of recipe): Calories 345 calories Protein 22 grams Fat 20 grams Sodium 948 milligrams Cholesterol 55 milligrams.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of National Pork Board.