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Dinner Recipes

Weeknight Skillet Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme Fraiche

Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme Fraiche

Meaty eggplant slices are layered with sauce to create a rich and flavor-packed dish that is easy to make and only uses one skillet. Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme FraicheYesterday, we had our pranks and ate our chocolate bunnies too. For the first time in over 60 years, Easter and April Fool’s fell on the same day.

Pranksters filled my Twitter feed with Easter-style tricks that were quite amusing. Parents sent kids out to search for eggs they didn’t hide. And one mom covered her brussel sprouts in chocolate to try to disguise them as cake pops. Pretty clever.

In my own house, my MC replaced the cream filling in an Oreo with toothpaste. Bill was not amused when he popped that cookie in his mouth.

The ultimate over-the-top prank though has got to be this!We spent the weekend savoring the sunshine, walking the puppy without hats and gloves, packing away the snow gear and donning pretty spring colors, but Mother Nature has tricked us.

School is cancelled and the kids are home for the 4th day in a row. This morning I braced myself for sibling bickering, boredom, and hungry bellies.

It’s a good day to enjoy some comfort food. I have a craving for my Eggplant Gratin and I just happen to have a kitchen full of fresh herbs ready to be chopped.Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme FraicheTomato sauce and creme fraiche smothered eggplant gets baked to golden-brown perfection. The best part? This dreamy recipe uses just one skillet, is easy to throw together and will warm us up on this snowy day.

Olive oil brushed eggplant slices are quickly fried in small batches in my hot cast iron skillet. Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme FraicheI make 2-3 layers of eggplant and our favorite jar of sauce, Rao’s. Finally, I ladle the creme fraich that has been simmering away with thyme, chives, parsley and grated parmesan all over the top.
Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme Fraiche

Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme FraicheAfter a final sprinkling of parmesan, I bake this for about 20-25 minutes in the oven until a bubbly layer forms leaving me with a rich and flavorful crust on top.Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme Fraiche

Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme FraicheWho wouldn’t want to dig into this?Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme Fraiche

Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme FraicheThe eggplant would pair nicely with a protein, but we enjoy this meaty vegetable as our main dish with just a fresh salad on the side.Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme FraicheThe herbs enhance the flavor of the eggplant and tomato sauce, making this an impressive tasting, flavor-packed dinner without any carbs.Weeknight Eggplant Gratin with Herbed Creme FraicheA one-pan clean-up and satisfied tummies might mean the snow outside my window on this spring day isn’t quite so bad.

For more weeknight skillet dinner ideas, check these out!

Weeknight Skillet Herb Pork Chops with Roasted Grapes

Weeknight Skillet Chicken Thighs with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Herb and White Wine Chicken Thighs

Do you have a favorite eggplant dish? 

Eggplant Gratin with Herbs and Creme Fraiche

Meaty eggplant slices are layered with sauce to create a rich and flavor-packed dish that is easy to make and only uses one skillet.

  • 2-3 medium to large eggplants (sliced 1/2″ thick)
  • salt & pepper
  • olive oil
  • 1 32 ounce jar of tomato sauce (like Rao's marinara)
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme (finely chopped)
  • 3 tbsp fresh chives (finely sliced)
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley (finely chopped)
  • 12 ounce container of creme fraiche
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Brush eggplant slices with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
  4. Working in small batches, fry eggplant slices until golden on both sides.
  5. In a small saucepan, bring creme fraiche to a simmer over medium heat. Stir often and reduce to about 1 cup.
  6. Stir in half of the parmesan and all of the herbs.
  7. Place your first layer of eggplant slices in the skillet and pour tomato sauce over the top. Sprinkle on a little parmesan.
  8. Make two more layers of eggplant, sauce and parmesan.
  9. Ladle the creme fraiche mixture over the top and sprinkle with any remaining parmesan.
  10. Bake uncovered until golden brown and bubbling, about 20-25 minutes.
  11. Let rest before slicing and serving.

This dish is tasty at room temperature too.
If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, make your layers in a casserole dish.

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Comments

  1. Sue says

    February 14, 2021 at 4:58 pm

    I have made this. It is AMAZING! Kind of like eggplant Parm without all the extra oil/fat. It is YUM, Y’all should try it! A bit time consuming, but fun on a day when you don’t have much else happening. Like while we’re in COVID semi-lockdown…

    Reply
    • Olive Jude says

      March 2, 2021 at 12:08 pm

      Thanks, Sue! I just made this last week and I agree with all your comments. Glad you enjoyed it too!

      Reply
  2. Gabby says

    April 4, 2018 at 9:50 am

    Oh man that looks so good! We just found out my husband is allergic to eggplant though, *womp womp* otherwise I’d be adding this to my meal plan!

    Reply
    • Olive Jude says

      April 4, 2018 at 12:49 pm

      Oh, bummer! Maybe you could try squash or zucchini here?

      Reply
      • Sue says

        February 14, 2021 at 4:56 pm

        Make it with Summer Squash and/or zucchini. It should come out GREAT!

        Reply
  3. Jennifer says

    April 4, 2018 at 12:32 am

    I have not used eggplant since the movie Ratatouille came out. When it did, we made Ratatouille. Yum. This looks like a great dish, and I love that it is one pan.

    Reply
  4. Samantha says

    April 3, 2018 at 8:57 pm

    This looks delicious! I love eggplant and trying new ways to use it.

    Reply
  5. Emily @ Pizza & Pull-Ups says

    April 3, 2018 at 12:35 pm

    This looks so cozy and delicious!

    Reply
    • Olive Jude says

      April 4, 2018 at 12:50 pm

      Definitely! Thanks!

      Reply
  6. stephanie says

    April 3, 2018 at 10:59 am

    We usually grow eggplant in our garden. I will definitely have to try this next time we have some, it looks amazing!

    Reply
    • Olive Jude says

      April 4, 2018 at 12:50 pm

      Lucky you having it on hand! Hope you enjoy this recipe!

      Reply
  7. Kiersten says

    April 3, 2018 at 10:50 am

    This looks so good! I love eggplant. I’m going to have to try it add it to my recipe notebook. Thanks for sharing!
    Kiersten

    Reply
    • Olive Jude says

      April 4, 2018 at 12:50 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  8. candy says

    April 3, 2018 at 9:12 am

    I like how versatile this dish can be. I can make it for a main meal easily or serve it up as a side dish along side everything else. Perfect.

    Reply
    • Olive Jude says

      April 3, 2018 at 9:49 am

      I love that too. Thanks for checking it out!

      Reply
  9. Courtney says

    April 3, 2018 at 8:32 am

    I never know what to do with eggplant, but this looks delicious! I’m super excited to try this recipe!!

    Reply
    • Olive Jude says

      April 3, 2018 at 9:50 am

      Yay! I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  10. Dawn says

    April 2, 2018 at 8:24 pm

    I started reading your post, saw the picture and thought “Oh please let this have Rao’s”. Yes!! This dish looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it out.

    So very sorry about the snow again. Dreadful tease too with such nice weather right before! Enjoy your well-deserved Spring weather when it finally arrives.

    Reply
    • Olive Jude says

      April 3, 2018 at 9:50 am

      Rao’s forever! Just love it! Today looks to be a lovely spring day. Go figure!

      Reply

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Welcome!

Welcome to Olive Jude! I'm Jen...wife, mother, daughter and home enthusiast! Infused with some sweet recollections and a side of sarcasm, this blog shares my creative adventures in cooking, decorating, and entertaining. I am inspired by my mother's belief and attitude that with just a little extra effort, you can make something ordinary into something extraordinary. Read More…

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