Aubergine parmigiana

Method

1. Wash and trim the aubergines, then cut them into slices lengthwise. Ensure they are not too thin. Arrange them in a colander, scatter some salt over them and cover with a weight to help remove any excess water.
2. Drain the aubergine slices, squeeze well, and fry them in hot olive oil.
3. Fry the chopped garlic in a little olive oil and, as soon as it starts to brown, remove it and pour in the passata; reduce it, remove from the heat, flavour it with basil and a pinch of salt, and pass it through a food mill or coarse sieve.
4. Arrange the aubergine slices in the bottom of a greased ovenproof dish, cover with 1 ladleful of passata, sprinkle with grated Parmesan and cover with thin slices of mozzarella.
5. Repeat this operation of layering aubergine, sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella until they are all used up; the last layer should be of passata.
6. Drizzle with olive oil and cook in the oven at 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6 for about 40 minutes.
7. Serve the dish while it is nice and hot.