Old-Fashioned Baked Eggplant Gratin: Easy and Tasty Recipe

Alternative Ingredients for Baked Eggplant Gratin
Cheese: You can substitute goat cheese or Parmesan cheese for the grated cheese for a different flavor. Goat cheese will add a tangy note, while Parmesan will add a strong umami flavor.
Herbs: If you don’t have dried thyme or basil, you can use fresh herbs like rosemary or oregano. Fresh herbs should be added toward the end of cooking to preserve their flavor.
Tomato Sauce: For a more Italian twist, you can swap out the tomato sauce for marinara sauce or add vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms to the sauce.
Eggplant: Zucchini or bell peppers can also be used in place of eggplant for a variation on this gratin. Be sure to pre-cook them the same way to avoid a runny texture.
Sugar: If you want to skip the sugar, you can use a small amount of honey or maple syrup to sweeten the tomato sauce, or even add a pinch of baking soda to reduce the acidity without the sugar.
Olive Oil: For a richer variation, you can use truffle oil or walnut oil. These oils will add a unique depth of flavor to your gratin.
Garnish: Instead of fresh basil, you can garnish the gratin with toasted pine nuts or herbs like flat-leaf parsley for added crunch and freshness.
These alternatives allow you to adapt the recipe to your tastes and the ingredients you have on hand, while preserving the richness and flavor of the gratin.