On cold, dark evenings, there’s nothing like a cheesy oven dish to warm the cockles. This parmigiana dish has been given a gut health twist by adding a load of fibre-packed lentils, but it will also work with any kind of bean. It comes from gut guru Dr Tim Spector’s new recipe book, so it’s no surprise that it contains a whopping seven plants.

The star of the show is aubergine, a vegetable rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants. Studies have found that it can reduce harmful (LDL) cholesterol levels, while its fibre content may also help to lower blood sugar.

Other veg packed into this dish include tomatoes (full of vitamin C), green lentils (rich in fibre and plant protein) and basil. For dairy eaters, you’ll get a dose of calcium from the mozzarella, while parmesan is a kind of fermented cheese, so full of gut-loving probiotics.

This dish serves four, plus leftovers – so bake for dinner and take some in for lunch, alongside a different kind of side salad to quickly rack up the plant count.

Make this 7-plant aubergine parmigiana for a comforting gut health boost