Baked Eggplant Parmigiana: A Classic Italian Dish with a Modern Twist
Eggplant Parmigiana is a classic Italian dish that has been enjoyed for generations. This hearty and flavorful dish is made with layers of eggplant, tomato sauce, cheese, and bread crumbs, and baked until golden brown. The result is a delicious and comforting meal that is perfect for any occasion.
This article provides three different recipes for Baked Eggplant Parmigiana, each with its own unique twist. The first recipe is a classic version of the dish, made with fresh eggplant, homemade tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. The second recipe is a vegetarian version, made with tofu instead of eggplant. The third recipe is a lighter version, made with grilled eggplant and low-fat cheese.
No matter which recipe you choose, you're sure to enjoy this delicious and versatile dish. Serve it as a main course, a side dish, or an appetizer. It's also a great way to use up leftover eggplant.
BAKED-EGGPLANT PARMESAN
Choose firm, smooth eggplants. We bake rather than fry ours for less mess and less fat.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Main Dish Recipes Casserole Recipes
Time 1h30m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush 2 baking sheets with oil; set aside. In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and 2 tablespoons water. In another bowl, combine breadcrumbs, 3/4 cup Parmesan, oregano, and basil; season with salt and pepper.
- Dip eggplant slices in egg mixture, letting excess drip off, then dredge in breadcrumb mixture, coating well; place on baking sheets. Bake until golden brown on bottom, 20 to 25 minutes. Turn slices; continue baking until browned on other side, 20 to 25 minutes more. Remove from oven; raise oven heat to 400 degrees.
- Spread 2 cups sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange half the eggplant in dish; cover with 2 cups sauce, then 1/2 cup mozzarella. Repeat with remaining eggplant, sauce, and mozzarella; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Bake until sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted, 15 to 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 279 g, Fat 11 g, Fiber 5 g, Protein 15 g
ITALIAN BAKED EGGPLANT WITH PARMESAN (PARMIGIANA DI MELANZANE)
Eggplant parmigiana or eggplant Parmesan is one of the most popular and iconic vegetarian Italian dishes and this recipe is straight from Italy. Use ripe eggplant without seeds and salt them for 1 hour to remove the bitterness.
Provided by Beatrice
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 3h5m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place a single layer of eggplant slices in a colander sitting on a plate and sprinkle with coarse salt. Cover with a second layer and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with remaining eggplant. Place a plate on top and add a weight to put pressure on the eggplant slices. Let stand at room temperature for about 1 hour.
- Rinse eggplant slices under running cold water to wash off all the salt. Pat dry on all sides with paper towels.
- Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge eggplant slices in flour on both sides and add to the hot oil, working in batches. Deep fry eggplant until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat; cook garlic and onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomato puree, 4 basil leaves, and salt. Cook, stirring often, until sauce starts to thicken, about 20 minutes. Remove sauce from heat. Discard garlic and stir in remaining 4 leaves basil.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Spread a layer of tomato sauce over the bottom of a baking dish. Cover with a single layer of eggplant slices. Top with more sauce, mozzarella slices, and Parmesan cheese. Continue making layers, a total of 3 to 5, finishing with tomato sauce and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and bubbling, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 20 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 591.9 calories, Carbohydrate 30.6 g, Cholesterol 76.5 mg, Fat 38.5 g, Fiber 9.1 g, Protein 35.1 g, SaturatedFat 15.3 g, Sodium 3313.2 mg, Sugar 13.5 g
ROASTED EGGPLANT PARMESAN
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and arrange three racks evenly spaced.
- Lay the eggplant in one layer on three sheet pans and brush both sides with olive oil, using all the oil. Sprinkle with the oregano, crushing it lightly in your hands, then sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn the slices and rotate the pans in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes, until tender. Leave the oven at 400 degrees F.
- In a 10 by 14 by 2-inch ceramic baking dish, spread a third of the marinara sauce. Arrange a third of the eggplant on top in one layer. Scatter a third of the basil, a third of the mozzarella, a third of the goat cheese, and a third of the Parmesan on top. Repeat twice, starting with the marinara and ending with the Parmesan, making sure each layer is evenly distributed.
- For the topping, place the bread crumbs, garlic, and basil in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt and pulse to moisten the crumbs. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the dish.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until bubbling and golden brown. Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA
This delicious eggplant casserole from my mom makes a wonderful meatless meal. It's a resourceful way to use up the eggplant in your garden, and the homemade marinara sauce tastes so good. -Valerie Belley St. Louis, Missouri
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h50m
Yield 10-12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Place eggplant in a colander; sprinkle with salt. Let stand for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the onions, basil, bay leaves, oregano and thyme in oil until onions are tender. , Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, honey and lemon-pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add garlic; simmer 10 minutes longer. Discard bay leaves., Rinse eggplant slices; pat dry with paper towels. In a shallow bowl, combine eggs and pepper; place bread crumbs in another shallow bowl. Dip eggplant into eggs, then coat with crumbs. Let stand for 5 minutes., In a large skillet, cook half of the eggplant in 2 tablespoons butter for 3 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Repeat with remaining eggplant and butter. , In each of two greased 11x7-in. baking dishes, layer half of each of the eggplant, tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 35 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 984 calories, Fat 59g fat (35g saturated fat), Cholesterol 226mg cholesterol, Sodium 2164mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (18g sugars, Fiber 6g fiber), Protein 81g protein.
BAKED-EGGPLANT PARMESAN
Make and share this Baked-Eggplant Parmesan recipe from Food.com.
Provided by K. Van Vleck
Categories Vegetable
Time 1h30m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush 2 baking sheets with oil; set aside. In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and 2 tablespoons water. In another bowl, combine breadcrumbs, 3/4 cup Parmesan, oregano, and basil; season with salt and pepper.
- Dip eggplant slices in egg mixture, letting excess drip off, then dredge in breadcrumb mixture, coating well; place on baking sheets. Bake until golden brown on bottom, 20 to 25 minutes. Turn slices; continue baking until browned on other side, 20 to 25 minutes more. Remove from oven; raise oven heat to 400 degrees.
- Spread 2 cups sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange half the eggplant in dish; cover with 2 cups sauce, then 1/2 cup mozzarella. Repeat with remaining eggplant, sauce, and mozzarella; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Bake until sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted, 15 to 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 238.7, Fat 9.7, SaturatedFat 5, Cholesterol 71.3, Sodium 1332.5, Carbohydrate 26, Fiber 7.9, Sugar 12, Protein 15
BAKED EGGPLANT PARMESAN
Eggplant slices are coated with bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese and baked between layers of tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese for a filling Italian-inspired meal. Add fresh garlic and basil to taste. I use 2 to 4 cloves fresh garlic and 5 to 10 leaves of freshly harvested basil in the sauce. Fresh basil layered in one of the layers adds lots of 'fresh' flavor!
Provided by Dollface
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 4h5m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place eggplant slices in a colander; sprinkle both sides of each slice with salt. Allow to sit for at least 3 hours. Wipe excess moisture from eggplant slices with paper towels.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
- Mix bread crumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese together in a bowl.
- Dip eggplant slices in beaten egg; coat with bread crumb mixture. Arrange coated eggplant slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned and crisp, about 5 minutes per side.
- Cover the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish with a layer of spaghetti sauce; top with a layer of eggplant slices. Sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon of the remaining Parmesan cheese and 1/3 the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients, ending with a cheese layer. Sprinkle with basil.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is bubbling and golden brown, about 35 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 473.7 calories, Carbohydrate 43.9 g, Cholesterol 118.9 mg, Fat 20.4 g, Fiber 10.4 g, Protein 29.6 g, SaturatedFat 10.5 g, Sodium 2427.6 mg, Sugar 18 g
EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA
I really think this is what I would eat for my last meal on Earth. It's so simple and, when done right, sublime. I cannot stop eating this!
Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli
Categories main-dish
Time 2h45m
Yield 4 and 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- For the tomato sauce: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and season with salt and red pepper flakes. Cook until the onions become translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the sugar and the canned tomatoes. Use a wooden spoon to break up some of the whole tomatoes and cook 10 to 15 minutes over medium heat, stirring from time to time. Taste for seasoning, the tomatoes should be fairly broken down and the flavors coming together. Cook for another few minutes if the tomatoes still taste like they need a little more time to break down. Set aside to cool.
- For the eggplant (this step is optional, leave it out if you have limited time): Arrange the eggplant rounds in a single layer on 2 baking sheets. Sprinkle with salt on both sides of each slice and allow it to sit for about 1 hour. Salting it draws out the liquid and bitter flavor. After an hour, rinse with cold water and dry them thoroughly with a kitchen towel.
- Put the flour in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk and season with salt and pepper. In a third bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with the oregano and fresh thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper. Dip each eggplant slice in the flour and shake off any excess. Then, dip in the egg mixture, and finally in the breadcrumbs. Make sure to coat both sides of each slice of eggplant. Arrange them in single layers on the baking sheets.
- In a large skillet, pour enough oil to accumulate about 1/2-inch in the bottom. Heat the oil until it begins to smoke lightly (alternatively, test with a thermometer and wait until the oil registers between 380 degrees F and 400 degrees F). Use a pair of kitchen tongs to add a single layer of the eggplant to the pan. Cook them until they are golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from the oil and transfer to a baking sheet fitted with a kitchen towel so the eggplant can drain as the others cook. Season lightly with salt. Take care to reheat the oil back up to temperature before adding another batch of slices to the pan.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- To assemble: In a 9 by 13-inch flameproof baking dish, spoon about 1/4 of the tomato sauce on the bottom. Top with a layer of the fried eggplant; the eggplant slices can overlap slightly. Top with about 1/3 of the mozzarella slices. Sprinkle with about 1/4 of the Parmesan and provolone cheeses. Top with a layer of torn basil leaves. Spoon sauce and repeat the layering 2 more times to make 3 layers. End with the remaining mozzarella. Carefully press the layers down firmly into the dish once assembled. Place the dish in the top part of the oven and cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly, 35 to 40 minutes. For extra browning, put the dish under the broiler for a minute or two just before serving to get an extra brown cheesy top. I always nibble on a bit of that before sharing it with my friends!
EGGPLANT PARMESAN
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 2h15m
Yield about 4 to 6 main course servi
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Arrange the eggplant slices on several baking sheets and sprinkle generously all over with kosher salt. Set aside to let the bitter juices weep from the eggplant, about 1 hour.
- Transfer the eggplant to a colander in the sink, and rinse well under cold running water. Transfer eggplant to a work surface and blot very dry with paper towels.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, breadcrumbs, oregano, thyme, and season with pepper.
- Place the flour in a medium lipped plate or bowl. In another medium bowl, whisk the egg and milk together. Dredge an eggplant slice in the flour, then dip it in the egg, and finally dredge it in the breadcrumb mixture. Shake off any excess breading and transfer the eggplant to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining eggplant.
- In a large straight-sided skillet, pour the oil to a depth of 1/2 inch. Heat the oil over medium heat until it registers 400 degrees F on a deep frying thermometer. (The oil must be heated to 400 degrees F. so that the breaded eggplant, when added, will drop the temperature of the oil to the proper frying temperature of 375 degrees F.)
- Working in small batches, fry the eggplant slices, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes per batch. Using tongs, transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and season with salt to taste. Repeat with the remaining eggplant.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly brush a 15 x 10- x 2-inch-baking dish with olive oil. Cover the bottom of the baking dish with 1/3 of the marinara sauce and arrange half of the eggplant over the sauce. Cover the eggplant with another 1/3 of the sauce. Scatter half of the Parmesan and half of the mozzarella over the sauced eggplant. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, sauce, Parmesan, and mozzarella. Bake until hot and just beginning to brown, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
- Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the salt and season with pepper to taste. Use immediately, store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Yield: about 3 1/2 cups
- Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved
EGGPLANT PARMESAN II
This is a no fry variation of this popular dish, and is just as delicious!
Provided by Dolores Gentner-Ryan
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes on each side.
- In a 9x13 inch baking dish spread spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place a layer of eggplant slices in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the cheeses. Sprinkle basil on top.
- Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 487.4 calories, Carbohydrate 62.1 g, Cholesterol 72.8 mg, Fat 16 g, Fiber 8.8 g, Protein 24.2 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 1663.1 mg, Sugar 19.9 g
Tips:
- Choose small, tender eggplants for the best flavor and texture.
- Salting the eggplant slices helps to remove excess moisture and prevent bitterness.
- Use good quality olive oil for frying the eggplant slices.
- Make sure the eggplant slices are evenly browned before removing them from the pan.
- Use a flavorful tomato sauce for the best results.
- Layer the eggplant, tomato sauce, and cheese in a casserole dish until all of the ingredients are used up.
- Bake the eggplant parmigiana in a preheated oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the eggplant parmigiana cool slightly before serving.
Conclusion:
Baked eggplant parmigiana is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover eggplant. With its crispy eggplant slices, flavorful tomato sauce, and melted cheese, eggplant parmigiana is sure to be a hit with everyone at the table.
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