Best 5 Bas Best Eggplant Parmesan Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

**Eggplant Parmesan: A Classic Italian Dish with a Twist**

Eggplant Parmesan, a beloved Italian dish, is a symphony of flavors and textures that has captured the hearts of food lovers worldwide. Consisting of succulent eggplant slices coated in a crispy breadcrumb mixture, layered with rich tomato sauce, melted cheese, and fresh herbs, this dish is a true culinary masterpiece. This article presents a collection of carefully curated Eggplant Parmesan recipes that cater to various dietary preferences and skill levels. From the traditional Italian version to lighter, vegan, and air fryer variations, there's a recipe here to satisfy every taste and lifestyle. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary journey, get ready to indulge in the delightful flavors of Eggplant Parmesan with our diverse selection of recipes.

**Recipes Included:**

1. **Classic Eggplant Parmesan:** A step-by-step guide to the authentic Italian recipe, featuring crispy eggplant slices, homemade tomato sauce, and a blend of Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.

2. **Vegan Eggplant Parmesan:** A plant-based take on the classic dish, using dairy-free cheese alternatives and a flavorful marinara sauce made with fresh vegetables.

3. **Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan:** A healthier version that utilizes the air fryer to achieve a crispy coating on the eggplant slices, reducing oil consumption while maintaining the dish's iconic taste.

4. **Baked Eggplant Parmesan:** A simplified version that eliminates the frying step, resulting in a lighter and healthier Eggplant Parmesan that's perfect for those seeking a guilt-free indulgence.

5. **Easy Eggplant Parmesan:** A beginner-friendly recipe that streamlines the process with store-bought tomato sauce and pre-made breadcrumb mixture, making it a hassle-free option for busy individuals or those new to cooking.

6. **Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan:** A recipe tailored for individuals with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease, featuring a gluten-free breadcrumb coating and a selection of gluten-free cheeses.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

EGGPLANT PARMESAN



Eggplant Parmesan image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 2h15m

Yield about 4 to 6 main course servi

Number Of Ingredients 22

2 medium eggplant (about 2 1/4 pounds), cut into 1/2-inch-thick round slices
Kosher salt, as needed, plus 1 tablespoon
5 cups fresh breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil for frying
All-purpose flour for dredging
6 large eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons whole milk
Olive oil, as needed
7 cups QUICK MARINARA SAUCE, recipe follows
2/3 cup grated Parmesan, divided
1 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced (about 1/3 cup)
5 cloves garlic, chopped
7 cups whole, peeled, canned tomatoes in puree (about two 28-ounce can), roughly chopped
2 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 sprigs of fresh basil
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

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

GRANDMA'S BAKED EGGPLANT PARMESAN



Grandma's Baked Eggplant Parmesan image

My grandmother's easy Baked Eggplant Parmesan is a delicious vegetarian dinner with just 15 minutes of prep!

Provided by Blair Lonergan

Categories     Dinner

Time 55m

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 tablespoons melted butter
½ cup Corn Flakes cereal crumbs
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
1 small eggplant
1 egg, beaten
1 cup marinara sauce
2 ounces (½ cup) shredded mozzarella cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
  • Pour melted butter into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish. Set aside.
  • Place egg in a shallow dish. Set aside.
  • In a separate shallow dish, combine Corn Flakes crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  • Peel eggplant and cut into ¾-inch thick slices. Dip each slice in egg and coat with crumb mixture. Place in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
  • Bake for 20 minutes; flip the slices over, and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
  • Pour marinara sauce over eggplant and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake for 3-5 more minutes, or until cheese is melts.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 /4 of recipe, Calories 262.9 kcal, Carbohydrate 21.6 g, Protein 10.4 g, Fat 16.1 g, SaturatedFat 8.5 g, Cholesterol 82 mg, Sodium 792.2 mg, Fiber 3.9 g, Sugar 4.6 g

BA'S BEST EGGPLANT PARMESAN



BA's Best Eggplant Parmesan image

Trying to slice into this eggplant Parmesan while it's molten hot creates an oozy mess, so let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to firm up before serving.

Provided by Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

Categories     Bon Appétit     Eggplant     Parmesan     Tomato     Breadcrumbs     Oregano     Basil     Mozzarella     Cheese     Vegetarian

Yield Serves 12

Number Of Ingredients 25

Marinara:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 head of garlic, cloves crushed
1 large red onion, chopped
3 oil-packed anchovy fillets (optional)
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
1/4 cup torn basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Kosher salt
Eggplant and assembly:
4 pounds Italian eggplants (about 4 medium), peeled, sliced lengthwise 1/2-3/4 inch thick
Kosher salt
3 cups panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups finely grated Parmesan, divided
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
5 large eggs, beaten to blend
1 1/3 cups olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped basil and parsley, plus basil leaves for serving
6 ounces low-moisture mozzarella, grated (about 1 1/3 cups)
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced

Steps:

  • Marinara:
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat oil in a large heavy ovenproof pot over medium. Cook garlic, stirring often, until golden, about 4 minutes. Add onion, anchovies (if using), and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until slightly darkened, about 2 minutes. Add wine, bring to a boil, and cook until almost completely evaporated, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes, breaking up with your hands, and their juices; add basil and oregano and stir to combine. Swirl 1 1/2 cups water into one tomato can, then the other, to rinse, and add to pot; season with salt. Transfer pot to oven; roast sauce, stirring halfway through, until thick and tomatoes are browned on top and around edges of pot, 2-2 1/2 hours.
  • Let sauce cool slightly. Pass through the large holes of a food mill or process in a food processor until mostly smooth. Taste and season with salt.
  • Lightly season eggplant slices all over with salt; place in a single layer on several layers of paper towels inside a rimmed baking sheet. Top with another layer of paper towels and more slices; repeat as needed. Top with a final layer of paper towels, then another rimmed baking sheet; weigh down with a heavy pot. Let eggplant sit until it has released excess liquid, 45-60 minutes. This step gives the eggplant a creamy texture when baked.
  • Meanwhile, pulse panko, oregano, pepper, and 3/4 cup Parmesan in a food processor until very finely ground. Transfer to a shallow bowl.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Place flour in another shallow bowl and eggs in a third shallow bowl. Working one at a time, dredge eggplant slices in flour, then dip in egg, allowing excess to drip off. Coat in breadcrumbs, packing all around, then shaking off excess. Place on wire racks.
  • Heat 2/3 cup oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Cook as many eggplant slices as will comfortably fit in pan, turning once, until deep golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and immediately press with more paper towel to absorb oil. Working in batches, repeat with remaining slices, adding remaining 2/3 cup oil and wiping out skillet as needed. Let cool. Taste and season with more salt if needed.
  • Toss chopped herbs, low-moisture mozzarella, and remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan in a medium bowl. Spread 1 cup sauce over the bottom of a 13x9" baking pan; top with a layer of eggplant slices (trim as needed). Drizzle 1 cup sauce over and sprinkle with one-third of cheese mixture. Add another layer of eggplant, followed by 1 cup sauce and half of remaining cheese mixture. Repeat layers with remaining slices, sauce, and cheese mixture. Cover with foil and bake on a rimmed baking sheet until eggplant is custardy, 45-60 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and arrange fresh mozzarella over eggplant. Increase oven temperature to 425°F and bake, uncovered, until cheese is bubbling and browned in spots, 15-20 minutes longer. Let rest 30 minutes. Top with basil leaves just before slicing.
  • Do Ahead
  • Marinara can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Eggplant Parmesan can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover with foil and chill. Reheat in a 350°F oven, uncovering halfway through, until bubbling gently at edges.

THE BEST EGGPLANT PARMESAN RECIPE BY TASTY



The Best Eggplant Parmesan Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: medium eggplants, coarse salt, all-purpose flour, dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, pepper, vegetable oil, marinara sauce, fresh basil, low-moisture mozzarella, shredded parmesan cheese, fresh mozzarella cheese

Provided by Gwenaelle Le Cochennec

Categories     Dinner

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 medium eggplants, washed
1 tablespoon coarse salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon pepper
2 cups vegetable oil
2 ½ cups marinara sauce, divided
2 tablespoons fresh basil, minced, plus more for garnish
2 cups low-moisture mozzarella, shredded
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
8 slices fresh mozzarella cheese

Steps:

  • Cut each eggplant into about ½-inch (1-cm) thick round slices.
  • Arrange the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
  • Sprinkle the eggplant with half of the coarse salt. Flip the slices over and sprinkle with the rest of the salt.
  • Put another baking sheet on top of the eggplant and place something heavy, like a cast-iron skillet, on the top baking sheet to help release moisture from the eggplant. Let sit for 30 minutes.
  • Uncover the eggplant slices and pat dry with paper towels. Brush most of the salt from the eggplant with a paper towel, then transfer to a medium bowl. Set aside.
  • In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, oregano, basil, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well.
  • Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan until it reaches 375°F (190°C).
  • Coat each eggplant slice in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  • Fry the eggplant in batches until golden brown on both sides, 2-3 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel-lined baking sheet and pat dry using more paper towels to absorb excess oil.
  • Pour about 1 cup (260 g) of marinara sauce into a 2½-quart (2 L) baking dish and spread evenly to cover the bottom of the dish.
  • Add about 8 eggplant slices (it's okay if they overlap) and cover with ½ cup (130 g) of marinara. Sprinkle with a third of the fresh basil, then top with about a third of the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan. Repeat to make 2 more layers. Finish with the fresh mozzarella cheese and a final sprinkling of Parmesan.
  • Bake for 30 minutes, until the mozzarella is bubbling and golden brown.
  • Let cool for 10 minutes, then serve garnished with fresh basil.
  • Enjoy!

BAKED EGGPLANT PARMESAN



Baked Eggplant Parmesan image

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

2 eggplant, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 tablespoon salt, or as needed
1 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1 (28 ounce) jar garlic-and-tomato pasta sauce
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (16 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese, or as needed
½ teaspoon dried basil

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

Tips:

  • Choose the right eggplant. Look for eggplants that are firm and heavy for their size. Avoid eggplants that are bruised or have blemishes.
  • Slice the eggplant evenly. This will help them cook evenly. If the slices are too thick, they will take longer to cook and may become mushy.
  • Salt the eggplant slices. This will help to draw out the bitterness. Rinse the eggplant slices after salting them to remove the excess salt.
  • Coat the eggplant slices in flour. This will help them to brown nicely in the pan.
  • Use a good quality tomato sauce. The tomato sauce is one of the most important ingredients in eggplant parmesan, so be sure to use a sauce that you like. You can use a store-bought sauce or make your own.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan. When you are frying the eggplant slices, don't overcrowd the pan. This will prevent them from cooking evenly.
  • Cook the eggplant slices until they are golden brown. This will ensure that they are cooked through.

Conclusion:

Eggplant parmesan is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. With a few simple tips, you can make eggplant parmesan that is sure to impress your family and friends. So next time you are looking for a hearty and flavorful meal, give eggplant parmesan a try!

Related Topics