**Eggplant Parmesan Empanadas: A Culinary Symphony of Italian and Latin Flavors**
Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with a delightful fusion of Italian and Latin flavors in the form of Eggplant Parmesan Empanadas. These handheld pockets of pure culinary bliss boast a crispy and golden exterior that yields to a tender and flavorful filling, featuring succulent eggplant slices enrobed in a rich and savory tomato sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Served with a flavorful marinara dipping sauce, these empanadas make for a perfect appetizer, main course, or party snack. With two irresistible recipes to choose from—one for traditional baked empanadas and another for air fryer empanadas—this article caters to your cooking preferences and ensures a crispy and delicious experience every time. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey that blends the best of both worlds, where the classic flavors of Eggplant Parmesan harmoniously unite with the crispy charm of empanadas.
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
THE BEST EGGPLANT PARMESAN
Truly delicious! I love eggplant and have many recipes, but this one's my favorite. The cheeses and seasonings make this dish unforgettable. -Dottie Kilpatrick, Wilmington, North Carolina
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h50m
Yield 2 casseroles (8 servings each).
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook garlic in oil 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes, olives, basil, capers, pepper flakes and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 45-60 minutes or until thickened., Meanwhile, for eggplant, place flour and eggs in separate shallow bowls. In another bowl, combine bread crumbs, garlic powder and oregano. Dip eggplant in flour, eggs, then bread crumb mixture., In a large skillet, cook eggplant in batches in oil for 5 minutes on each side or until tender. Drain on paper towels. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, ricotta, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, basil and pepper., Preheat oven to 350°. In each of two greased 13x9-in. baking dishes, layer 1-1/2 cups tomato sauce, four eggplant slices, 1 cup ricotta mixture and 2 cups mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Sprinkle each with remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, 35-40 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.
Nutrition Facts :
EGGPLANT PARMESAN PASTA
The unassuming eggplant is the star of this comforting weeknight pasta that manages to capture the flavors of traditional eggplant Parmigiana without the fuss of frying, layering and baking. Cubed eggplant is browned with onion and garlic until golden, then simmered in a quick pantry-friendly tomato sauce until meltingly tender. Mezze rigatoni, fusilli and shells all do great jobs of capturing the thick sauce. The pasta is finished with slivers of fresh mozzarella that soften and offer cool, creamy bites, and a final sprinkling of a Parmesan bread-crumb topping offers familiar moments of crunch to contrast the creamy sauce.
Provided by Kay Chun
Categories dinner, weekday, weeknight, pastas, main course
Time 35m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a high-sided large (12-inch) skillet with a lid, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium. Add panko, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring constantly, until golden and crispy, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Set a large pot of salted water to boil.
- Wipe out the skillet and heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add eggplant and drizzle over the remaining ¼ cup oil. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is softened, about 8 minutes. Add in tomato paste and stir constantly until lightly caramelized on the bottom of the skillet, about 2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, basil sprig, oregano and 1½ cups of water, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally and smashing some of the eggplant, until the eggplant is very tender and the sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes. Discard the basil sprig.
- Meanwhile, in the large pot of water, cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain.
- Add cooked pasta, reserved pasta water and the eggplant sauce to the large pasta cooking pot, and cook over medium heat, stirring, until sauce thickens and coats the pasta, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in ¼ cup of the chopped basil.
- Add Parmesan to the panko and mix well. Divide the pasta in bowls and top each with some of the mozzarella. Sprinkle over cheesy bread crumbs, and garnish with the remaining basil.
Tips:
- For a crispy crust, use a generous amount of breadcrumbs. You can use store-bought or make your own by toasting and grinding stale bread.
- Don't overcrowd the pan when frying the empanadas. This will prevent them from cooking evenly.
- Serve the empanadas with your favorite dipping sauce, such as marinara sauce, salsa, or guacamole.
- If you don't have an empanada maker, you can use a tortilla press or a rolling pin to flatten the dough.
- To make the empanadas ahead of time, fry them until golden brown, then cool completely. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, reheat them in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
Conclusion:
Eggplant parm empanadas are a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer or main course. They're perfect for any occasion, from a casual get-together to a formal dinner party. With their crispy crust, flavorful filling, and melty cheese, these empanadas are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting recipe, give eggplant parm empanadas a try. You won't be disappointed!
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