Best 7 Eggplant Parmesan Towers Recipes

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

Embark on a culinary journey with our tantalizing Eggplant Parmesan Towers, an exquisite fusion of classic Italian flavors and an innovative presentation. These towers are not your ordinary eggplant parmesan; they're visually stunning and bursting with delightful flavors.

Each tower features perfectly breaded and fried eggplant slices, layered with rich and flavorful marinara sauce, gooey mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. The combination of textures and tastes in each bite is simply irresistible.

Our recipe collection includes a classic Eggplant Parmesan Tower for those who love the traditional taste, as well as exciting variations like the Spicy Eggplant Parmesan Tower, which adds a kick of heat with crushed red pepper flakes. For a unique twist, try the Caprese Eggplant Parmesan Tower, which incorporates fresh basil and juicy tomatoes. And for a delightful vegetarian option, the Eggplant Parmesan Tower with Roasted Vegetables features a medley of colorful roasted vegetables.

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

CRISPY EGGPLANT PARMESAN STACKS



Crispy Eggplant Parmesan Stacks image

Eggplant rounds are breaded and baked, then stacked and layered with Ragu® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce and mozzarella cheese, then baked again until hot and cheese has melted.

Provided by RAGÚ®

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     Ragu®

Time 1h

Yield 9

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 large eggplants, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
1 teaspoon Salt to draw moisture from eggplant
1 pinch Salt and pepper to taste
4 large eggs eggs
4 cups panko bread crumbs
1 Cooking spray
1 (24 ounce) jar RAGÚ® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce
2 (8 ounce) packages mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  • Sprinkle both sides of eggplant rounds generously with salt; place on baking sheet for 15 minutes to draw out moisture. Use paper towels to blot moisture from each side of the eggplant slices. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
  • Whisk eggs in a shallow bowl. Place panko bread crumbs in a second bowl. Dip each side of the eggplant slices in the whisked eggs, then press into the panko crumbs to coat each side. Place slices on a cooling rack on a baking sheet.
  • Spray the tops of eggplant generously with cooking spray. Bake 8 minutes in preheated oven. Turn each slice, and spray the other side with cooking spray. Bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees (175 degrees C).
  • To make the stacks: Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a large slice of eggplant on the parchment. Top with a spoonful of Ragu® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce and a slice of mozzarella. Place another slice of eggplant on the first; repeat the layering process until you have about 5 or 6 slices in a stack. Top with a generous layer of parmesan cheese.
  • Bake stacks until the cheese has melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 397 calories, Carbohydrate 49.9 g, Cholesterol 122.3 mg, Fat 16 g, Fiber 9.9 g, Protein 26.1 g, SaturatedFat 7.8 g, Sodium 1261.9 mg, Sugar 4.3 g

EGGPLANT PARMESAN STACKS



Eggplant Parmesan Stacks image

Baked eggplant, stacked up with tomato sauce and cheese. These towers of eggplant parmigiana make a festive appetizer, lunch or dinner.

Provided by Lisa

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h30m

Number Of Ingredients 21

2 medium eggplants (1 1/4 lbs each) cut into 1/3-inch rounds (12-14 slices per eggplant)
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 cup milk (I used 2% but whole is fine too)
salt and pepper
Canola oil or cooking spray (for the baking pan)
Parchment paper to line the baking pan
Tomato Sauce*
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, diced (2 cups)
2 tablespoons dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes (I use San Marzano or Organic whole plum tomatoes and crush them in my blender)
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon minced garlic (optional)
Cheese:
1 pound shredded mozzarella cheese (3 1/2- 4 cups)
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon finely ground parmesan cheese (I use Parmigiano Reggiano)
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, slivered
Garnish: A sprinkling of slivered basil

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375ºF. Lightly oil a baking sheet or jellyroll pan. Mix Panko with basil and 1/2 teaspoon salt and spread onto a plate. Pour milk into a shallow bowl. Dip each eggplant slice into milk and turn to coat. Shake off excess. Press an eggplant slice down into the breadcrumbs. Flip and press the other side in to help the crumbs adhere. Arrange breaded eggplant on lightly oiled baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the slices. Sprinkle eggplant slices with a little salt (1 teaspoon or so) and a few grinds of fresh pepper. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Flip slices and bake for another 15 minutes until the eggplant is softened and lightly browned in spots. Remove tray from oven and let eggplant cool for a few minutes so you can handle it. (leave oven set at 375ºF)
  • While the eggplant is baking, make the sauce: heat olive oil in a large cooking pot or dutch oven oven medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for about 8 minutes until very soft and starting to brown. Stir in dried basil, salt, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and honey. Cook sauce at a simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes. Add minced garlic (if using) and simmer 10 minutes longer. Remove from heat. The sauce will be thick.
  • Line a jellyroll pan with parchment paper. Divide the total number of eggplant slices by 3 and that's how many stacks you'll have. You should have enough for 8-9 stacks. Arrange the 8 (or 9) largest eggplant rounds on the prepared parchment-line pan. Top each round with two tablespoon of tomato sauce, a teaspoon of parmesan, 2 tablespoons of mozzarella, and a sprinkle of slivered basil (don't add basil to the top of the stacks) Repeat with two more layers, using the larger slices for the middle layer and the smaller ones for the top. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve hot.
  • Garnish each stack with a sprinkle of slivered basil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 405 calories, Sugar 16.9 g, Sodium 1115.2 mg, Fat 16.6 g, SaturatedFat 7.9 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 43.4 g, Fiber 7.9 g, Protein 23.8 g, Cholesterol 42.4 mg

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

EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA WITH HOMEMADE MARINARA SAUCE



Eggplant Parmigiana with Homemade Marinara Sauce image

Grease sometimes gives this dish a bad rap. The trick is to fry the breaded eggplant quickly over high heat, so it doesn't absorb too much oil, then drain on paper towels to remove any excess.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Main Dish Recipes     Casserole Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 cups fine plain fresh breadcrumbs (see tip below)
1/2 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese (1 ounce)
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 large eggplants, sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
1/4 cup vegetable oil, plus more if needed
Homemade Marinara Sauce
3 cups coarsely grated mozzarella cheese (12 ounces)
3/4 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese (1 1/2 ounces)

Steps:

  • Bread and fry the eggplant: Combine breadcrumbs, pecorino Romano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and some pepper. Put flour, eggs, and breadcrumb mixture in 3 separate dishes. Dredge eggplant in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg, letting excess drip off. Dredge in breadcrumbs to coat. Let stand for 30 minutes.
  • Heat oil in large straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat. (Oil is ready when a breadcrumb sizzles when dropped in.) Working in batches, fry eggplant until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet. (If oil gets too dirty, discard, and heat an additional 1/4 cup.)
  • Assemble the dish: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange a layer of eggplant on top, overlapping slightly. Top with 1 cup sauce. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup pecorino Romano. Repeat twice to form layers with eggplant, sauce, then cheeses. Cover with foil. Bake until bubbling, about 30 minutes. Uncover, and bake until cheese melts, about 5 minutes more.

THE BEST EGGPLANT PARMESAN



The Best Eggplant Parmesan image

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

3 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
2 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes
1 cup pitted ripe olives, chopped
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves or 1 tablespoon dried basil
3 tablespoons capers, drained
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon pepper
EGGPLANT:
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs, beaten
3 cups dry bread crumbs
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
4 small eggplants (about 1 pound each), peeled and cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
1 cup olive oil
CHEESE:
2 large eggs, beaten
2 cartons (15 ounces each) ricotta cheese
1-1/4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves or 2 tablespoons dried basil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

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 STACKS



Eggplant Parmesan Stacks image

Everyone loves these stacks of eggplant layered with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and tomato sauce.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Healthy Recipes     Gluten-Free Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 9

18 eggplant rounds (each 1/4 inch thick and at least 3 inches in diameter; about 3 medium eggplants)
Coarse salt
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
6 plum tomatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds), coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh oregano, plus leaves and sprigs for garnish
1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
4 ounces fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced and torn into small pieces
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus shavings for serving

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Season eggplant with salt. Heat 1 cup oil (about 1/4 inch) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, so as to not crowd the skillet, fry eggplant rounds, turning once, until soft and pale golden, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
  • Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, and cook 20 seconds (do not let brown). Add tomatoes and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until tomatoes break down and are soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in oregano and basil. (Alternatively, stir oregano and basil into 1 1/4 cups Freezable Tomato Sauce Base.)
  • Place 6 slices of eggplant on a rimmed baking sheet. Top each slice with 1 tablespoon sauce and a few pieces of mozzarella, and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons Parmesan. Repeat layering twice.
  • Bake until heated through and cheese is bubbling, about 12 minutes. Serve immediately, garnished with oregano and Parmesan shavings.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN II



Eggplant Parmesan II image

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

3 eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
6 cups spaghetti sauce, divided
1 (16 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
½ teaspoon dried basil

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:

  • To save time, use pre-made eggplant slices or eggplant cutlets.
  • If you don't have a meat mallet, you can use a rolling pin to flatten the eggplant slices.
  • Make sure to season the eggplant slices well before coating them in flour and eggs.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan when frying the eggplant slices. Cook them in batches if necessary.
  • Use a good quality mozzarella cheese that melts well.
  • To make the towers easier to assemble, use a toothpick or skewer to hold the layers together.
  • Serve the eggplant parmesan towers immediately after they are assembled.

Conclusion:

Eggplant parmesan towers are a delicious and impressive dish that is perfect for any occasion. They are easy to make and can be tailored to your own preferences. With a few simple tips, you can create a dish that will wow your guests and leave them wanting more.

Related Topics