Eggplant Parmesan, a classic Italian dish, is a delectable combination of crispy eggplant slices, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheese. This hearty and flavorful dish is a favorite among vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Our recipe uses fresh mozzarella cheese for a gooey, stretchy texture, but you can also use Parmesan or a blend of cheeses. We'll also show you how to make a simple tomato sauce from scratch, or you can use your favorite store-bought sauce. Served with a side of pasta or crusty bread, this eggplant Parmesan is sure to be a hit at your next dinner party.
In addition to the classic eggplant Parmesan recipe, we also have a few variations to tempt your taste buds. Try the lighter baked eggplant Parmesan for a healthier version, or the eggplant Parmesan bites for a fun and easy appetizer. And if you're looking for a vegetarian take on this classic dish, be sure to check out the eggplant Parmesan without cheese. No matter which recipe you choose, you're sure to enjoy this delicious and versatile dish.
EGGPLANT PARMESAN WITH FRESH BASIL AND SMOKED MOZZARELLA
The heavenly, salty, slightly sweet combination of rich tomato-y marinara, crispy creamy fried eggplant, and smoked mozzarella. I'd call this dish transcendent.
Provided by lindseytr0n
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h20m
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Line a plate with a paper towel; place a layer of 2 or 3 slices of eggplant onto the towel. Sprinkle eggplant with sea salt. Repeat layers of eggplant sprinkled with salt until all eggplant slices are stacked. Place 2 paper towels onto the stack and place a plate on top of the towels. Lay a heavy book or can of food onto the plate to squeeze out moisture. Allow to drip for 20 minutes to 2 hours. Rinse and pat dry.
- Beat eggs with milk in a shallow bowl. Place bread crumbs into a separate bowl. Dip eggplant slices in the egg mixture and gently press into the crumbs to coat; set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; fry eggplant slices in the hot oil in small batches until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
- Pour about 1/4 cup of marinara sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish and arrange a layer of eggplant slices to cover the sauce. Scatter basil and a few slices of smoked mozzarella cheese over eggplant; repeat layers, ending with a layer of sauce on top. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and the cheese has melted, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 459.6 calories, Carbohydrate 44.7 g, Cholesterol 106.8 mg, Fat 22.2 g, Fiber 9.2 g, Protein 21 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, Sodium 1582.1 mg, Sugar 16.1 g
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
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 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 AND MOZZARELLA MELT
This is a delicious open-faced sandwich to serve for dinner.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Healthy Recipes Vegetarian Recipes
Time 50m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees. In a shallow bowl, lightly beat eggs with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread breadcrumbs in a pie plate or shallow bowl.
- Oil a rimmed baking sheet. Dip eggplant rounds in egg, then dredge in breadcrumbs, turning to coat completely; transfer to prepared baking sheet. Bake (without turning) until golden and tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, split bread lengthwise, and place cut side up on another baking sheet; press gently in centers to create a well. Layer both halves with tomato sauce, eggplant, and cheese. Bake until cheese is browned in spots, 6 to 8 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 481 g, Fat 15 g, Fiber 8 g, Protein 27 g
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:
- For the best results, use fresh, high-quality ingredients.
- Choose eggplants that are firm and have a deep purple color.
- Slice the eggplants evenly so that they cook evenly.
- Dredge the eggplant slices in flour before frying to help them brown and crisp.
- Fry the eggplant slices in hot oil until they are golden brown and tender.
- Use a good quality marinara sauce for the best flavor.
- Layer the eggplant, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese in a baking dish.
- Bake the eggplant Parmesan until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve the eggplant Parmesan hot, garnished with fresh basil.
Conclusion:
Eggplant Parmesan is a classic Italian dish that is loved by people all over the world. It is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, main course, or side dish. With its crispy eggplant, flavorful marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese, eggplant Parmesan is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.
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