Best 5 Light Eggplant Parmesan Baked Recipes
**Light Eggplant Parmesan Baked: A Healthier Twist on a Classic Italian Dish**
Eggplant Parmesan, a classic Italian dish, is known for its delightful combination of flavors and textures. However, it can often be heavy and high in calories. This recipe presents a lighter version of this beloved dish, using healthier ingredients and baking it instead of frying. With its crispy eggplant slices, flavorful tomato sauce, and reduced-fat cheese, this baked Eggplant Parmesan offers a satisfying and guilt-free meal. Additionally, the recipe includes variations for a vegetarian version, a gluten-free option, and a spicy twist using chili flakes, catering to diverse dietary preferences and tastes.
LIGHTER EGGPLANT PARMESAN
Baked eggplant and a healthier bechamel sauce match up in an Italian classic made virtuous. In this lighter recipe, the cheeses are on top, instead of in layers, with a creamy pink sauce underneath.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Main Dish Recipes Casserole Recipes
Time 45m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Arrange eggplant on two rimmed baking sheets. Brush eggplant on both sides with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden brown and very tender, 20 to 25 minutes, turning slices and rotating sheets halfway through.
- Meanwhile, make sauce: Off heat, in a medium saucepan, whisk together 1/4 cup milk, flour, and garlic. Gradually whisk in remaining 3/4 cup milk and 1/2 cup marinara sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, and cook until pink sauce has thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Spread 1/4 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a shallow 2-quart baking dish. Alternate layers of baked eggplant with pink sauce. Dollop with remaining 1/4 cup marinara sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake on upper rack until browned and bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 229 g, Fat 9 g, Fiber 8 g, Protein 12 g
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 PARMESAN
The traditional version of this Italian-American classic is known to tip the scales: heavily breaded and fried eggplant slices that are then buried in cheese and baked. Our makeover skips the fry and bakes the panko-crusted eggplant until it has a crisp exterior and wonderfully meaty interior. A combination of part-skim ricotta, sliced mozzarella, fontina, and Parmesan cheese allows for even coverage without hiding the eggplant or adding too much fat. Since the recipe debuted, jarred marinara brands have gotten wise to the need for options with less sodium. Our preferred brand is Dell'Amore, though you can use any low-sodium sauce you like.
Provided by Kathy Kitchens Downie, RD
Time 1h45m
Yield 10 servings (serving size: 1 slice)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- To make eggplant, combine 2 eggs and 1 tablespoon water in a shallow dish. Combine panko and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano in a second shallow dish. Dip eggplant in egg mixture; dredge in panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere and shaking off excess. Place eggplant 1 inch apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until golden, turning once and rotating baking sheets after 15 minutes.
- To make filling, combine basil and next 6 ingredients (through egg).
- To assemble, spoon 1/2 cup pasta sauce in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer half of eggplant slices over pasta sauce. Sprinkle eggplant with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Top with about 3/4 cup pasta sauce; spread half of ricotta mixture over sauce, and top with a third of mozzarella and 1/4 cup fontina. Repeat layers once, ending with about 1 cup pasta sauce. Cover tightly with aluminum foil coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 35 minutes. Remove foil; top with remaining third of mozzarella and 1/4 cup fontina. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and cheese melts; cool 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 318, Carbohydrate 26.8 g, Cholesterol 99 mg, Fat 15.1 g, Fiber 4.8 g, Protein 19.3 g, SaturatedFat 8.2 g, Sodium 655 mg
LIGHTER EGGPLANT PARMESAN
This Lighter Eggplant Parmesan is one of my favorite ways to eat eggplant. No breading, just eggplant, cheese and marinara.
Provided by Gina
Categories Dinner
Time 1h30m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Start by making the sauce if you don't have any already made.
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Spray 2 sheet pans with oil.
- While the sauce simmers, slice the eggplant into 1/4 inch thick slices. Transfer to the prepared pans, it's ok if they overlap slightly. Season with salt. Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway through until eggplant is golden.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine ricotta, egg, parsley and 1/4 cup of grated cheese.
- Put 1/2 cup sauce on the bottom of a 9x12 baking dish, add 1/3 of eggplant to cover the bottom of the dish. Top with 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture, 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 3/4 cup of the sauce. Add another layer of eggplant and repeat the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and sauce two more times, reserving the third layer of mozzarella for topping. Finish with 1 1/2 cups of sauce, remaining mozzarella, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of grated cheese.
- Heat the oven to 400F.
- Cover with foil and bake until cheese is melted and everything is bubbling, about 40 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes.
- Take it out of the oven and let it sit about 10 minutes before cutting.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 /8th, Calories 255.5 kcal, Carbohydrate 18.5 g, Protein 20 g, Fat 12.5 g, SaturatedFat 6.5 g, Cholesterol 59.5 mg, Sodium 809 mg, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 9.5 g
EGGPLANT PARMESAN LIGHT
This is a yummy Eggplant Parmesan that is baked, not fried... adjust the seasonings to your desire and enjoy! My husband and I can share this dish with very few leftovers, but feel good about it because the bulk of it is veggies!
Provided by MelissaO
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h5m
Yield 2-4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Slice eggplant into 1/4 inch rounds, discarding stem.
- Spray large skillet with cooking spray. Heat skillet to medium-high. Brown eggplant slices in skillet, turning after 2 minutes.
- Mix tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning, and black pepper in a small mixing bowl.
- Spread a thin layer of sauce mixture on the bottom of a 8 or 9 inch square baking dish. Add a layer of eggplant. Cover eggplant with 1/4 Cup Mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat layers twice more: sauce, eggplant, cheese.
- Pulse bread in blender or food processor to make medium course bread crumbs. Toast crumbs in hot skillet, stirring frequently to prevent burning. (Or toast bread before processing.) Combine bread crumbs with remaining Italian Seasoning. Layer seasoned crumbs on top of casserole.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook, or cook immediately.
- Bake in oven at 350°F, uncovered, for approximately 45 minutes (or until bubbly).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 445.2, Fat 17.2, SaturatedFat 9.9, Cholesterol 58.8, Sodium 1879.4, Carbohydrate 47.9, Fiber 14.7, Sugar 18.1, Protein 31.1
Tips:
- Choose smaller, tender eggplants for a less bitter flavor.
- Salting the eggplant slices draws out excess moisture, resulting in a crispier texture.
- Use a combination of bread crumbs and grated Parmesan cheese for a flavorful and crispy coating.
- Baking the eggplant slices instead of frying them reduces the overall fat content of the dish.
- Use a light marinara sauce to keep the dish from becoming too heavy.
- Top the eggplant parmesan with fresh mozzarella cheese for a gooey, melted texture.
- Bake the eggplant parmesan until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
- Serve the eggplant parmesan hot out of the oven with a side of pasta or salad.
Conclusion:
This light eggplant parmesan recipe is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy this classic Italian dish. By using a combination of baking and grilling, you can reduce the overall fat content of the dish without sacrificing any flavor. Plus, the addition of fresh vegetables and herbs makes this recipe a nutritious and satisfying meal. Whether you're looking for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion dish, this light eggplant parmesan recipe is sure to please everyone at the table.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love
