Eggplant Parmesan

Name: Eggplant Parmesan
Prep time: 1 h 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 2 h 5 min
Yield: 1 servings
Ingredients: 2 Eggplants, medium, washed and cut into 1/2-inch thick rounds; 1 tbsp Salt; 3 cups Panko Breadcrumbs; 1 tbsp Oregano; 1 tsp Garlic Powder; 1 tsp Thyme, dried; 1 tsp Parsley, dried; 1 tsp Basil, dried; 1 tsp Onion Powder; 1 tsp Salt; ½ tsp Pepper; ½ cup Flour; 3 Eggs; ½ cup Milk; ½ tsp Dijon Mustard; Sprinkle of Salt and Pepper; 2 cups Olive Oil; 1 ½ cups Marinara Sauce; 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese; ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese; Fresh Basil

Eggplant parmesan is one of my favorite ways to eat eggplant. I also like it in a tomato and mozzarella salad. Eggplant can be tricky because if you don’t take the time to salt it, many times it can be soggy and limp. I really recommend taking the time to salt eggplant slices for up to an hour so it can draw out the liquid and mellow the bitter flavor. It will produce better eggplant dishes all around by enhancing its natural flavor and keeping a firmer structure.

Overall this recipe is a bit lighter than most, only using two cups of cheese and olive oil for browning (instead of vegetable oil). I think of the sauce and cheese only as enhancers of the eggplant—allowing the eggplant to take center stage. I’m not a fan of over-cheesed and sauced eggplant parmesan. This recipe has a balanced flavor which works well for those that need heart-healthy meals. My marinara sauce works nicely with this dish. Enjoy!

Eggplant Parmesan

Servings: 4-6

AuthorSunshine UrbaniakCategoryDinnerTotal Time2 hrs 5 mins

INGREDIENTS

2 Eggplants, medium, washed and cut into 1/2-inch thick rounds

1 tbsp Salt

3 cups Panko Breadcrumbs

1 tbsp Oregano

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Thyme, dried

1 tsp Parsley, dried

1 tsp Basil, dried

1 tsp Onion Powder

1 tsp Salt

½ tsp Pepper

½ cup Flour

3 Eggs

½ cup Milk

½ tsp Dijon Mustard

Sprinkle of Salt and Pepper

2 cups Olive Oil

1 ½ cups Marinara Sauce

2 cups Mozzarella Cheese

¼ cup Parmesan Cheese

Fresh Basil

DIRECTIONS

1

This is optional but really worth it. Place the eggplant slices on 2 baking sheets. Sprinkle them with salt on both sides and allow them to sit for about 1 hour. The salt draws out the liquid plus the bitter flavor. After an hour, pat dry with a kitchen towel or paper towels.

2

Put the flour in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. In a second bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, dijon mustard, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a third bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs with the oregano, garlic powder, thyme, parsley, basil, onion powder, salt, and pepper, salt, and pepper. With tongs, coat both sides of the eggplant in the flour first, shake off excess. Then dip them into the egg mixture and lastly into the panko mixture. Be sure to coat both sides of each slice of eggplant. You can slightly press the panko mixture into the eggplant. Arrange them in single layers on the baking sheets.

3

In a large skillet, pour enough olive oil to accumulate about 1/2-inch in the bottom, about 1/3 cup. Heat the oil until hot (should sizzle with a light splash of water). With tongs, add a single layer of the eggplant to the pan but don't overcrowd. Cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and place back on the baking sheets. As you continue to cook the eggplant, add more olive oil to the pan as you go.

4

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 9 x 13 baking dish, pour and spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom. Now layer in the eggplant slices into three rows, slightly overlapping. Start with the larger slices first and work down to smaller ones (see third photo below). Top evenly with a layer of marinara sauce, about 1 cup the fried eggplant, and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese. Place the dish in the oven and cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 35 min. When finished, let rest 5 min. Serve with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and fresh sliced basil.

Ingredients

2 Eggplants, medium, washed and cut into 1/2-inch thick rounds

1 tbsp Salt

3 cups Panko Breadcrumbs

1 tbsp Oregano

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Thyme, dried

1 tsp Parsley, dried

1 tsp Basil, dried

1 tsp Onion Powder

1 tsp Salt

½ tsp Pepper

½ cup Flour

3 Eggs

½ cup Milk

½ tsp Dijon Mustard

Sprinkle of Salt and Pepper

2 cups Olive Oil

1 ½ cups Marinara Sauce

2 cups Mozzarella Cheese

¼ cup Parmesan Cheese

Fresh Basil

Directions

1

This is optional but really worth it. Place the eggplant slices on 2 baking sheets. Sprinkle them with salt on both sides and allow them to sit for about 1 hour. The salt draws out the liquid plus the bitter flavor. After an hour, pat dry with a kitchen towel or paper towels.

2

Put the flour in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. In a second bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, dijon mustard, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a third bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs with the oregano, garlic powder, thyme, parsley, basil, onion powder, salt, and pepper, salt, and pepper. With tongs, coat both sides of the eggplant in the flour first, shake off excess. Then dip them into the egg mixture and lastly into the panko mixture. Be sure to coat both sides of each slice of eggplant. You can slightly press the panko mixture into the eggplant. Arrange them in single layers on the baking sheets.

3

In a large skillet, pour enough olive oil to accumulate about 1/2-inch in the bottom, about 1/3 cup. Heat the oil until hot (should sizzle with a light splash of water). With tongs, add a single layer of the eggplant to the pan but don't overcrowd. Cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the pan and place back on the baking sheets. As you continue to cook the eggplant, add more olive oil to the pan as you go.

4

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 9 x 13 baking dish, pour and spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom. Now layer in the eggplant slices into three rows, slightly overlapping. Start with the larger slices first and work down to smaller ones (see third photo below). Top evenly with a layer of marinara sauce, about 1 cup the fried eggplant, and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese. Place the dish in the oven and cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 35 min. When finished, let rest 5 min. Serve with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and fresh sliced basil.

Eggplant Parmesan

Ingredients Directions