Eggplant Parmesan

Lighter and Quicker Versions

Skip the Frying —Try Twice Baked or Microwaved & Baked

One of the great payoffs in Italian cooking is elevating common vegetables into lush, meat-like dishes. This recipe is no exception. Take an eggplant and encase it in breadcrumbs and then bake once and then again in marinara sauce and cheese to create this classic comfort dish.

This is a flexible template to substitute chicken or cauliflower for the eggplant for a different experience [see bottom].

I prefer to bake eggplant and skip the traditional frying step with excellent results; a chewy texture and no added oil and skillet work. Freeze the excess “naked” cutlets using wax paper between each slab so you can defrost just a few pieces to prepare at a later date.

Use jarred marinara, some mozzarella, and a little parmesan cheese. It’s fast to prep and bake. Serve with a side of pasta, or polenta and a side salad; you are into a home-meal of great deliciousness!

It’s a great as a “planned-over” filling for a toasted “hoagie” roll with extra cheese and sauce.

STYLE 1: Twice Baked —Yields a full-bodied dish, slightly less rich result

INGREDIENTS: Italian style eggplant, flour, eggs, panko* or traditional bread crumbs*, marinara sauce, grated parmesan, and slices of mozzarella cheese

*Panko is a Japanese style of super crisp crumbs that add texture to the eggplant. At most supermarkets and Asian stores.

TO PREPARE EGGPLANT:

1 Set out three large dinner plates in a row. In the left plate add about a cup of flour well mixed with 2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper. (Add 2 tsp. dried oregano if desired).

In middle plate lightly whisk 2 eggs and 2 TBS. water, don’t over blend.

In the right plate add panko breadcrumbs [or dried seasoned breadcrumbs].

2 Peel eggplant and slice into 1/4-inch slices. These slices can be rounds, or slabs, as you like.

Line a baking sheet with foil

HINT: use only one hand throughout this breading process to keep one hand clean for other chores
Lay a slice of eggplant onto plate with flour, press down then flip to coat other side, then tap off excess flour
Next lay the slice in egg and flip to coat all sides, lift and drain excess egg
Next drop the slice into the panko crumbs and coat all sides well. Lay the eggplant piece on the baking sheet
Preheat oven to 375º F
Continue to coat with remaining eggplant slices. You might need to bake the cutlets in two batches.
Lightly spray each cutlet top with oil from aerosol sprayer
Bake the eggplant for 15-25 minutes, until brown spots appear and crumbs have darkened. No need to flip!

INSTRUCTIONS:

To make a two-person meal (easily doubled or tripled) choose the smallest oven-safe casserole that will fit the eggplant slabs. Or you can bake up a larger batch and then cool and freeze remainder for planned-overs
Start building the dish by pouring enough marinara sauce to coat casserole by an 1/8”
Lay in the baked eggplant cutlets
Lay a basil leaf on each cutlet
Sprinkle a little parmesan cheese on each cutlet
Lay a slice of mozzarella cheese on each cutlet
Pour marinara onto cutlet to coat by 1/8”
Repeat with another set of cutlets to create a stack and repeat again with sauce and toppings. NOTE: some like to serve a single cutlet, I usually do a double stacker.
The eggplant can be cut if needed to fit inside the casserole. Just coat each layer with sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, and some fresh or chopped fresh basil.

FINAL INSTRUCTIONS TO BAKE AND SERVE

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Cover casserole with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake (or set to broil) for 5-10 minutes until cheese just begins to brown. DON’T LEAVE THE STOVE AREA WHILE BROWNING.
NOTE: If pan is cold out of the fridge, add 10-15 extra minutes to bake time.
Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly; 15-20 minutes

STYLE 2: MICROWAVE NAKED EGGPLANT, THEN BAKE

I perfected a lighter, very quick way to enjoy eggplant parmesan

Use Japanese style eggplant and skip peeling. Slice in half lengthwise, and then in half crosswise. Place in a microwave bowl and lightly salt; then seal with clear wrap and puncture a tiny hole in the wrap. Microwave for 6 minutes; then lay eggplant on toweling to gently press out excess liquid.
Continue to prepare as in Style 1

Note: For another speedy step I use string mozzarella cheese with great success

Bread Crumb Topping: Since there is no breading or crunch in this version; make this bread crumb topping — In a small skillet heat a TBS olive oil and add 1/2 cup panko or Italian bread crumbs and brown; then off heat toss in a TBS of grated parmesan. When serving the slices of eggplant sprinkle generously with the bread crumbs.

These bread crumbs offer an umami bomb and texture to this version

ALTERNATE: CHICKEN PARMESAN

Slice skinless-boneless chicken breasts (or thighs) into 1/2” thick slabs, similar in shape to eggplant slices. Then repeat steps above to coat and bake as above. Then complete the dish and bake as noted.

ALTERNATE: CAULIFLOWER PARMESAN

Slice fresh cauliflower into 1/2” “steaks or florets.” Then repeat steps above.