Eggplant Recipes: Baked Eggplant Parmesan
This baked eggplant parmesan is one of our favorite eggplant recipes!
Prep: 20min
Total: 60min
Yield: 6
Ingredients:
- 2 large eggplant (cut into ¼-inch thick rounds)
- 2 eggs (beaten)
- ¼ cup almond milk
- 1½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (divided)
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (more for sprinkling)
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Extra-virgin olive oil (for drizzling)
- 28 ounces Marinara Sauce
- 2 large balls fresh mozzarella (thinly sliced)
- ⅓ cup fresh basil leaves
Instruction:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium-sized shallow dish, whisk the eggs and almond milk.
- In another medium-sized shallow dish, combine the panko, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and several grinds of pepper.
- Dip the eggplant slices into the egg mixture and then into the panko mixture. Place onto the baking sheets, drizzle with olive oil, and bake for 18 minutes or until tender and golden brown.
- In an 8×12 or 9×13-inch baking dish, spread ½ cup marinara, layer half the eggplant, and top with 1 cup of marinara and half the mozzarella. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, the remaining marinara, and the remaining mozzarella. Sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with a few more pinches of sea salt. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is nicely melted. Turn the oven to broil and broil for 2 to 4 or until the cheese is browned and bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and top with fresh basil.
BEST Way To Roast EGGPLANT: Perfect Roasted Eggplant Recipe
FAQ
What’s the best way to eat eggplant?
Top 10 Ways to Enjoy Eggplants
- Yes, You Can Curry It! Cut eggplant into cubes and add to your favorite curry sauce and simmer until tender. …
- Stir-Fry. …
- Baba Ganoush. …
- Roast, Peel and Serve over Pasta. …
- Eggplant Pizza! …
- Bread, Bake and Serve. …
- A New Kind of Kebob. …
- Appetizing Appetizers?
Why do you soak eggplant before cooking?
Soaking to minimize oil absorption: Eggplants can absorb a significant amount of oil during cooking, especially when frying or sautéing. Soaking the eggplant in saltwater for 20-30 minutes before cooking can help to reduce oil absorption by breaking down the fruit’s cell walls.
What is the secret to cooking eggplant?
Eggplant is about 80 to 90 percent water, so when you put them in the oven they need space to evaporate all that water and caramelize properly,” says Covarrubias. Give them a toss halfway through the cooking process to make sure they’re cooked evenly, too.
Is it better to fry or bake eggplant?
Frying the eggplant will mean using quite a bit of oil to brown the breaded eggplant. Baking the breaded eggplant on a tray in the oven requires a lot less oil, and is a little bit lighter and healthier! Either way you go, the dish will be exceptionally delicious.
