Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan

Fried Eggplant is near and dear to my heart. One of my first real food experiences was with my good friend in Maryland. We ordered “fried eggplant with goat cheese” and who knew this would open my mind to many different flavor profile combinations. Eggplant prepared in this way can lend itself to many different dishes, including this recipe from one of my favorite chefs- Alex Guarnaschelli. A nice red wine would work well with this recipe- either a Chianti or Brunello.

INGREDIENTS

The Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 medium yellow onions, peeled, halved, and cut into thin slices
  • 6 cloves garlic, peeled and grated
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 3 (28-ounce) cans whole plum tomatoes (San Marzano recommended)

 

 

 

The Eggplant:

  • 1-2 medium eggplants, washed and cut into 1/2-inch thick rounds (about 2 1/2 pounds)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 5 large eggs
  • 3 tablespoons whole milk
  • 4 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • Vegetable oil, for frying, as needed, about 1 1/2 to 2 cups
  • 1 1/2 pounds mozzarella cheese, cut into thin slices
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 pound provolone cheese, grated
  • 2 handfuls fresh basil, leaves only, torn

DIRECTIONS

For the tomato sauce: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and season with salt and red pepper flakes. Cook until the onions become translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add sugar and 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. 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 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.

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