Crunchy Eggplant Parmesan Recipes

EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Prep the eggplants: Generously salt the eggplant rounds on both sides. Let them sit on sheets of paper towel for 1-2 hours to draw out the moisture. Press the rounds dry with paper towel.
• Ready the oven: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Brush two sheet pans with 1 tbsp olive oil in each one.
• Assemble the dredge: Grab 3 shallow bowls or plates. Add the flour to one, eggs to the second, then breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and ¼ cup of the parmesan cheese to the third. Season each bowl with salt and pepper and mix well.
• Dredge the eggplant: Take an eggplant round and dredge it in flour, then dip in the beaten egg, and finally coat with the breadcrumb mixture. Place the round on one of the prepared baking sheets, and repeat with the remaining rounds. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the rounds.
• Bake the eggplant rounds: Bake the rounds for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Reduce the heat in the oven to 375°F after taking the eggplant rounds out.
• Assemble: Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce over the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish. Lay half of the baked eggplant rounds in a single layer over the sauce, then top with 1½ cups of marinara sauce followed by 1 cup of mozzarella and ½ cup of parmesan. Layer the remaining eggplant rounds, marinara sauce, and cheeses in the baking dish.
• Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and browned.
• Garnish and serve: Garnish with fresh basil. Allow the casserole to rest for 20 minutes at room temperature before serving.

CRUNCHY EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Set a large ovenproof wire rack over a large rimmed baking sheet.
• With a small, sharp knife, starting just below the stem, cut each eggplant lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, keeping them attached at the stem. Place them on paper towels and press down on the eggplants to fan the slices out. Sprinkle with salt on both sides and set aside.
• Measure out 2 cups ice water. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the egg yolks and half the water until almost smooth, then whisk in the remaining water. Add a little more water if the batter seems too thick; it should be runny, like glue.
• Place the bread crumbs and seasonings in a medium bowl and lightly mix and crush together with your hands.
• In a large, deep skillet, heat a generous 1/2 inch of vegetable oil until shimmering (about 350 degrees).
• Working in batches, dip eggplants in the batter, dredge in bread crumbs and add to the skillet. Fry until nicely browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat if the eggplants are browning too quickly. Turn and cook until browned on the second side, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer to the rack set over the baking sheet and season with salt; transfer the baking sheet with the rack to the oven to keep warm while you fry the remaining eggplant.
• In a wide skillet, heat the marinara sauce over low heat until bubbling. Divide the mozzarella into 8 to 10 piles (one for each eggplant). Pick up and place the piles of cheese in the sauce, spacing the piles out so they melt separately. You may need to do this in 2 batches.
• Divide eggplants on plates. Place a spoonful of sauce next to or on top of each eggplant. Top sauce with melted mozzarella, lifting it out with a slotted spoon. Sprinkle with fresh herbs, and serve immediately.

CRISPY EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Remove excess liquid from the eggplant by tossing the slices with a tablespoon of kosher salt until evenly coated on both sides. Place a colander in the sink and line the base and walls with the salted slices. Allow them to sit for 45 minutes to allow the eggplant to release its liquid. Don't skip this process or your eggplant will be soggy!
• Make the homemade marinara, if desired. Click here or up above for the recipe.
• When the eggplant is finished draining and the marinara sauce is resting, place a rimmed baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees.
• Spread the eggplant on a triple layer of paper towels and top with another triple layer of paper towels then cover with a baking sheet and press firmly to remove as much liquid as possible. Allow them to sit for a few minutes. Wipe off the excess salt from each slice. Set aside until ready to dredge.
• Pour the flour onto a plate then season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Whisk two eggs in a bowl until well combined. Place panko crumbs and parmesan in a pie plate and mix well.
• Dredge the dried eggplant slices first in the seasoned flour, next in the egg, and lastly in the panko/parmesan crumbs until evenly coated; set aside on a plate. Repeat with the remaining slices.
• Bake the eggplant by carefully removing the HOT baking sheet from the oven and pouring three tablespoons of oil on the sheet; tip to coat evenly. Carefully place the panko/parmesan-coated eggplant on the baking sheet.
• Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes then carefully flip the eggplant slices over with a wide spatula. Continue to bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven. Do NOT turn the oven off.
• Spoon a bit of homemade marinara sauce on each eggplant round followed by some shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted & gooey. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately. Enjoy.

CRISPY FRIED EGGPLANT PARMESAN ROUNDS

Steps:

• Slice the eggplant into round circles about a 1/4 inch thick leaving the skin on. Sprinkle the eggplant with kosher salt and allow the eggplant to sit for 30 minutes. Then rinse and pat dry the slices with paper towels.
• Preheat the oven to 450°F. Dip each slice into the egg and then immediately into the breadcrumbs coating each side well. Add salt and pepper to each disc.
• In a large sauce pan, heat the oils together to medium high heat. Once the temperature has been reached reduce the heat to medium and add the eggplant slices. Fry each round for about three minutes a side or until golden brown. Reduce the heat if the temperature is too hot or if the eggplant is cooking too quickly.
• Once the eggplant is golden brown remove it to a separate baking dish that is coated with a thin layer of tomato sauce. Top each round slice with the shredded cheeses and place it in the oven and bake it until the cheese has melted, about five minutes.
• Top each eggplant slice with fresh basil, more tomato sauce and fresh Parmesan cheese. Serve with a side of spaghetti.

CRISPY BAKED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• In a small bowl stir together mayonnaise, dried onion, and salt.
• In a shallow dish mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning (or just use Italian breadcrumbs).
• Brush eggplant slices with mayonnaise mixture and then coat in breadcrumb mixture.
• Place eggplant slices on a lightly oiled baking sheet or shallow baking dish.
• Bake in hot oven for about 12 to 15 minutes turning about half way through.
• Enjoy!
• (This is a take-off from a recipe I have on a CD called "One Million of the World's Best Recipes", 2000).

CRUNCHY EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray an 11x13-inch baking dish and 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
• Place eggplant slices on racks over the sink or paper towels and sprinkle both sides of slices lightly with salt. Let eggplant drain for 30 minutes, rinse, and pat dry with paper towels. Place eggplant slices on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until eggplant is soft, about 15 minutes.
• Pour beaten eggs into a shallow bowl; combine panko bread crumbs with Italian seasoning in a separate shallow bowl. Dip eggplant into beaten egg and press into panko crumbs to coat. Place breaded eggplant back on the baking sheets and spray the slices with cooking spray.
• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Broil eggplant slices until tops are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes; remove slices, turn, and spray other sides with cooking spray. Broil until golden brown 2 to 3 more minutes. Remove eggplant and turn oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook and stir onion and garlic until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in prepared pasta sauce and remove from heat.
• Spread 1/3 of the pasta sauce into bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half the eggplant slices, half the Italian cheese blend, and half the Parmesan cheese. Spread another 1/3 of the sauce over the layers; layer the remaining eggplant, remaining pasta sauce, Italian cheese blend, and Parmesan cheese.
• Bake casserole in the 350 degree oven until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving.

CRISPY EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium-high heat, add the canola oil. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute. Add the 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, tomatoes and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 10 minutes. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the sauce for the online round 2 recipe Eggplant and Pasta.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Set up a breading station using 3 baking dishes. In the first dish, add the flour and season with salt and pepper, to taste. In the second dish whisk the eggs with 1/2 cup water. In the third dish combine the bread crumbs, cornmeal, 2 tablespoons Parmesan and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Slice the eggplant into 3/4-inch slices. Dredge them in flour, then in the egg wash and then in the bread crumbs. Arrange the eggplant on 2 sheet trays fitted with a racks and bake in oven until crispy, about 20 to 25 minutes. Reserve 4 slices of eggplant for the online round 2 recipe, Eggplant and Pasta.
• Turn the oven to broil. Put the eggplant, overlapping, into a flameproof baking dish in 2 rows. Cover each row with about a cup of sauce and sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan. Put under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 3 to 4 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve.