Eggplant Parmesan Mark Bittman Recipes

EGGPLANT PARMESAN DECONSTRUCTED

Steps:

• Place the eggplant slices in a colander over a bowl. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let stand 20 minutes. Drain and pat slices dry with a paper towel. Season with pepper.
• Working in batches, heat some of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (you will need about 1/2 cup total for frying, less with a nonstick pan). Add as much eggplant to the skillet as fits comfortably in a single layer. Cook, without moving, until undersides are dark golden, about 4 minutes; flip and cook 3 to 4 minutes more. Transfer eggplant to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining oil and eggplant.
• Let the skillet cool for a few minutes. Return it to medium heat and add 3 tablespoons oil. Smash and peel 4 garlic cloves and add them to the skillet; cook until golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and oregano. Cook, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spatula, until tomatoes start to form a sauce, 15 minutes. Add the basil sprigs and 4 tablespoons Parmesan; simmer 5 minutes longer.
• While the sauce simmers, in a small skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon oil. Mince 1 garlic clove and add to the skillet with the bread crumbs. Toast, stirring, until bread crumbs are just golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon Parmesan and a pinch of salt.
• Arrange eggplant on a large platter. Spoon dollops of ricotta over the eggplant and top with sauce. Scatter bread crumbs over sauce. Top with mozzarella and garnish with torn basil leaves. Drizzle with oil and serve.

MARK BITTMAN'S EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Put 1/8 inch of oil in your largest skillet (the bigger the skillet, the faster you can get through sautéing the eggplant) and turn the heat to medium. Start trimming and slicing eggplant: 1/2-inch slices, or maybe 3/8-inch, but not as thin as 1/4 inch. When the oil shimmers, add the eggplant; you can crowd them as long as they don't overlap. Season with salt and pepper and cook, turning as necessary, until nicely tender and browned on both sides; drain on paper towels. Add more oil when necessary.
• Cook the onion in the remaining oil; when it's tender, add the tomatoes and some salt and pepper and cook at a lively simmer until saucy, 10 or 15 minutes. Heat the oven to 400.
• Eyeball your eggplant and your baking dishes and pick a nice dish that will work. I like a big oval gratin dish for this. Add a layer of eggplant, then tomato sauce, then cheese, then eggplant, tomato sauce, cheese. That will probably do, but you can make more layers if you like. Bake until the cheese is melted and the whole thing is bubbly, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve hot or at room temperature.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN - MARK BITTMAN

Steps:

• • Slice tops off of eggplants to check on thickness of the skin. If the skin is particularly thick, peel the eggplants. • Cut eggplant into ½ inch thick slices. • If you find the bitterness of eggplant distasteful, sprinkle the eggplant slices with salt, let rest in a colander for about an hour. Then rinse with water and pat dry. • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. • Put 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot, dredge eggplant slices, one at a time, in flour, shake off the excess flour, and place in the skillet for 3-4 minutes a side until browned. Fit as many slices of eggplant in your skillet at a time as you can without crowding them too much. Season with salt (if you did not salt the slices before cooking) and pepper. Once cooked on both sides, let eggplant slices rest on paper towels. Add more oil to the skillet as needed • Lightly oil a baking dish, then spoon a small amount of sauce into it, spreading as evenly as you can. Top with a layer of eggplant slices, followed by a thin layer of mozzarella and Parmesan, and topped with some basil leaves. Repeat the layers in this order until all ingredients have been used except for the basil and Parmesan you set aside for garnish, and add these last. • Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until bubbling hot.