Eggplant Parmesan Light Recipes

EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• To make eggplant, combine 2 eggs and 1 tablespoon water in a shallow dish. Combine panko and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano in a second shallow dish. Dip eggplant in egg mixture; dredge in panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere and shaking off excess. Place eggplant 1 inch apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until golden, turning once and rotating baking sheets after 15 minutes.
• To make filling, combine basil and next 6 ingredients (through egg).
• To assemble, spoon 1/2 cup pasta sauce in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer half of eggplant slices over pasta sauce. Sprinkle eggplant with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Top with about 3/4 cup pasta sauce; spread half of ricotta mixture over sauce, and top with a third of mozzarella and 1/4 cup fontina. Repeat layers once, ending with about 1 cup pasta sauce. Cover tightly with aluminum foil coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 35 minutes. Remove foil; top with remaining third of mozzarella and 1/4 cup fontina. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and cheese melts; cool 10 minutes.

LIGHTER EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Start by making the sauce if you don't have any already made.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Spray 2 sheet pans with oil.
• While the sauce simmers, slice the eggplant into 1/4 inch thick slices. Transfer to the prepared pans, it's ok if they overlap slightly. Season with salt. Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway through until eggplant is golden.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine ricotta, egg, parsley and 1/4 cup of grated cheese.
• Put 1/2 cup sauce on the bottom of a 9x12 baking dish, add 1/3 of eggplant to cover the bottom of the dish. Top with 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture, 3/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 3/4 cup of the sauce. Add another layer of eggplant and repeat the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and sauce two more times, reserving the third layer of mozzarella for topping. Finish with 1 1/2 cups of sauce, remaining mozzarella, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of grated cheese.
• Heat the oven to 400F.
• Cover with foil and bake until cheese is melted and everything is bubbling, about 40 minutes.
• Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes.
• Take it out of the oven and let it sit about 10 minutes before cutting.

LIGHT (BAKED NOT FRIED) EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• 1. To the one can of San Marzano tomatoes, add olive oil, oregano, and salt to taste. If your can of tomatoes is whole or chopped use a blender, or food processor to make into a smooth sauce. Set aside. You do not cook this - trust me it gives the parmesan a FRESH tomato taste!
• 2. Fill one dish with seasoned bread crumbs; fill another one with the eggs and water beaten.
• 3. Start to cut your eggplant. I do not peel mine as we like the flavor of the skin of the Japanese eggplant, if using the Italian style eggplant you may want to peel. (Japanese eggplant is banana-shaped - Italian style is more bulb-shaped). Slice eggplant into 4-inch sections.
• 4. Turn on its side so the round part is facing down and then cut in 1/2 inch slices - you now have a sort of rectangle piece of eggplant NOT a round slice. I do this because it makes it easier to layer.
• 5. Spray 2 cookie sheets with cooking spray.
• 6. Place eggplant in egg wash.
• 7. Then into bread crumbs; shake off excess.
• 8. Fill one tray.
• 9. Spray the battered eggplant with cooking spray.
• 10. Place into pre heated 450F oven on the bottom rack. Repeat for tray two rotate bottom tray to the top. If you have not finished slicing eggplant you can do this while you are waiting for the top rack to finish cooking. No more than 10 mins for each sheet.
• 11. In a 13 x 9 glass baking dish, lightly coat the bottom with the tomato sauce.
• 12. Start by adding a layer of eggplant.
• 13. Next add a layer of Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and a bit of salt if you think it needs it.
• 14. Repeat starting with the tomato again, but layer the eggplant going in the opposite direction as the layer before. If you are doing this while the eggplant is cooking in the oven you will save a ton of time! Also keep in mind I do not put a ton of cheese in the layers as we are trying to keep this full flavor - lower calories!
• 15. Once ALL the eggplant is in the dish cover with the remaing tomato sauce and a generous helping of the Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
• 16. Put in the 450F oven for about 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is brown.
• 17. With the leftovers, I portion out into single servings and place in small freezer bags - grab and go for lunches!

EGGPLANT PARMESAN II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes on each side.
• In a 9x13 inch baking dish spread spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place a layer of eggplant slices in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the cheeses. Sprinkle basil on top.
• Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.

LIGHTER EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Arrange eggplant on two rimmed baking sheets. Brush eggplant on both sides with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden brown and very tender, 20 to 25 minutes, turning slices and rotating sheets halfway through.
• Meanwhile, make sauce: Off heat, in a medium saucepan, whisk together 1/4 cup milk, flour, and garlic. Gradually whisk in remaining 3/4 cup milk and 1/2 cup marinara sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, and cook until pink sauce has thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spread 1/4 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a shallow 2-quart baking dish. Alternate layers of baked eggplant with pink sauce. Dollop with remaining 1/4 cup marinara sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake on upper rack until browned and bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN LIGHT

Steps:

• Slice eggplant into 1/4 inch rounds, discarding stem.
• Spray large skillet with cooking spray. Heat skillet to medium-high. Brown eggplant slices in skillet, turning after 2 minutes.
• Mix tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning, and black pepper in a small mixing bowl.
• Spread a thin layer of sauce mixture on the bottom of a 8 or 9 inch square baking dish. Add a layer of eggplant. Cover eggplant with 1/4 Cup Mozzarella cheese.
• Repeat layers twice more: sauce, eggplant, cheese.
• Pulse bread in blender or food processor to make medium course bread crumbs. Toast crumbs in hot skillet, stirring frequently to prevent burning. (Or toast bread before processing.) Combine bread crumbs with remaining Italian Seasoning. Layer seasoned crumbs on top of casserole.
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook, or cook immediately.
• Bake in oven at 350°F, uncovered, for approximately 45 minutes (or until bubbly).

EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Arrange the eggplant slices on several baking sheets and sprinkle generously all over with kosher salt. Set aside to let the bitter juices weep from the eggplant, about 1 hour.
• Transfer the eggplant to a colander in the sink, and rinse well under cold running water. Transfer eggplant to a work surface and blot very dry with paper towels.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, breadcrumbs, oregano, thyme, and season with pepper.
• Place the flour in a medium lipped plate or bowl. In another medium bowl, whisk the egg and milk together. Dredge an eggplant slice in the flour, then dip it in the egg, and finally dredge it in the breadcrumb mixture. Shake off any excess breading and transfer the eggplant to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining eggplant.
• In a large straight-sided skillet, pour the oil to a depth of 1/2 inch. Heat the oil over medium heat until it registers 400 degrees F on a deep frying thermometer. (The oil must be heated to 400 degrees F. so that the breaded eggplant, when added, will drop the temperature of the oil to the proper frying temperature of 375 degrees F.)
• Working in small batches, fry the eggplant slices, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes per batch. Using tongs, transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and season with salt to taste. Repeat with the remaining eggplant.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly brush a 15 x 10- x 2-inch-baking dish with olive oil. Cover the bottom of the baking dish with 1/3 of the marinara sauce and arrange half of the eggplant over the sauce. Cover the eggplant with another 1/3 of the sauce. Scatter half of the Parmesan and half of the mozzarella over the sauced eggplant. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, sauce, Parmesan, and mozzarella. Bake until hot and just beginning to brown, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the salt and season with pepper to taste. Use immediately, store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Yield: about 3 1/2 cups
• Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

QUICK EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• In a small bowl beat the egg and water together. Place the bread crumbs in shallow dish. Dip eggplant slices in egg mixture then in crumbs, being sure to coat thoroughly.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add eggplant slices and reduce heat to medium. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until golden brown and tender. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over eggplant during last minute of cooking to melt.
• While eggplant is cooking, combine spaghetti sauce and pepper flakes in a microwave-safe measuring cup. Cover with plastic wrap and cook at high power for 2 minutes or until heated through.
• Top eggplant with sauce and Parmesan cheese and serve.