Mini Eggplant Parmesan Recipes

MINI EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• For the sauce: Heat the oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium. Add the garlic, shallots and salt. Stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, basil, oregano and crushed red pepper. Simmer the sauce until the flavors blend and the sauce thickens, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Mix in the vinegar.
• For the eggplant: Mix the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Place the panko breadcrumbs in another shallow bowl. Whisk the egg whites in a medium bowl until frothy. Dip each eggplant slice in the flour mixture, then into the beaten egg whites, and then into the panko breadcrumbs to coat completely.
• Heat the oil in a heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat until hot (the surface will appear to be shimmering), 2 to 3 minutes. Add half of the eggplant slices. Cook until deep golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the eggplant to a paper-towel-lined plate. Fry the remaining eggplant. (Can be made 1 hour ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Preheat a broiler. Toss the mozzarella and Parmesan in a small bowl until well blended. Spread 1 generous teaspoon of the sauce over each eggplant slice. Top with a rounded teaspoon of the cheese mixture; spread out to cover and press lightly to adhere. Transfer the eggplant slices to a rimmed baking sheet. Broil until the cheese has melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mini eggplant parmesans to a platter and garnish each with small basil leaf. Let stand 2 to 3 minutes before serving.

MINI EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium heat. Preheat a pizza oven or regular oven to 475 degrees F.
• Add the eggplant halves to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, cut-side up. Drizzle with 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the eggplant on the grill cut-side down and grill until nicely charred, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a medium cast-iron pan on the grill and add 2 tablespoons olive oil; heat until hot. Add the garlic and onion and saute until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and anchovy, then stir to combine, cooking the tomatoes until nicely broken down, about 10 minutes.
• Evenly divide the eggplant, cut-side up, among six 10-ounce cast-iron rectangular pans arranged on a sheet tray for easy transfer to the oven. Spoon over the tomato sauce, then bake until sauce has reduced more, started to char and the eggplants have softened, about 15 minutes.
• Remove the sheet tray from the oven and top each pan with the grated Parmesan. Evenly top with the sliced mozzarella, then season with freshly ground black pepper and place back in the oven. Let cook to melt the cheese, another 5 to 8 minutes.

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.