Real Deal Eggplant Parmesan Recipes

GRANDMA'S ITALIAN EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA

Steps:

• Lay eggplant slices on top of paper towels and sprinkle with sea salt to draw out moisture. Cover with additional paper towels. Let sit, 8 hours to overnight.
• Place flour into a 1-gallon plastic zip-top bag. Sprinkle salt and pepper into the flour and shake the bag to mix. Place 6 eggplant slices into the bag, seal, and shake to coat.
• Beat eggs and water together using a fork in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat 2 inches of oil over medium-high heat in a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Line baking sheets with paper towels to drain eggplants after frying.
• Shake excess flour from eggplant slices and place into egg mixture, turning to ensure both sides are coated. Allow excess egg mixture to drip off before placing slices into the hot oil. Fry until slightly golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to the paper towel-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Pecorino Romano cheese. Repeat process until all eggplant slices are fried. Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Pour a small amount of tomato sauce into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan to cover. Place 1/3 of the eggplant slices over sauce, slightly overlapping them. Sprinkle 1/3 of the remaining Pecorino-Romano cheese and Parmesan cheese evenly over the slices. Cover with a light layer of sauce. Sprinkle 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese over sauce. Repeat for a total of 3 layers.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes to set.

REAL DEAL EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• 1. Prepare a large baking sheet with food release spray.
• 2. Cut eggplant, crosswise, into 1/4-1/2 inch slices. Arrange the slices on the baking sheet. Brush or spray the slices with the olive oil.
• 3. Bake eggplant slices at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. While the eggplant is baking prepare the dip, dredge, and coat mixtures, and the sauce.
• 4. DIP: Beat the eggs with the milk or water. Set aside in a shallow bowl or dish. DREDGE: Mix the flour with the 3T of oregano, salt and pepper. Set aside in a shallow bowl or dish. COATING: Place the breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl or dish. Set aside.
• 5. SAUCE: Put tomatoes, 2T of oregano, basil, onion, garlic, and wine in pitcher of the blender, and pulse until combined.
• 6. Prepare a 9x13 baking dish with food release spray. Spread a thin layer of the tomato sauce in the bottom of the baking dish.
• 7. Dip the eggplant slices, one at a time, into the egg mixture, then dredge in the flour mixture. Dip again into the egg mixture and then coat with the breadcrumbs. Layer half of the eggplant slices in the baking dish.
• 8. On top of prepared eggplant slices, layer half the pecorino and sprinkle with 1/3 cup of parmesan. Make a second layer, beginning with more eggplant slices, then remaining pecorino, and another 1/3 cup of parmesan.
• 9. Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the top to cover. Combine the remaining 1/3 cup of parmesan with any remaining breadcrumbs, and sprinkle over the top.
• 10. Bake 40 minutes at 375 degrees. Allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.
• 11. NOTE: 1) If possible, try to select eggplant as evenly shaped as possible -- not too much wider at one end than the other. 2) Pecorino is the original cheese, but mozzarella works, too. 3) I used almond meal/flour in place of all purpose flour, to make this recipe Paleo friendly -- it worked perfectly! You can leave off the cheeses, or if you don't mind "coloring outside the lines" a bit, try using a little goat cheese to replace the pecorino, and leave off the parmesan. 4) If you prefer, you can slice the eggplant lengthwise, then layer the planks in the opposite direction on the second layer. Crushing the dried herbs in your hand before putting them into the recipe helps release their wonderful flavor and aroma.

AUTHENTIC EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• For sauce (Gravy):.
• In a Dutch oven or large size sauce pan, add oil, on medium heat. Add garlic and onions, sauté' until tender. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and wine, if using, and Italian seasoning. Mix well, and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 4 - 4 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• For eggplant:.
• In a large size skillet, add olive oil (enough to cover bottom about 1" deep). Heat on medium. Peel eggplant, then slice them into 1/4" round disks. In two small bowls or pie plates, add bread crumbs to one, and eggs and milk to the other, beat egg mixture well. Dip each eggplant disk into egg mixture then into bread crumbs, coat completely. Place gently into hot oil. Fry to a golden brown on both sides, drain on paper towels. Repeat until all the eggplant are breaded and fried to a golden brown. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Assemble:.
• In a 13x9x2 ungreased baking dish, add about 1 to1 ½ cups sauce (gravy) to bottom of pan, spread sauce (gravy) evenly in baking dish.
• Cover sauce (gravy) with one even layer of breaded eggplant, spread 1 cup mozzarella cheese evenly over eggplant, sprinkle with 1/3 cup parmesan cheese. Repeat two more times, ending with parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Let set for 10 minutes before cutting. Cut into 8 pieces. Serve hot.