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With regards to Italian consolation meals, one dish stands out as a real gem – Eggplant Parmigiana. Often known as Eggplant Parmesan, this conventional dish made with layers of fried eggplant, a scrumptious pureed tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese. It’s an ideal selection for gatherings with pals or household.
![Eggplant parmesan in a white baking dish.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-1-of-1-683x1024.jpg)
Eggplant has develop into one in all my favorite Summer season Greens. There are such a lot of alternative ways you may make eggplant scrumptious. From A Baked Eggplant Parmesan to Grilled Eggplant to an Amazing Appetizer. However one in all our favorites is that this Conventional Eggplant Parmigiana!
What’s Eggplant Parmigiano?
Eggplant Parmigiano often known as Melanzane alla Parmigiana is a basic Italian dish made with slices of eggplant which are dredged in flour and fried, then layered with a easy tomato sauce and two forms of cheese.
It’s layered and baked very similar to a lasagna with the eggplant happening of the noodles. The result’s a creamy scrumptious consolation meals dish that can heat the soul and the stomachs of anybody fortunate sufficient to style it.
Recipe Substances
- Eggplant – 2-3 eggplants
- Salt
- Flour – all goal flour
- Mozzarella – recent mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese – freshly grated Parmigiano cheese
- Olive oil –
- Tomato puree – often known as passata
- Onion – white onion or a shallot
- Basil – recent basil leaves
- Water
- Vegetable oil – sunflower, corn oil or mild olive oil
![Ingredients for the recipe.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-ingredients.jpg)
Conventional eggplant parmigiana is made with a easy tomato sauce, so no added garlic or further spices. And the eggplant slices are dredged in flour and never in a bread crumb coating.
The Origins of Eggplant Parmigiana
The origin of this conventional dish might be traced again to Southern Italy, the place eggplant has been a staple ingredient for hundreds of years. The dish was born out of a mix of the eggplant’s versatility and the area’s ample tomatoes and cheese. In Italian is named “Parmigiana di Melanzane”.
The way to make Eggplant Parmigiana
Chop and dice the mozzarella, place the cubes in a sieve and drain, then use paper towels to softly dry the cheese.
![The mozzarella chopped into cubes.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-how-to-make-1.jpg)
Thinly slice the eggplant, place in a bowl and toss with salt. Let sit then drain. Calmly towel dry.
![Eggplant sliced and in a white bowl.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-how-to-make-2.jpg)
Dip the slices in flour, shake out any extra, then fry in scorching oil till golden and tender. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and drain.
![Eggplant floured and fried on paper towels.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-how-to-make-3.jpg)
In a big skillet or sauce pan add the oil and chopped onion sauté till clear.
![Sauteed onion before and after in a black pan.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-how-to-make-4.jpg)
Add the pureed tomato, salt and recent basil. Prepare dinner on medium excessive warmth till thickened and creamy.
![Sauce before and after cooked.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-how-to-make-5.jpg)
In a medium baking dish or casserole dish, add some sauce to the underside of the pan, place a layer of eggplant on prime.
![Sauce in the baking dish with eggplant slices on top.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-how-to-make-6.jpg)
Prime with some sauce, grated parmesan cheese, some cubes of mozzarella proceed for one more couple of layers.
![Cheese and a couple more layers in the pan.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-how-to-make-7.jpg)
Bake till cooked by way of and golden on prime. Take away from the oven, sprinkle with parmesan cheese earlier than serving.
![The baked eggplant parmesan in a pan.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-how-to-make-8.jpg)
The way to decide the proper eggplant
It’s greatest to choose medium to small eggplants they’re extra tender and comprise fewer seeds than the a lot larger ones. You will discover seeds within the eggplant, however no worries you possibly can eat them, simply make sure that they’re white and never black. Black seeds point out a more durable older vegetable.
You possibly can inform if it’s tender and younger by its firmness, measurement, color and uniformity. The very best ones are tender however agency, with easy, shiny pores and skin. In good situation the stem must be brilliant inexperienced, because it turns brown it turns into much less fascinating.
Suggestions for making the perfect Eggplant Parmesan Recipe
- Be sure your recent mozzarella is as dry as attainable or it is going to produce a liquidy bake
- All the time use the perfect elements together with freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- You’ll want to cook dinner the sauce till thickened and creamy, don’t over cook dinner or underneath cook dinner, it shouldn’t be too thick and pasty and never too liquidy. If the sauce is simply too thick add slightly water.
- Eggplant Parmigiana is greatest served recent out of the oven, permitting the cheese to be delightfully stringy and the sauce to be effervescent scorching. Simply let it sit for 5-10 minutes earlier than serving.
- If the highest is browning an excessive amount of, then cowl frivolously with foil and proceed baking.
![Eggplant parm in the baking dish with some missing.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-pic-1-of-1-683x1024.jpg)
What’s genuine Parmesan?
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is genuine or DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta which implies Protected Designation of Origin), and Parmesan cheese is simply an imitation of Parmigiano Reggiano. Reggiano is all the time made in Italy, whereas Parmesan might be made wherever, there aren’t any restrictions on utilizing the identify Parmesan. And don’t neglect a cheaper but in addition a DOP selection is Parmigiano Grana Padano.
Why grate your personal Parmesan Cheese?
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A few causes it’s higher to grate your personal. It’s cheaper and it tastes so a lot better. Packaged cheese tends to have a coating to maintain the cheese from sticking collectively. Not an excellent factor.
You possibly can grate your personal cheese with both a Cheese Grater or by inserting chunks in your Food Processor and simply pulsing a couple of instances till coarsely floor.
Freshly floor parmesan cheese might be stored in a plastic bag or hermetic container and saved within the fridge for as much as two weeks. You may as well retailer it within the freezer for as much as 18 months.
![Eggplant parm in the pan and a slice on a white plate.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-photo-1-of-1-683x1024.jpg)
What to serve with Eggplant Parmesan
I like to serve this with some recent Italian bread, a easy salad, Caprese salad, or perhaps a White bean salad.
The way to retailer Eggplant Parmigiana
This eggplant parmesan bake will preserve simply in addition to some other eggplant dish. You possibly can retailer the leftovers in an hermetic container, both altogether, or separated by serving measurement, and preserve within the fridge for as much as 4-5 days.
If you wish to make freeze half for later, otherwise you wish to make a double batch for a straightforward to warmth up dinner throughout busy weeks, you may also freeze the dish.
To freeze, you’ll as soon as once more wish to retailer every part in an hermetic container as soon as the dish is totally cooled. Then you possibly can retailer it within the freezer for as much as 4 months.
![A slice of eggplant Parm on a white plate with a silver fork.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-image2-1-of-1-1024x683.jpg)
Eggplant Parmigiana, with its layers of fried eggplant, tomato sauce, and melted cheese, is a scrumptious illustration of Italian consolation meals. Whether or not you’re an eggplant lover or a lover of Italian recipes, this can be a dish I’m positive you’ll love! Buon Appetito.
![Eggplant parmesan in a white baking dish.](https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/eggplant-parm-sq-1-of-1-300x300.jpg)
Conventional Eggplant Parmigiana
With regards to Italian consolation meals, one dish that stands out is that this Eggplant Parmigiana. Often known as Eggplant Parmesan, this conventional dish made with scrumptious layers.
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Substances
- 2-3 eggplants thinly sliced
- 1-2 teaspoons salt (divided)
- ¼-⅓ cup all goal flour
- 23 ounces tomato puree/passata (1 bottle)
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup water
- 1 massive or 2 medium recent mozzarella (cubed about ¾-1 cup)
- ¾ cup freshly grated parmesan/parmigiano cheese
- 6-8 recent basil leaves
- ½ medium white onion (or shallot) finely chopped
EXTRAS
- 3-4 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan/Parmigiano cheese
Directions
-
Pre-heat the oven 350F/180C.
-
Thinly slice the eggplant (rather less than ¼ inch), place in a bowl and toss with roughly 1 teaspoon of salt. Let sit then drain. Calmly towel dry. Dip the slices in flour, shake out any extra, then fry in scorching oil till golden and tender. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and drain.
-
Chop and dice the mozzarella, place the cubes in a sieve and drain, then use paper towels to softly dry the cheese.
-
In a big skillet or sauce pan add the olive oil and chopped onion, sauté for two minutes or till clear. Then add the pureed tomato, salt and recent basil. Prepare dinner on medium excessive warmth till thickened and creamy.
-
In a medium baking dish or casserole dish (about 10 inches / 25 cm), add some sauce to the underside of the pan, place a layer of eggplant, prime with some sauce, grated parmesan cheese, some cubes of mozzarella proceed for one more 2-3 of layers, relying on the dimensions of your baking dish.
-
Bake roughly 30-35 minutes till cooked by way of and golden on prime. If it begins to brown an excessive amount of, tent the dish with foil and proceed baking. Take away from the oven, let sit 5-10 minutes, sprinkle with Parmigiano earlier than serving. Get pleasure from!
Notes
You possibly can inform if it’s tender and younger by its firmness, measurement, color and uniformity. The very best ones are tender however agency, with easy, shiny pores and skin. In good situation the stem must be brilliant inexperienced, because it turns brown it turns into much less fascinating.
This eggplant parmesan bake will preserve simply in addition to some other eggplant dish. You possibly can retailer the leftovers in an hermetic container, both altogether, or separated by serving measurement, and preserve within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
If you wish to make freeze half for later, otherwise you wish to make a double batch for a straightforward to warmth up dinner throughout busy weeks, you may also freeze the dish.
Vitamin
Energy: 176kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 8gFats: 6gSaturated Fats: 2gPolyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 3gLdl cholesterol: 11mgSodium: 642mgPotassium: 872mgFiber: 7gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 752IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 150mgIron: 3mg
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