How to Make Baked Eggplant Parmesan | The Stay At Home Chef

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone

Part-skim mozzarella reduces fat while provolone offers a similar flavor.

Parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: Pecorino Romano

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free, while Pecorino is often less expensive.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil offers a healthier fat profile, while vegetable oil is budget-friendly.

breadcrumbs

🥗Healthier: ground oats

💰Cheaper: crushed crackers

Ground oats provide fiber, while crushed crackers are often cheaper.

Cut off the end of 3 eggplants and slice into 1/4 inch slices.

Line a baking sheet with paper towels and lay the eggplant slices in an even layer.

Sprinkle about 1-2 teaspoons of salt onto the eggplant slices and let sit for 1 hour to draw out moisture.

Rinse the eggplant slices in the sink and pat dry with paper towels.

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Prepare 3 shallow dishes: in the first, combine 1 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper; in the second, whisk 3 eggs; in the third, mix 1 cup of Italian style bread crumbs, 1 cup of Panko bread crumbs, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Dip each eggplant slice in the flour, then in the egg, and finally in the bread crumb mixture, coating both sides.

Place the coated eggplant slices on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Sprinkle a little grated Parmesan cheese on each eggplant slice.

Bake the eggplant slices in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Lightly grease a 9x13 pan and pour 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce into the bottom.

Layer half of the baked eggplant slices in the pan, drizzle with more marinara sauce, and top with 8 ounces of fresh mozzarella slices and more grated Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped basil.

Add the remaining eggplant slices on top, drizzle with marinara, and sprinkle with the rest of the Parmesan cheese and basil.

Bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens