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Eggplant Parmesan with Mediterranean Flavors

This eggplant Parmesan features oven-baked, layered eggplant slices paired with a rich homemade marinara sauce and melty cheese. The dish has a crispy exterior, tender interior, and a flavorful, saucy presentation that highlights the vegetable's natural bitterness and earthiness, finished with bubbling cheese on top.
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Calories: 350kcal
Author: James Taylor
Servings: 4

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 medium eggplants firm and fresh, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
  • 1 cup bread crumbs for coating eggplant slices
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 cups homemade marinara sauce warm, flavorful sauce
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil for brushing and drizzling
  • to taste salt for salting eggplant slices
  • to taste black pepper seasoning for marinara and eggplant
  • fresh basil for garnish basil leaves chopped for topping

Instructions

  • Lay out the sliced eggplants on a baking sheet and sprinkle generously with salt to draw out moisture; let sit for 20 minutes. Then, rinse off the excess salt and pat slices dry with a clean towel.
  • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and brush the eggplant slices lightly with olive oil, arranging them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  • Sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over each slice, gently pressing them onto the surface to adhere.
  • Bake the eggplant slices for about 25-30 minutes until they are golden brown and tender, with crispy edges.
  • Meanwhile, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Add the marinara sauce to the skillet and stir in salt, pepper, and chopped basil. Let the sauce simmer gently for 10 minutes to develop flavor.
  • Once the eggplant slices are ready, assemble the dish in a baking dish by layering the baked slices with spoonfuls of sauce and sprinkling grated mozzarella and Parmesan cheese between layers.
  • Pour any remaining marinara sauce over the top layer and sprinkle generously with cheese, then bake the assembled dish for another 15 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
  • Garnish with fresh basil leaves and let sit for 5 minutes to set before serving, allowing the flavors to meld.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 600mg | Potassium: 800mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 250mg | Iron: 3mg