Description
A delightful dish featuring layers of breaded eggplant, marinara sauce, and fresh mozzarella, perfect for Italian comfort food lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium globe eggplants, sliced into ½-inch rounds
- Kosher salt for salting the eggplant slices
- ¾ cup (90 g) all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs, beaten, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (150 g) Italian-style breadcrumbs
- ½ cup (50 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- â…“ cup (80 ml) olive oil, extra virgin, for brushing
- 2 cups (480 ml) marinara sauce
- 8 oz (225 g) fresh mozzarella, sliced about ¼-inch thick
- A handful of fresh basil leaves
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Slice the eggplants into ½-inch rounds. Lay them on a tray and sprinkle both sides with kosher salt. Let them sit for 30 minutes to draw out moisture. Once done, pat them dry with paper towels.
- Set up your breading stations. Place flour in one bowl, beaten eggs in a second bowl, and mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper in a third bowl.
- Dredge each eggplant slice first in flour, shaking off the excess. Next, dip it into the beaten eggs, and then coat it evenly with the breadcrumb-Parmesan mixture. Press the crumbs gently to help them stick.
- Place the breaded eggplant slices on a cooling rack over a parchment-lined baking sheet. Lightly brush the tops with olive oil.
- Bake the eggplant slices in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 20-25 minutes. Flip the slices and brush with olive oil after 12 minutes. They should turn golden and crisp.
- In a baking dish, spread ½ cup of marinara sauce on the bottom. Layer half of the eggplant slices, top with half of the sliced mozzarella, then spoon more marinara over the cheese. Repeat the layers.
- Scatter fresh basil leaves on top and bake the assembled dish at 375°F (190°C) for about 15 minutes, until the mozzarella is bubbling and slightly browned. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Serve warm on its own or with a side salad and crusty bread. Garnish with extra basil or a sprinkle of Parmesan for added flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg