Easy Eggplant Parmesan
Prep Time: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Cook Time: 40 minutes mins
Total Time: 2 hours hrs
I’ve been making this easy eggplant parmesan recipe for many years. It’s crispy, cheesy and incredibly delicious.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Gently spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with baking spray and set it aside.
Heat your favorite marinara sauce in a sauce pot. Simmer over low heat.
Cut the ends off of the eggplants. Slice the eggplant into ½ inch thick rounds.
Place the sliced eggplant on a baking tray and dust both sides with table salt.
Then, let the eggplant sit at room temperature for 30 - 40 minutes. The salt will extract any bitterness and moisture from the eggplant.
Once the salted eggplant has rested for 30 - 40 minutes, gently pat the eggplant with a paper towel to absorb any moisture and excess salt.
Breading the Eggplant
Combine AP flour, salt and pepper on one plate.
Combine egg and 2% milk on the second plate. Whisk well.
Combine the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese on the third plate. Mix until well combined.
Next, dredge the eggplant through the flour, followed by the egg mixture, then the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure each piece is well coated. Repeat for all eggplant rounds.
Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium high heat. Once the oil hits 375 degrees, begin frying the eggplant.
Only add 2-3 pieces at a time to prevent overcrowding the pan. Fry each side for 1-2 minutes, or until both sides are golden-brown.
Place the golden-brown eggplant on paper towel to absorb any excess oil. Repeat until all of the eggplant is gently fried.
Assemble the Dish
Add two ladles of red sauce to the bottom of your baking dish. Line the dish with a layer of golden-brown eggplant. Top with extra sauce and mozzarella cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes. Option to remove the foil and broil for an extra 2-3 minutes so the cheese is extra bubbly and brown.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 136kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 28mg, Sodium: 525mg, Potassium: 274mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 304IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 111mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 136