Eggplant Parmesan

Serves: 5

Roxane Raynor

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

50

Spice

31

Sweetness

52

Sourness

39

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.3

Difficulty

Ingredients:

3.25 tsps

Salt

2270 g

Plum Tomatoes

3 tsp

Black Pepper

5 large

Egg

Directions:

1

Toss eggplant with 2 teaspoons salt in a colander set over a bowl, then let drain 30 minutes

2

While eggplant drains, cut an X in bottom of each tomato with a sharp paring knife and blanch tomatoes together in a 5-quart pot of boiling water 1 minute

3

Transfer tomatoes with a slotted spoon to a cutting board and, when cool enough to handle, peel off skin, beginning from scored end, with paring knife

4

Coarsely chop tomatoes, then coarsely purée in batches in a blender

5

Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then add garlic and sauté, stirring, until golden, about 30 seconds

6

Add tomato purée, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and red pepper flakes and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 25 to 30 minutes

7

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F

8

Stir together flour, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a shallow bowl

9

Lightly beat eggs in a second shallow bowl, then stir together panko and 1/3 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano in a third shallow bowl

10

Working with 1 slice at a time, dredge eggplant in flour, shaking off excess, then dip in egg, letting excess drip off, and dredge in panko until evenly coated

11

Transfer eggplant to sheets of wax paper, arranging slices in 1 layer

12

Heat remaining 1 1/2 cups oil in a deep 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then fry eggplant 4 slices at a time, turning over once, until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes per batch

13

Transfer with tongs to paper towels to drain

14

Spread 1 cup tomato sauce in bottom of a rectangular 3 1/2-quart (13- by 11- by 2-inch) baking dish

15

Arrange about one third of eggplant slices in 1 layer over sauce, overlapping slightly if necessary

16

Cover eggplant with about one third of remaining sauce (about 11/4 cups) and one third of mozzarella

17

Continue layering with remaining eggplant, sauce, and mozzarella

18

Sprinkle top with remaining 1/3 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano

19

Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted and golden and sauce is bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes

20

Toss eggplant with 2 teaspoons salt in a colander set over a bowl, then let drain 30 minutes

21

While eggplant drains, cut an X in bottom of each tomato with a sharp paring knife and blanch tomatoes together in a 5-quart pot of boiling water 1 minute

22

Transfer tomatoes with a slotted spoon to a cutting board and, when cool enough to handle, peel off skin, beginning from scored end, with paring knife

23

Coarsely chop tomatoes, then coarsely purée in batches in a blender

24

Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then add garlic and sauté, stirring, until golden, about 30 seconds

25

Add tomato purée, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and red pepper flakes and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 25 to 30 minutes

26

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F

27

Stir together flour, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a shallow bowl

28

Lightly beat eggs in a second shallow bowl, then stir together panko and 1/3 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano in a third shallow bowl

29

Working with 1 slice at a time, dredge eggplant in flour, shaking off excess, then dip in egg, letting excess drip off, and dredge in panko until evenly coated

30

Transfer eggplant to sheets of wax paper, arranging slices in 1 layer

31

Heat remaining 1 1/2 cups oil in a deep 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then fry eggplant 4 slices at a time, turning over once, until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes per batch

32

Transfer with tongs to paper towels to drain

33

Spread 1 cup tomato sauce in bottom of a rectangular 3 1/2-quart (13- by 11- by 2-inch) baking dish

34

Arrange about one third of eggplant slices in 1 layer over sauce, overlapping slightly if necessary

35

Cover eggplant with about one third of remaining sauce (about 11/4 cups) and one third of mozzarella

36

Continue layering with remaining eggplant, sauce, and mozzarella

37

Sprinkle top with remaining 1/3 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano

38

Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted and golden and sauce is bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes