Eggplant Parmesan With Balsamic Glaze

Serves: 6

Estell Schumm

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

41

Spice

51

Sweetness

50

Sourness

48

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.5

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 tbsp

Honey

6 cups

Canola Oil

6 large

Egg (beaten)

Directions:

1

Special equipment: a deep fryer or a Dutch oven For the balsamic glaze: Put the vinegar in a small nonreactive saucepan over high heat and cook until reduced to 1/2 cup, 12 to 15 minutes

2

Stir in the honey and season with salt and pepper

3

Transfer to a small bowl and let cool to room temperature

4

For the roasted red pepper tomato sauce: Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat

5

Add the onion and cook until soft

6

Add the garlic and red chile flakes and cook for 1 minute

7

Add the tomatoes and their juices, salt and pepper, bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes begin to soften, 20 minutes

8

Coarsely mash the tomatoes with a potato masher

9

Add the pureed piquillo peppers and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally

10

Add the oregano and half of the basil and cook until the sauce is thickened, about 25 minutes more

11

Taste for seasoning and stir in the parsley

12

Reserve the remaining basil for serving

13

For the eggplant: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F

14

Lightly butter the bottom and sides of a 15-by-10-by-2-inch baking dish and set aside

15

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or deep fryer to 365 degrees F

16

Combine the fontina and shredded mozzarella in a bowl and set aside

17

Combine the breadcrumbs and panko in a large shallow baking dish and season with salt and pepper

18

Place the flour in a medium shallow baking dish or large plate and season with salt and pepper

19

Whisk the egg and 2 tablespoons of water together in another medium shallow baking dish and season with salt and pepper

20

Season each eggplant slice on both sides with salt and pepper

21

Dredge each eggplant slice in the flour, tapping off the excess, then dip it in the egg and dredge it in the breadcrumb mixture

22

Shake off any excess breading and transfer the eggplant to a baking sheet

23

Repeat with the remaining eggplant slices

24

Fry the eggplant slices in batches until tender and golden brown on each side and tender, about 2 minutes per side

25

Remove to a baking sheet lined with paper towels and season with salt

26

Lay 8 slices of the fried eggplant in the prepared baking dish, top each slice with about 1/4 cup of the roasted red pepper tomato sauce, 1/4 cup of the combined cheeses and a tablespoon of the remaining chopped basil

27

Season with salt and pepper

28

Take 4 of the topped eggplant slices and place them on the other 4 so you have a total of 4 eggplant stacks

29

Top each stack with one more eggplant slice, 1/4 cup of the sauce, some of the basil and a few thin slices of the fresh mozzarella

30

Bake until the cheese melts, 8 to 10 minutes

31

Place under the broiler and broil until the fresh mozzarella is golden brown, about 30 seconds

32

Top with the remaining chopped fresh basil and drizzle with the balsamic glaze