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Eggplant Parmesan from www.whatsgabycooking.com (@whatsgabycookin)
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5 from 6 votes

Perfect Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan is a great meal for any occasion, and it’s easy to make at home. So, what are you waiting for? Follow our simple recipe and enjoy a delicious meal tonight!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 6 people
Author: Gaby Dalkin

Ingredients

  • 2 jars marinara sauce
  • 2 large eggplant
  • 5 large eggs
  • 3 tablespoons whole milk
  • 4 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • Vegetable oil for frying, as needed, about 1 ½ to 2 cups
  • 1 ½ pounds mozzarella cheese cut into thin slices
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 pound fontina cheese shredded
  • 2 handfuls fresh basil

Instructions

  • Slice the eggplant into thin slices.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk and set aside. In another bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, oregano and thyme and stir to combine.
  • Dip the eggplant slices into the egg mixture, making sure to coat both sides. Following the egg mixture, dip the eggplant into the bread crumb herb mixture on both sides.
  • In a large skillet, add about ⅓ cup of the vegetable oil over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the breaded eggplant slices a few at a time and fry on both sides until golden brown. Once golden, remove from the oil and let rest on a paper towel to drain excess oil. Continue this process with the remaining eggplant slices, making sure to add extra oil if needed.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

To assemble

  • In a 9 by 13-inch baking dish or large cast iron skillet, spoon about ¼ of the marinara sauce on the bottom. Top with a layer of the fried eggplant; the eggplant slices can overlap slightly. Top with about ⅓ of the mozzarella slices. Sprinkle about ¼ of the Parmesan and fontina cheeses. Top with a layer of torn basil leaves. Spoon sauce and repeat the layering 2 more times to make 3-4 layers. End with the remaining mozzarella. Carefully press the layers down firmly into the dish once assembled. Place the dish in the top part of the oven and cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly, 35 to 40 minutes. For extra browning, put the dish under the broiler for a minute or two just before serving to get an extra brown cheesy top.
  • Serve with extra basil on top.

Notes

Tips and Tricks
  • Layering your eggplant. One of the crucial steps in this recipe is to make sure you're layering your eggplant correctly when assembling in your baking dish. When arranging your eggplant, make sure to slightly overlap each piece to ensure layering when served.
  • Wait. When removed from the oven, make sure to let your eggplant parmesan rest for up to 30 minutes. This will allow it time to cool and prevent a messy transfer from dish to plate.

Nutrition

Calories: 1052kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 63g | Fat: 59g | Saturated Fat: 33g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 322mg | Sodium: 2049mg | Potassium: 723mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1880IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 1257mg | Iron: 6mg