If you love eggplant, this is one of those eggplant recipes you will have to try. We especially like the short cut by baking the eggplant slices instead of pan frying them, batch, after batch, after batch....
Healthy dinner recipes always start with something fresh from the market. Southerners love their vegetables, the more, the merrier! And summer eggplants are just plain beautiful when they are in season. Even if you do not like eggplant, this recipe may be the one that converts you.
Good Southern Ingredients
2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1 large or 2 medium eggplant, about 1-1/2 lbs
1 egg, well beaten
2 Tablespoons 2% milk
2/3 cup bread crumbs, plain or Italian style
vegetable cooking spray
Marinara sauce, about 1 quart
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Good Southern Cooking Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Warm the marinara sauce on the stove or microwave is fine.
Spray two baking sheets and a 9 x 12 baking dish with the vegetable spray.
Put the flour into a large ziplock plastic bag. Set aside.
Beat the egg in a shallow bowl, set aside
Place the breadcrumbs also in a shallow bowl. Set aside.
Peel the eggplant with a vegetable peeler or small knife.
Then slice into 1/2" slices.
The first step is to coat each slice with flour. Place several slices in the plastic bag and shake to coat.
Then dip each slice in the egg, coating both sides.
Then press each slice into the breadcrumbs, also both sides.
Place the slices in a single layer on the baking sheets.
Continue until all the slices are coated.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, turning once, until the slices are ever so slightly browned.
To assemble, place half of the eggplant slices in the bottom of the baking dish, overlapping the slices.
Pour half of the marinara sauce over the slices.
Then sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese.
Add another layer of eggplant slices, then more tomato sauce and the rest of the mozzarella.
Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.
Bake uncovered for 10-12 minutes or until all the cheese has melted.
Allow to sit a few minutes before serving.