Parma Eggplant Aubergine Food

EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA

Steps:

• For the tomato sauce: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and season with salt and red pepper flakes. Cook until the onions become translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the sugar and the canned tomatoes. Use a wooden spoon to break up some of the whole tomatoes and cook 10 to 15 minutes over medium heat, stirring from time to time. Taste for seasoning, the tomatoes should be fairly broken down and the flavors coming together. Cook for another few minutes if the tomatoes still taste like they need a little more time to break down. Set aside to cool.
• For the eggplant (this step is optional, leave it out if you have limited time): Arrange the eggplant rounds in a single layer on 2 baking sheets. Sprinkle with salt on both sides of each slice and allow it to sit for about 1 hour. Salting it draws out the liquid and bitter flavor. After an hour, rinse with cold water and dry them thoroughly with a kitchen towel.
• Put the flour in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk and season with salt and pepper. In a third bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with the oregano and fresh thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper. Dip each eggplant slice in the flour and shake off any excess. Then, dip in the egg mixture, and finally in the breadcrumbs. Make sure to coat both sides of each slice of eggplant. Arrange them in single layers on the baking sheets.
• In a large skillet, pour enough oil to accumulate about 1/2-inch in the bottom. Heat the oil until it begins to smoke lightly (alternatively, test with a thermometer and wait until the oil registers between 380 degrees F and 400 degrees F). Use a pair of kitchen tongs to add a single layer of the eggplant to the pan. Cook them until they are golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from the oil and transfer to a baking sheet fitted with a kitchen towel so the eggplant can drain as the others cook. Season lightly with salt. Take care to reheat the oil back up to temperature before adding another batch of slices to the pan.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• To assemble: In a 9 by 13-inch flameproof baking dish, spoon about 1/4 of the tomato sauce on the bottom. Top with a layer of the fried eggplant; the eggplant slices can overlap slightly. Top with about 1/3 of the mozzarella slices. Sprinkle with about 1/4 of the Parmesan and provolone cheeses. Top with a layer of torn basil leaves. Spoon sauce and repeat the layering 2 more times to make 3 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. I always nibble on a bit of that before sharing it with my friends!

EGGPLANT PARMESAN II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes on each side.
• In a 9x13 inch baking dish spread spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place a layer of eggplant slices in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the cheeses. Sprinkle basil on top.
• Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.

TRADITIONAL EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA

Steps:

• In a colander, toss eggplant with 2 teaspoons salt. Let stand 30 minutes. Arrange slices in a single layer on a dish towel and roll up tightly to extract excess water.
• Meanwhile, in a medium pot, bring tomatoes and garlic to a boil. Reduce heat and cook at a rapid simmer until thickened, 30 minutes.
• In a shallow dish, combine breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan; season with salt and pepper. Put flour and eggs in two more shallow dishes. Coat eggplant in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg, letting excess drip off. Coat with breadcrumbs.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large straight-sided skillet, heat oil over medium-high (a few breadcrumbs should sizzle when added). In batches, fry eggplant until golden brown and tender, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on a paper-towel-lined baking sheet.
• Spread 1 cup tomato sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Top with half the eggplant, overlapping slices slightly, 2 cups sauce, and half the mozzarella. Repeat with remaining eggplant, sauce, and mozzarella, then sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Bake until sauce is bubbling and cheese is golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before serving.

PARMA EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• If the eggplants are fresh slice them into 3/4 inch slices, unpeeled.
• If not so fresh peel and then slice.
• Sprinkle the slices with salt and place on 3 layers of paper towels.
• Let stand for 3 hours.
• Remove from wet towels and pat dry.
• Heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a large heavy skillet-cast iron if youve got it.
• Add a few slices of the eggplant and cook to nicely browned on both sides.
• Repeat until done and add more oil as needed.
• Let the cooked eggplant drain on more paper towels.
• In a medium sized casserole dish make a layer on the bottom with 1/2 of the eggplant, then 1/2 of the ham, 1/2 of the peppers, 1/2 of the oregano, 1/2 of the parmesan and 1/2 of the sauce.
• Salt and pepper lightly and repeat layers.
• Bake for around 40 to 50 minutes or until hot, bubbly and the cheese lightly browned.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN

Steps:

• preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• mix egg and milk together in bowl, blend.
• heat olive oil in med frying pan.
• dip eggplant slices into egg/milk mixture.
• dip eggplant into breadcrumbs.
• place 4 slices at a time, into olive oil in frying pan.
• fry eggplant on each side, until each side is golden brown (you want them crispy, not mushy).
• remove eggplant from skillet, and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
• repeat dipping and frying proces with other 4 eggplant slices.
• place 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce into 9x13 casserole dish.
• place eggplant into bottom of cassserole.
• pour spaghetti sauce over top of eggplant.
• sprinkle mozzarella/parmesan cheese over top of spaghetti sauce.
• bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.
• serve over pasta if desired.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN

Steps:

• Slice eggplant into rounds at least 1/4 inch thick.
• Brush rounds with olive oil on both sides, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast at 425 degrees on a parchment lined sheet pan until completely cooked.
• In a casserole dish, spread a thin layer of marinara sauce, a layer of eggplant, a layer of marinara, a layer of mozzarella, a layer of basil and a layer of parmesan.
• Repeat until all ingredients are used.
• Bake in a 375 degree oven until the casserole is bubbling.
• Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

QUICK STOVE TOP EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN

Steps:

• Salt both sides of the eggplant slices and set aside for 20 minutes.
• Wash off the salt and pat dry.
• Heat the olive oil and saute the slices till slightly soft and lightly browned.
• Add more oil during cooking, if needed.
• Top each slice with ricotta cheese.
• Spoon about 3 tablespoons of sauce over the slices and top with the mozzarella cheese.
• Add a little more sauce to the top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Cover the pan, turn down the heat to low and allow to cook for 10 minutes.