Italian Eggplant Parmesan Food

ITALIAN BAKED EGGPLANT WITH PARMESAN (PARMIGIANA DI MELANZANE)

Steps:

• Place a single layer of eggplant slices in a colander sitting on a plate and sprinkle with coarse salt. Cover with a second layer and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with remaining eggplant. Place a plate on top and add a weight to put pressure on the eggplant slices. Let stand at room temperature for about 1 hour.
• Rinse eggplant slices under running cold water to wash off all the salt. Pat dry on all sides with paper towels.
• Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge eggplant slices in flour on both sides and add to the hot oil, working in batches. Deep fry eggplant until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat; cook garlic and onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomato puree, 4 basil leaves, and salt. Cook, stirring often, until sauce starts to thicken, about 20 minutes. Remove sauce from heat. Discard garlic and stir in remaining 4 leaves basil.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spread a layer of tomato sauce over the bottom of a baking dish. Cover with a single layer of eggplant slices. Top with more sauce, mozzarella slices, and Parmesan cheese. Continue making layers, a total of 3 to 5, finishing with tomato sauce and grated Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and bubbling, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 20 minutes before serving.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Arrange the eggplant slices on several baking sheets and sprinkle generously all over with kosher salt. Set aside to let the bitter juices weep from the eggplant, about 1 hour.
• Transfer the eggplant to a colander in the sink, and rinse well under cold running water. Transfer eggplant to a work surface and blot very dry with paper towels.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, breadcrumbs, oregano, thyme, and season with pepper.
• Place the flour in a medium lipped plate or bowl. In another medium bowl, whisk the egg and milk together. Dredge an eggplant slice in the flour, then dip it in the egg, and finally dredge it in the breadcrumb mixture. Shake off any excess breading and transfer the eggplant to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining eggplant.
• In a large straight-sided skillet, pour the oil to a depth of 1/2 inch. Heat the oil over medium heat until it registers 400 degrees F on a deep frying thermometer. (The oil must be heated to 400 degrees F. so that the breaded eggplant, when added, will drop the temperature of the oil to the proper frying temperature of 375 degrees F.)
• Working in small batches, fry the eggplant slices, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes per batch. Using tongs, transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and season with salt to taste. Repeat with the remaining eggplant.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly brush a 15 x 10- x 2-inch-baking dish with olive oil. Cover the bottom of the baking dish with 1/3 of the marinara sauce and arrange half of the eggplant over the sauce. Cover the eggplant with another 1/3 of the sauce. Scatter half of the Parmesan and half of the mozzarella over the sauced eggplant. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, sauce, Parmesan, and mozzarella. Bake until hot and just beginning to brown, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
• Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the salt and season with pepper to taste. Use immediately, store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Yield: about 3 1/2 cups
• Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

CHICKEN AND EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees, spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• In a pie plate, whisk together the egg, egg white and water. In a second pie plate stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, cheese and Italian seasoning.
• Dip the cut eggplant in the egg wash and then in bread crumbs, place on prepared baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray. Place in preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes, turn and spray second side lightly with cooking spray. Return to oven and bake and additional 10 minutes or until done.
• While eggplant slices are baking, place the chicken breasts in a resealable bag with a teaspoon of water. Pound with a meat mallet to 1/4 inch thick.
• Dip the chicken into the remaining egg wash and then in bread crumbs. Allow crumb mixture to set for a few minutes while oil heats.
• Over medium heat add olive oil to a heavy skillet and warm. When warm place the chicken in the pan and cook 4 minutes or until lightly browned, turn and cook other side for 4 minutes.
• To assemble, place 2 slices of eggplant on each plate, spoon a portion of sauce over all, top with chicken breast and remaining sauce. Grate freshly grated Parmesan cheese over all and serve.

AUTHENTIC EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• For sauce (Gravy):.
• In a Dutch oven or large size sauce pan, add oil, on medium heat. Add garlic and onions, sauté' until tender. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and wine, if using, and Italian seasoning. Mix well, and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 4 - 4 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• For eggplant:.
• In a large size skillet, add olive oil (enough to cover bottom about 1" deep). Heat on medium. Peel eggplant, then slice them into 1/4" round disks. In two small bowls or pie plates, add bread crumbs to one, and eggs and milk to the other, beat egg mixture well. Dip each eggplant disk into egg mixture then into bread crumbs, coat completely. Place gently into hot oil. Fry to a golden brown on both sides, drain on paper towels. Repeat until all the eggplant are breaded and fried to a golden brown. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Assemble:.
• In a 13x9x2 ungreased baking dish, add about 1 to1 ½ cups sauce (gravy) to bottom of pan, spread sauce (gravy) evenly in baking dish.
• Cover sauce (gravy) with one even layer of breaded eggplant, spread 1 cup mozzarella cheese evenly over eggplant, sprinkle with 1/3 cup parmesan cheese. Repeat two more times, ending with parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Let set for 10 minutes before cutting. Cut into 8 pieces. Serve hot.