We got our
first eggplant from the garden and Bev wanted to turn them into eggplant
parmesan. Normally we don’t go with the
baked version but go the easy route, but this time she wanted to go all
out. After looking at several on-line
recipes she settled on this recipe
from Taste Of Home, mostly because it had the most cheese. She made the full sauce recipe and half the other parts and below is as she made it.
Eggplant Parmesan – adapted
Ingredients:
SAUCE:
•1 cup pitted ripe olives, chopped
•1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves or 1 tablespoon dried basil
•3 tablespoons capers, drained
•1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
•1/4 teaspoon pepper
•4 eggs, beaten
•3 cups dry bread crumbs
•1 tablespoon garlic powder
•1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
•4 small eggplants (about 1 pound each), peeled and cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
•1 cup olive oil
•2 cartons (15 ounces each) ricotta cheese
•1-1/4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
•1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves or 2 tablespoons dried basil
•1/2 teaspoon pepper
•8 cups (32 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, ricotta, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, basil and pepper.
• In a greased 8" x 11" baking dish, layer 1/3 of tomato sauce, half the eggplant slices, 1 cup ricotta mixture, half the remaining parmesan, and 6 slices provolone cheese. Repeat layers ending with the last 1/3 of the sauce, but add the top layer of cheese about 10 minutes before finished cooking.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Yield: 1 casserole (8 servings each).
Cooks Notes - For the 1 1/2 cups of dried bread crumbs, she used 1 cup fresh bread crumbs, 1/3 cup Panko, and potato flakes on top of the panko to make 1/2 cup. The potato flakes are supposed to help it adhere better to the eggplant.
Since the outdoor temps have been hovering around 100*, we decided to do as much as possible outside on the grill, beginning with frying the eggplant in olive oil.
After Bev built the casserole, we cooked it on the grill by having the two burners under it on low and the ones on each side on high generating a 350* temp. The casserole dish was on a rack on a jelly roll pan which made it very oven like.
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.
One year ago: Ready To Travel
Two years ago: A Very Berry Breakfast
Larry
7/2/12 Meal date
Eggplant Parmesan – adapted
Ingredients:
SAUCE:
•3 garlic
cloves, minced
•1/3 cup
olive oil
•2 qts..home
canned tomatoes – drained •1 cup pitted ripe olives, chopped
•1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves or 1 tablespoon dried basil
•3 tablespoons capers, drained
•1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
•1/4 teaspoon pepper
EGGPLANT:
•1 cup
all-purpose flour•4 eggs, beaten
•3 cups dry bread crumbs
•1 tablespoon garlic powder
•1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
•4 small eggplants (about 1 pound each), peeled and cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
•1 cup olive oil
CHEESE:
•2 eggs,
beaten•2 cartons (15 ounces each) ricotta cheese
•1-1/4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
•1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves or 2 tablespoons dried basil
•1/2 teaspoon pepper
•8 cups (32 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Directions:
•After slicing, lighty salt the eggplant on both sides and drain in a colander for an hour then pat dry with paper towels.
•In a Dutch
oven over medium heat, cook garlic in oil for 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes
and puree roughly with a hand blender.
Add the olives, basil, capers, pepper flakes and pepper and bring to a
boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 45-60 minutes or until thickened.
• Meanwhile, for eggplant, place flour and eggs in separate shallow bowls. In another bowl, combine the bread crumbs, garlic powder and oregano. Dip eggplant in the flour, eggs, then bread crumb mixture.
• In a large skillet, cook eggplant in batches
in oil until golden brown and drain on wire rack. • Meanwhile, for eggplant, place flour and eggs in separate shallow bowls. In another bowl, combine the bread crumbs, garlic powder and oregano. Dip eggplant in the flour, eggs, then bread crumb mixture.
• In a greased 8" x 11" baking dish, layer 1/3 of tomato sauce, half the eggplant slices, 1 cup ricotta mixture, half the remaining parmesan, and 6 slices provolone cheese. Repeat layers ending with the last 1/3 of the sauce, but add the top layer of cheese about 10 minutes before finished cooking.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Yield: 1 casserole (8 servings each).
Cooks Notes - For the 1 1/2 cups of dried bread crumbs, she used 1 cup fresh bread crumbs, 1/3 cup Panko, and potato flakes on top of the panko to make 1/2 cup. The potato flakes are supposed to help it adhere better to the eggplant.
Since the outdoor temps have been hovering around 100*, we decided to do as much as possible outside on the grill, beginning with frying the eggplant in olive oil.
After Bev built the casserole, we cooked it on the grill by having the two burners under it on low and the ones on each side on high generating a 350* temp. The casserole dish was on a rack on a jelly roll pan which made it very oven like.
When it was
nearly done, she added additional provolone to the top to melt, along with some
fresh chopped basil.
It was
absolutely delicious and I look forward to the next time – company quality for
eggplant lovers with one change. We used
provolone throughout because it was on
hand, but the top layer got tough and we’ll top with mozzarella next time.
All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.
One year ago: Ready To Travel
Two years ago: A Very Berry Breakfast
Larry
7/2/12 Meal date
mmmmmmm. I don't think I have an Eggplant Parmesan recipe in my database and it's been so long, and too long since I've made it. This looks great Larry and Bev.
ReplyDeleteWhere's the picture of the second helping? Ha ha. This is one of my husbands favorite dishes. It looks great!
ReplyDeleteEggplant parm is one of my mom's favorite dishes, so we had it a lot growing up. Come to think about it, I don't think I've made it in years. I had one time thought about doing a grilled version of it... you might be the inspiration I need. You and Bev did a great job.. it looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteThis looks absolutely delicious. I really like eggplant parmesan.
ReplyDeleteI tried eggplant twice. I gave it a fair shake even though it's purple and I don't like purple food. The texture just didn't thrill me. I wish I did like it, because yours looks luscious with all that cheese.
ReplyDeleteLarry, Well the photo is great but I'm with Marjie...just don't like the texture of eggplant, but the purple does't bother me. I'll take mine with a little veal or chicken! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
ReplyDeleteI'm not much of an Eggplant person --but that looks delicious... Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBetsy
Fantastic kitchen regulations, fantastic goodies. I am greeting
ReplyDeleteNice job, guys!
ReplyDeleteAlexis loves eggplant and especially eggplant parmesan. I WANT to like it, but just don't like eggplant each time I try.