Eggplant Parmesan Recipe {Classic Italian Fried Eggplant Casserole} (2024)

FAQs

What kind of eggplant is best for eggplant Parmesan? ›

Italian Eggplant

Try them in eggplant Parmesan, saucy eggplant adobo, or grill the halves and serve with a spicy tomato sauce and peanuts. Though more globe-shaped than Italian eggplant, another variety known as Sicilian eggplant is also part of this category.

The peel of an eggplant is completely edible. However, as the eggplant grows bigger and matures, the peel may become tough and bitter. People often prefer to peel larger eggplants because of this, but smaller eggplants do just fine unpeeled. It ends up being a matter of personal preference.

Eggplant Parmesan (Parmigiana di melanzane), is a true classic Italian dish that has become immensely popular around the world. So much so, it has spawned other versions of "Parmesan"-style dishes that don't really exist in Italy (or at least not under this name), such as chicken Parmesan and veal Parmesan.

Italian eggplants are like smaller, slightly sweeter, versions of globe eggplants that still maintain a thick, spongy texture. The sweeter notes in Italian eggplant work well with salty and umami flavors, such as those in meat or cheese, making them perfect for an eggplant Parmesan or a layered dish like lasagna.

I tend to soak the slices in a bowl of water with a couple of tablespoon of salt for about 30-45 minutes. It doesn't have to do with bitterness, but I find that in doing this, the fried eggplant turns out less greasy," Jenkins says.

Salt the Eggplant to Remove Excess Moisture.

This is key to crispy results.

Before you cook

Before you start cooking an eggplant, you should get rid of any liquid residues and coat it well so it won't absorb oil. For this reason, slice your fruit (yes it's a fruit) and place it in a colander. Add a generous amount of salt and let it sit over the sink until all the liquids are eliminated.

Furthermore, adding a good amount of salt will help tenderize the eggplant and keep its shape. Let the eggplant sit: Place the seasoned eggplant over a colander for 30 minutes to an hour. Once beads of moisture start to appear, rinse your eggplant slices under cold water and remove excess salt.

Making Eggplant Parmesan Ahead of Time

When preparing eggplant parmesan in advance, you will definitely lose some of the crispness of the breading. With that said, you can layer and assemble the eggplant parmesan in the baking dish, cover it, and refrigerate it overnight.

10.99. Hand-breaded eggplant, lightly fried and topped with marinara and melted mozzarella. Served with a side of spaghetti. Available weekdays, 11am-3pm.

Why do Italians eat eggplant? ›

In Italian it is the melanzana, also known as the aubergine or in South Africa, brinjal. Eggplant is rich in antioxidants, fiber, B vitamins and manganese. This Old World food was introduced to Southern Italy by the Arabs.

Standard Italian Eggplant

These eggplants exhibit a dark purple, sometimes lighter, smooth skin, encapsulating a cream-colored, tender flesh. They are excellent options for making dips, frying, sautéing, baking and slow roasting.

One of the most popular was the long, thin, purple eggplant from Taiwan known as Ping Tung. This is an exceptional eggplant with sweet, pleasant tasting flesh. The plants are incredibly prolific and produce throughout the entire season. They are more disease resistant than other eggplants.

In most recipes, the different types of eggplant are interchangeable. If you would like to serve a more delicate eggplant than the common type, use the mild-flavored, excellent Chinese and Japanese varieties. Some cooks are concerned that their eggplant might be bitter.