Nana’s Classic Eggplant Parmesan
Ingredients:
For the Eggplant:
- 2 large eggplants, sliced into 1/2-inch steaks
- 1/4 cup kosher salt
For Frying:
- Extra virgin olive oil
For the Sauce:
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 28-ounce can of San Marzano tomatoes, mashed or good quality crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 can (14 ounces) of water
- A small handful of basil leaves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
- 2 dried bay leaves
- A pinch of sugar
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For Breading:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 cup freshly grated provolone cheese
- 2 cups freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
- Prep Eggplants:
- Arrange eggplant slices on a rack over a sheet pan or on paper towel-lined plates. Season both sides with kosher salt. Layer with paper towels and place a sheet pan on top to weigh it down. Let sit for 2 hours. Pat dry.
- Make Sauce:
- In a saucepan, sauté onion in olive oil until translucent. Add garlic, cooking 1-2 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, tomatoes, water, basil, oregano, bay leaves, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer 30-60 minutes.
- Breading:
- Set up three bowls for dredging: one with flour, salt, and pepper; one with beaten eggs and water; one with panko and 1 cup Parmesan. Dredge eggplant slices in flour, dip in egg, then coat in breadcrumb mixture.
- Fry Eggplant:
- In a skillet with 1/2-inch olive oil, fry eggplant until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
- Assemble:
- Mix remaining Parmesan, provolone, and mozzarella. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a 9×13 baking dish, layer sauce, eggplant, cheese mixture. Repeat layers, ending with cheese.
- Bake:
- Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil, broil 2-3 minutes until cheese is bubbly. Garnish with herbs.
Enjoy Nana’s beloved Eggplant Parmesan, a cozy and comforting dish that combines tender eggplant, rich tomato sauce, and three kinds of cheese for a mouthwatering meal.