Delicious Baked Eggplant Parmesan with crispy coated eggplant slices smothered in cheese and marinara.
- 3 large eggplants
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup Italian style bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella sliced
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese divided
Slice
eggplant into 1/4 inch rounds. Lay out in a single layer on a paper
towel lined baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Let sit 1 hour to
release moisture.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
Set
up 3 shallow dishes for dredging. In the first dish, stir together
flour, salt and pepper. In the second dish, whisk eggs. In the third
dish, stir together panko bread crumbs, Italian bread crumbs, and garlic
powder.
Working
one at a time, dredge eggplant slices in flour mixture, dip in egg
mixture, and then coat in bread crumb mixture. Place onto the prepared
baking sheet in an even layer. Sprinkle on a light coating of parmesan
cheese.
Roast in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, flipping eggplant slices halfway through.
Spread
2 tablespoons of marinara into the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13
dish. Layer half of the eggplant slices onto the bottom. Top with half
of the remaining marinara, and then layer on all of the mozzarella
slices. Sprinkle on half of the basil and half of the parmesan cheese.
Place remaining eggplant slices on top and cover with remaining marinara, basil, and parmesan cheese.
Bake, uncovered, in the 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until cheese is melted and the top is bubbling and lightly browned.
