Grandma's Italian Eggplant Parmigiana

Grandma's Italian Eggplant Parmigiana
  • PREP TIME
    30 mins
  • COOK TIME
    50 mins
  • TOTAL TIME
    9 hrs 35 mins
  • SERVING
    12 People
  • VIEWS
    22

An authentic Italian Eggplant Parmigiana, a cheesy and decadent casserole layered with fried eggplant, rich tomato sauce, and a blend of savory cheeses. It’s a comforting classic that’s sure to impress.

Ingridients

Adjust Servings

Nutrition

  • Carbohydrate
    33 g
  • Cholesterol
    146 mg
  • Fiber
    5 g
  • Protein
    36 g
  • Saturated Fat
    15 g
  • Sodium
    2463 mg
  • Sugar
    8 g
  • Fat
    33 g
  • Unsaturated Fat
    0 g

Follow The Directions

01

Step

Arrange eggplant slices on paper towels; sprinkle with salt to draw out moisture. Cover with paper towels. Let sit for 8 hours to overnight.

02

Step

Heat 2 inches oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Line baking sheets with paper towels.

03

Step

Meanwhile, beat eggs and water together in a small bowl; season with salt and black pepper and set aside.

04

Step

Place flour in a 1-gallon resealable plastic bag; season with salt and black pepper. Shake the bag to mix. Add 6 eggplant slices to the bag; seal and shake until eggplant coated.

05

Step

Remove eggplant from flour and shake off excess; dip into egg mixture, turning to ensure both sides are coated. Lift up so excess egg mixture drips back into the bowl.

06

Step

Lower eggplant carefully into the hot oil; fry until slightly golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to the paper towel-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle each slice with 1 tablespoon Pecorino Romano cheese. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Repeat breading and frying process with remaining eggplant slices.

07

Step

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

08

Step

Pour a small amount of tomato sauce into a 9x13-inch baking dish to cover bottom.

09

Step

Place 1/3 eggplant slices over sauce, slightly overlapping. Sprinkle 1/3 each of remaining Pecorino-Romano cheese and Parmesan cheese evenly on top. Cover with a light layer of sauce; sprinkle 1/3 mozzarella cheese over sauce. Repeat layers twice more for a total of 3 layers.

10

Step

Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 40 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes to set.

For a richer flavor, use homemade tomato sauce. Letting the eggplant sit overnight is important for removing excess moisture, resulting in a less soggy dish. Adjust seasoning to your preference.

Anya Reilly

Written by

Our recipe authors are passionate food lovers who share thousands of diverse dishes from around the world. They bring daily cooking inspiration with delicious, easy-to-make recipes for every occasion.

RECIPE REVIEWS

Avarage Rating: 4.7/ 5 ( 7 Ratings)
Total Reviews: (8)
  • Thad Rippin

    I recommend using high-quality olive oil as it does make a difference to the overall flavour.

  • Milo Rolfson

    The layering instructions were very clear, and the baking time was perfect. My family devoured it!

  • Marcel Feest

    I used a mandoline to get even eggplant slices, which helped with consistent cooking.

  • Birdie Blick

    This recipe is fantastic! The salting of the eggplant made a huge difference – no bitterness at all.

  • Timmothy Goyette

    Very delicious. But make sure to not over fry the eggplant

  • Haven Johnson

    Next time, I'll try adding a layer of ricotta cheese for extra creaminess.

  • Adan Prosacco

    I replaced the tomato sauce with a pesto and it still tasted great!

  • Anya Rosenbaum

    This is the best eggplant parm I've ever made. Thank you!

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