Eggplant and spinach parmesan is a delectable Italian-inspired dish that combines the savory flavors of eggplant, spinach, and cheese. This vegetarian dish is a perfect meal for any occasion, whether it's a casual weeknight dinner or an elegant gathering. The combination of tender eggplant, wilted spinach, and melted cheese creates a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. With its vibrant colors and irresistible aroma, eggplant and spinach parmesan is sure to be a hit at any table.
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EGGPLANT AND SPINACH PARMESAN
Steps:
- Set oven @ 400* Wash eggplant and cut in 1/2" slices...lightly salt. Beat the 2 eggs in a shallow bowl, have the breadcrumb mixture next to it on a shallow plate and have the large baking sheet next to that. Dip the egplant slices in the egg, coating thoroughly! Dip each slice in the breadcrumbs, coating both sides well, then place on greased baking sheet. Repeat until done and then bake for 20 minutes or until till brown on one side, flip over and brown on other side. Meanwhile, coat bottom of the 8x8 dish with a little of the sauce. When eggplant is all browned, remove from oven, (turn oven down to 350*) and layer eggplant on bottom of the 8x8 dish, cover with a layer of spinach, cheese and sauce.Repeat with remaining slices, spinach, sauce and cheese. (I tried it layering it differently and it was still good) Bake till cheese is all nicely browned and gooey! Let sit 10 minutes before serving...This gives it a chance to set.
SICILIAN EGGPLANT PARMAGIANA WITH SPINACH
A Lidia Bastianich recipe, so you know it's got to be good! A meal in itself, and the leftovers are great. For another version, use some zucchini for part of the eggplant and alternate layers. Prep time includes draining, coating, and baking eggplant.
Provided by zeldaz51
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h45m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Salt eggplants all over with 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Layer in a large colander set in the sink. Lay a plate over the eggplant and weight the top with cans to help press out excess liquid. Let drain about ½ hour, then rinse and pat dry.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large shallow bowl, toss together the breadcrumbs, 2 cups of the grated cheese and 1 cup of the olive oil. Season with ½ teaspoon salt. In another shallow bowl, beat the eggs and milk with a pinch of salt. Spread the flour on a plate.
- Dredge the eggplant slices in flour, egg, then breadcrumbs, pressing in the crumbs to make sure they adhere. Lay the eggplant slices on parchment lined sheet pans, without touching. Bake eggplant, rotating the sheet pans halfway through baking, until cooked through and crumbs are crisp and golden, about 25 minutes. Let cool slightly.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Add smashed garlic and sauté until just golden, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the spinach with any water clinging to the leaves, season with remaining ½ teaspoon salt, cover and cook until wilted, about 3 to 4 minutes. Check occasionally to make sure the bottom of the pan is not dry, adding water a tablespoon at a time if necessary. Once the spinach is wilted, uncover and cook until spinach is tender and excess water is gone, about 4 minutes.
- To assemble the eggplant, spread ¾ cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 10-by-15-inch baking dish. Add half of the baked eggplant, in an even layer. Spread with 1 cup marinara. Sprinkle with ½ cup grated Grana Padano. Sprinkle with half the shredded mozzarella. Spread all of the spinach in one layer. Spread with 2 more cups marinara. Sprinkle with the remaining grated mozzarella and ½ cup grated Grana Padano. Top with an even layer of the remaining eggplant. Spread remaining sauce on top and sprinkle with remaining grated Grana Padano. Tent the baking dish with foil, so it is not touching the cheese and bake until bubbly, about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until cheese is browned and crusty and sauce is bubbling all over, another 15 minutes. Let cool and set 5 to 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 911, Fat 53.1, SaturatedFat 14.5, Cholesterol 143.2, Sodium 2708.9, Carbohydrate 80.1, Fiber 11.7, Sugar 20.4, Protein 29.7
THE BEST EGGPLANT PARMESAN RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: medium eggplants, coarse salt, all-purpose flour, dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, pepper, vegetable oil, marinara sauce, fresh basil, low-moisture mozzarella, shredded parmesan cheese, fresh mozzarella cheese
Provided by Gwenaelle Le Cochennec
Categories Dinner
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Cut each eggplant into about ½-inch (1-cm) thick round slices.
- Arrange the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
- Sprinkle the eggplant with half of the coarse salt. Flip the slices over and sprinkle with the rest of the salt.
- Put another baking sheet on top of the eggplant and place something heavy, like a cast-iron skillet, on the top baking sheet to help release moisture from the eggplant. Let sit for 30 minutes.
- Uncover the eggplant slices and pat dry with paper towels. Brush most of the salt from the eggplant with a paper towel, then transfer to a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, oregano, basil, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan until it reaches 375°F (190°C).
- Coat each eggplant slice in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Fry the eggplant in batches until golden brown on both sides, 2-3 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel-lined baking sheet and pat dry using more paper towels to absorb excess oil.
- Pour about 1 cup (260 g) of marinara sauce into a 2½-quart (2 L) baking dish and spread evenly to cover the bottom of the dish.
- Add about 8 eggplant slices (it's okay if they overlap) and cover with ½ cup (130 g) of marinara. Sprinkle with a third of the fresh basil, then top with about a third of the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan. Repeat to make 2 more layers. Finish with the fresh mozzarella cheese and a final sprinkling of Parmesan.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until the mozzarella is bubbling and golden brown.
- Let cool for 10 minutes, then serve garnished with fresh basil.
- Enjoy!
EGGPLANT BAKE WITH RICOTTA AND SPINACH
Main dish vegetarian eggplant bake, easy because you start with frozen breaded eggplant cutlets and a jar of sauce. Goes great with pasta and a salad.
Provided by Ceil Hook
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Place eggplant cutlets on a baking sheet.
- Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Flip, and continue to bake until both sides are golden brown and cutlets are cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes more. Remove from the oven and reduce temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Mix ricotta cheese, spinach, egg, and garlic together in a medium bowl.
- Place 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in the bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish and layer with 1/2 of the eggplant cutlets, 1/2 of the ricotta mixture, and 1/2 of the remaining sauce. Repeat layers with remaining eggplant, ricotta mixture, and sauce. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through and bubbling, about 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 406.8 calories, Carbohydrate 36.8 g, Cholesterol 61.3 mg, Fat 21 g, Fiber 6.1 g, Protein 17.9 g, SaturatedFat 7.3 g, Sodium 849.2 mg, Sugar 11.5 g
Tips:
- Choose fresh, tender eggplant: Look for eggplants that are deep purple in color, smooth, and free of blemishes. Avoid eggplants that are wrinkled or have soft spots.
- Slice the eggplant evenly: This will help them cook evenly. If the slices are too thick, they will take longer to cook and may not soften properly.
- Salt the eggplant slices: This will help to draw out the bitterness. Rinse the slices thoroughly after salting to remove the excess salt.
- Use a good quality marinara sauce: The marinara sauce is an important part of this dish, so choose one that you enjoy the taste of. You can use a store-bought marinara sauce or make your own.
- Don't overcook the eggplant: The eggplant should be cooked until it is tender, but not mushy. Overcooked eggplant will lose its flavor and texture.
- Use fresh spinach: Fresh spinach will give this dish the best flavor. If you don't have fresh spinach, you can use frozen spinach, but be sure to thaw it and squeeze out the excess moisture before using.
- Use a good quality cheese: The cheese is another important part of this dish, so choose one that you enjoy the taste of. You can use Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, or a combination of both.
- Serve the eggplant parmesan hot: This dish is best served hot, so it is important to time the cooking of the eggplant, sauce, and cheese so that they are all ready at the same time.
Conclusion:
Eggplant parmesan is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is a great way to use up leftover eggplant and spinach, and it is also a good source of protein and fiber. With its crispy eggplant, flavorful sauce, and gooey cheese, eggplant parmesan is sure to be a hit with the whole family.
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