EGGPLANT PARMESAN WITH FRESH BASIL AND SMOKED MOZZARELLA

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Eggplant Parmesan with Fresh Basil and Smoked Mozzarella image

The heavenly, salty, slightly sweet combination of rich tomato-y marinara, crispy creamy fried eggplant, and smoked mozzarella. I'd call this dish transcendent.

Provided by lindseytr0n

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 1h20m

Yield 5

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 large unpeeled purple eggplant, trimmed and cut into 1/8-inch thick slices
1 teaspoon fine sea salt, or as needed
2 eggs
1 tablespoon whole milk
1 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs, or more as needed
¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil, or as needed
1 (24 ounce) jar prepared marinara sauce (such as De Cecco®)
1 bunch fresh basil, coarsely chopped
1 (8 ounce) package smoked mozzarella cheese, very thinly sliced
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Line a plate with a paper towel; place a layer of 2 or 3 slices of eggplant onto the towel. Sprinkle eggplant with sea salt. Repeat layers of eggplant sprinkled with salt until all eggplant slices are stacked. Place 2 paper towels onto the stack and place a plate on top of the towels. Lay a heavy book or can of food onto the plate to squeeze out moisture. Allow to drip for 20 minutes to 2 hours. Rinse and pat dry.
  • Beat eggs with milk in a shallow bowl. Place bread crumbs into a separate bowl. Dip eggplant slices in the egg mixture and gently press into the crumbs to coat; set aside.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; fry eggplant slices in the hot oil in small batches until golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
  • Pour about 1/4 cup of marinara sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish and arrange a layer of eggplant slices to cover the sauce. Scatter basil and a few slices of smoked mozzarella cheese over eggplant; repeat layers, ending with a layer of sauce on top. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and the cheese has melted, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 459.6 calories, Carbohydrate 44.7 g, Cholesterol 106.8 mg, Fat 22.2 g, Fiber 9.2 g, Protein 21 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, Sodium 1582.1 mg, Sugar 16.1 g

Hope Mahlangu
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This eggplant parmesan is the best I've ever had. The eggplant is crispy and flavorful. The sauce is rich and tangy. And the cheese is perfectly melted and gooey. I highly recommend this recipe.


Alauddin Uk
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I've made this eggplant parmesan several times and it's always a hit. It's so easy to make and it's always delicious. I love the addition of fresh basil and smoked mozzarella. It really makes this dish special. I will definitely be making this again.


Alexandra Hebert
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This eggplant parmesan is one of my favorite recipes. It's so easy to make and it's always a hit with my family and friends. The eggplant is crispy and flavorful. The sauce is rich and tangy. And the cheese is perfectly melted and gooey. I highly rec


Kayra web
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This eggplant parmesan is amazing! The eggplant is cooked to perfection and the sauce is so flavorful. I love the addition of fresh basil and smoked mozzarella. It really makes this dish special. I will definitely be making this again.


Falak Sher
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I love this eggplant parmesan recipe. It's so easy to make and it always turns out delicious. I've made it for my family and friends several times and they all love it. It's a great recipe to have in your repertoire.


Ebuka Enweani
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This eggplant parmesan is the best I've ever had. The eggplant is crispy and flavorful. The sauce is rich and tangy. And the cheese is perfectly melted and gooey. I highly recommend this recipe.


HRidoy Chowdhury
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I've made this recipe several times and it always turns out perfectly. It's a great recipe for a weeknight meal. The eggplant parmesan is easy to make and it's always a hit with my family.


Clemo Dalton
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I'm not a vegetarian, but I love this eggplant parmesan. It's so flavorful and satisfying. I don't miss the meat at all. This is a great recipe for anyone who is looking for a delicious and meatless meal.


Abdurahmn Mughal
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This eggplant parmesan is so delicious and comforting. It's the perfect meal for a cold night. The eggplant is tender and the sauce is rich and flavorful. I love the addition of fresh basil and smoked mozzarella. It really makes this dish special.


Gyalchen Shepra
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I made this recipe for a party and it was a huge hit. Everyone loved it. I even had people asking for the recipe. It's definitely a keeper.


Umojamedia Africa
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This eggplant parmesan is so good, I could eat it every day. The eggplant is perfectly cooked and the sauce is amazing. I love the addition of fresh basil and smoked mozzarella. It really takes this dish to the next level.


Paa Vincee
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I've never made eggplant parmesan before, but this recipe made it easy. The instructions are clear and concise. And the dish turned out perfectly. I'm so glad I tried this recipe.


Tauqeer Guru
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This recipe is a must-try for eggplant lovers. The eggplant is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The sauce is rich and flavorful. And the cheese is gooey and melted. What more could you ask for?


Donya Rahmani
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I'm not a big fan of eggplant, but this dish changed my mind. The eggplant is cooked perfectly and the sauce is so flavorful. I will definitely be making this again.


Shahd Sallem
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I made this for my family and they loved it! Even my picky kids ate it up. It's a great way to get them to eat their vegetables.


Emmanuel Addo
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This recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it's worth the effort. The eggplant parmesan is so delicious and impressive-looking that it's perfect for a special occasion.


Erin Vandepitte
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I was skeptical about the smoked mozzarella, but it really works in this dish. It adds a nice depth of flavor that complements the eggplant and sauce perfectly.


Gilbert Ngetich
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I've made eggplant parmesan many times before, but this recipe is by far the best. The crispy eggplant, flavorful sauce, and gooey cheese are perfection.


Shaneer Shabeer
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This eggplant parmesan is a keeper! The fresh basil and smoked mozzarella add so much flavor and richness. I will definitely be making this again.