First, let’s clear up any confusion. The Italian name for eggplant parmesan – Parmigiana di Melanzane – actually has nothing to do with the Parma region or its eponymous cheese, regardless of the fact that it’s a key ingredient in this favorite dish. The word parmigiana is derived from the Sicilian word parmiciana, which refers to the wooden slats that overlay each other to make window shutters. It was the similar formation of the sliced melanzane, eggplant, in the dish that inspired the name. This is only the beginning of the disputed details of what has become a staple in Italy since the eggplant was said to arrive Sicily in the 15th century. Whether the original recipe even included parmesan cheese at all, whether to bread the eggplant before frying or not and whether the dish originated in Sicily at all or perhaps Parma – all of these things haughtily debated by passionate Italian foodies. 

Get the Recipe: Baked Eggplant Parmesan

Servings: 6
This Baked Eggplant Parmesan is not as heavy as some you may have tasted–and it will transport you to the tables of Prego and the South of Italy.
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Ingredients

  • 3 pounds eggplant, unpeeled, halved lengthwise and sliced 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick
  • 3/4 cup good olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons fresh thyme, minced
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 3 cups marinara sauce, homemade or Rao’s
  • 18 slices fresh mozzarella
  • 12 oz. Fontina, grated
  • 1 oz. Boursin cheese
  • 3/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, torn
  • 6 slices white sandwich bread, cubed 1/2 inch
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled & bashed

For Serving:

  • 2 cups marinera, homemade or Rao's
  • 1/2 cup quality pesto, optional

Instructions 

  • Pre-heat oven 400 degrees F.
  • Lay the eggplant in one layer on three sheet pans and brush each side with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove trays from oven. Turn the slices over and rotate the trays 180 degrees and place back in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes or until tender.
  • In a 10 x 14 x 2-inch baking dish, spoon one cup of the sauce and spread evenly on the bottom. Place a third of the eggplant on top in one layer. Scatter a third of the basil, a third of all the cheeses on top. Repeat twice, starting with the marinara sauce and ending with the parmesan, making sure each layer is evenly distributed.
  • Place cubed bread in a bowl.
  • Over low heat, melt the butter in a small saucepan with fresh thyme and garlic, and let it cook for a few minutes. Fish out the thyme and discard. Pour the melted butter mixture over the bread cubes and toss evenly to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Spread the seasoned bread mixture evenly over the eggplant. Place on a baking tray and bake for 20 – 30 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes to help cheese settle before serving.
  • To serve, add 1/2 cup warmed marinara sauce to a plate, top with slice eggplant Parmesan and drizzle the pesto around the sides.

Video

Author: Jon Ashton
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian