Eggplant Parmesan Deconstructed Recipes

DECONSTRUCTED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 11 minutes if using Cavaatppi pasta. Drain pasta and add to a large bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat
• Once the oil is hot, add diced eggplant, 1 tablespoon of dried basil, 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, salt and pepper.
• Stir the eggplant often white sauteing to ensure it doesn't stick to the bottom of hte pan.
• If eggplant is sticking, slowly add a little more olive oil. Don't add to much more or the eggplant will become soggy.
• Saute for about 10 minutes, until eggplant is golden brown and soft, but not soggy.
• Remove from heat and add eggplant to bowl with pasta
• Return same pan to the stove and heat additional 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat
• Add panko breadcrumbs and remaining 1 tablespoon of dried basil and 1/2 tablespoon of dried oregano
• Lightly toast the breadcrumbs, just until golden brown (about 1 minute). Stir constantly to avoid sticking
• Remove pan from heat
• In the large bowl with the cooked pasta and eggplant, add the fresh mozzarella cheese and halved cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes
• Add the toasted breadcrumb mixture and parmesan cheese evenly over the pasta
• Garnish with fresh basil

DECONSTRUCTED ROASTED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Add the eggplant, garlic, oil, salt and pepper to a bowl and mix together.
• Place mixture on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes; turning halfway. Remove from the oven and reduce oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the roasted eggplant mixture back to the bowl, add 3/4 cup of the cheese, sauce and breadcrumbs; mix well.
• Place mixture in an oven safe 2 quart baking dish and sprinkle the top with the remaining cheese.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is bubbling.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN DECONSTRUCTED

Steps:

• Place the eggplant slices in a colander over a bowl. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let stand 20 minutes. Drain and pat slices dry with a paper towel. Season with pepper.
• Working in batches, heat some of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (you will need about 1/2 cup total for frying, less with a nonstick pan). Add as much eggplant to the skillet as fits comfortably in a single layer. Cook, without moving, until undersides are dark golden, about 4 minutes; flip and cook 3 to 4 minutes more. Transfer eggplant to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining oil and eggplant.
• Let the skillet cool for a few minutes. Return it to medium heat and add 3 tablespoons oil. Smash and peel 4 garlic cloves and add them to the skillet; cook until golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and oregano. Cook, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spatula, until tomatoes start to form a sauce, 15 minutes. Add the basil sprigs and 4 tablespoons Parmesan; simmer 5 minutes longer.
• While the sauce simmers, in a small skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon oil. Mince 1 garlic clove and add to the skillet with the bread crumbs. Toast, stirring, until bread crumbs are just golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon Parmesan and a pinch of salt.
• Arrange eggplant on a large platter. Spoon dollops of ricotta over the eggplant and top with sauce. Scatter bread crumbs over sauce. Top with mozzarella and garnish with torn basil leaves. Drizzle with oil and serve.

DECONSTRUCTED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• To prepare the eggplant, sprinkle with about 1/2 teaspoon salt and let stand, in a colander, about 20 minutes; drain, pat dry, and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat some of the oil in a large skillet, over medium high heat, and cook eggplant, undisturbed, until golden, about 4 minutes; flip and cook an additional 3 to 4 minutes (you'll need to do this in a single layer and in batches).
• Drain eggplant on paper toweling; repeat until all the eggplant is cooked.
• Turn heat down to medium, add 3 tablespoons of oil and add 4 garlic cloves; cook until golden, about 2 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and oregano; cook, breaking up the tomatoes, until they start form a sauce, about 15 minutes.
• Add basil and 4 tablespoons Parmesan; simmer 5 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, heat a small skillet, over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon oil, mince the remaining garlic and add to the skillet, along with the bread crumbs; toast, stirring, until bread crumbs just start to brown, about 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon Parmesan; season with a pinch of salt.
• To serve, arrange eggplant on a large platter and spoon dollops of ricotta over, then top with sauce; scatter bread crumb mixture over sauce, top with mozzarella and garnish with basil leaves, then drizzle with oil.

EGGPLANT PARM ONE-POT PASTA

Steps:

• Add the butter to a large Dutch oven over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add the breadcrumbs and toast until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in the Dutch oven until hot. Add the garlic, eggplant and onion, season with the salt and cook, stirring, until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, pasta, chicken stock, red pepper flakes and basil. Bring to simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Remove the lid and stir in the Parmesan and mozzarella. Turn off the heat and continue to stir until the cheese has melted and the sauce is thick.
• Serve garnished with plenty of toasted breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley and basil.

DECONSTRUCTED EGGPLANT PARMESAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner and another baking sheet with a wire rack.
• For the eggplant: In a bowl, toss the tomatoes with the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, brown sugar and some salt. Evenly place the tomatoes on the lined baking sheet. Place in the oven and roast until slightly caramelized and dried out a bit, 20 to 30 minutes. Set aside.
• Set the eggplant slices on the wire rack (if you don't have a rack you can use a colander set in the sink). Sprinkle salt on each side of the eggplant and let the salt do the work for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Once the salt has released moisture from the eggplant, pat the slices dry with paper towels. Then sprinkle each side of the eggplant with pepper.
• Set up a standard breading station with the flour in one shallow dish, the eggs in another and the panko mixed with the Parmesan in a third dish. Dredge each eggplant slice in the flour, shake off any excess, dip in the egg, let any excess drip off and then coat in the panko. Set aside on the wire rack and repeat.
• In a large cast-iron skillet, heat 1-inch vegetable oil to 350 degrees F.
• Working in small batches, fry the eggplant slices, turning once, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes a side. Using a pair of tongs, transfer back to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining eggplant. Make sure to season the eggplant as it comes out of the oil.
• For the sandwich build: Butter and griddle both sides of the buns until golden and crispy (you can toast the buns as well). Tear the burrata over the bottom buns, then add 2 hot eggplant slices, some roasted tomatoes, a few pickled cherry peppers and some fresh basil leaves on each bun. Serve to applause.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN PASTA

Steps:

• In a high-sided large (12-inch) skillet with a lid, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium. Add panko, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring constantly, until golden and crispy, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Set a large pot of salted water to boil.
• Wipe out the skillet and heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add eggplant and drizzle over the remaining ¼ cup oil. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is softened, about 8 minutes. Add in tomato paste and stir constantly until lightly caramelized on the bottom of the skillet, about 2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, basil sprig, oregano and 1½ cups of water, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
• Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally and smashing some of the eggplant, until the eggplant is very tender and the sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes. Discard the basil sprig.
• Meanwhile, in the large pot of water, cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain.
• Add cooked pasta, reserved pasta water and the eggplant sauce to the large pasta cooking pot, and cook over medium heat, stirring, until sauce thickens and coats the pasta, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in ¼ cup of the chopped basil.
• Add Parmesan to the panko and mix well. Divide the pasta in bowls and top each with some of the mozzarella. Sprinkle over cheesy bread crumbs, and garnish with the remaining basil.

CHEESY EGGPLANT PARMESAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Brush about 2 tablespoons olive oil onto eggplant slices; arrange in a single layer in a shallow baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until eggplant is tender and browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove eggplant from oven and reduce temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat; cook and stir onion, mushrooms, and garlic until onion is softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomato sauce, basil, and oregano; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce is slightly reduced, about 10 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange about 1/2 the eggplant slices in a 2-quart casserole dish; top with 1/2 the sauce, 1/2 the mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 the Parmesan cheese. Repeat layering with the remaining ingredients.
• Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbling, about 25 minutes. Cool for about 5 minutes before serving.