Mom’s Best Eggplant Parmesan
Mom’s Best Eggplant Parmesan is made with chopped eggplants lightly sautéed until golden brown, then topped with a layer of fresh marinara sauce, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and fresh basil. It’s simple, easy, and delicious!! Mom’s recipe makes a very light, no-carb, gluten-free, and very tasty Eggplant Parmesan. And, it’s one of her’s best eggplant dishes because it requires minimal work.
We love eggplant all summer long and this happens to be our family’s favorite.
Mom’s Best Eggplant Parmesan is so good and tasty, once you try it, you can’t help but go back for more!
Because her method of making this dish is so easy and simple, you’ll want to make her recipe all year long!
When you add freshly made marinara sauce along with some grated Parmigiano cheese and fresh basil on top – it takes it to a whole new level!
No need to weigh it down with bread crumbs or with tons of shredded mozzarella. Only a few fresh ingredients are all you need, adding a lot of flavor to the tender eggplants.
Mom’s Best Eggplant Parmesan is also best served warm or at room temperature.
It makes for a fabulous side dish to serve with grilled meats and fish.
Here is a great tip!
How to buy the best eggplants?
- When buying eggplants, look for ones that are firm, not soft to the touch.
- Also, try holding one in each hand to find the ones that are lighter in weight.
- The lighter ones in weight will not be entirely full of seeds which makes the eggplant taste bitter.
- Plus, the lighter the eggplant is in weight, the better the quality, and the tastier when grilled, sautéed, or roasted.
*Follow our easy steps or jump down for our full recipe card!
Ingredients for Mom’s Best Eggplant Parmesan:
-
2 large eggplants
-
1/2 cup of vegetable or olive oil
-
1 to 2 cups of prepared Mom’s Quick Marinara Sauce
-
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
-
freshly chopped basil leaves
DIRECTIONS:
1. First, cut and chop the eggplants to about 1 to 2-inch pieces.
2. In a deep skillet, heat about 1/2 cup of oil on medium heat.
3. When the oil is hot, carefully add the eggplant to fill the bottom of the skillet. Sauté for a minute or so, watching them and turning them until they are golden brown.
4. Remove and drain on 2 to 3 sheets of paper towels in a deep foil pan. Spread evenly onto paper towels, this will help drain the oil from eggplants very well.
5. Add another layer of paper towels on top of the eggplant and continue to sauté and drain on top of paper towels again.
6. Once you have finished cooking all the eggplant. Place another 2 sheets of paper towels on top. Lightly press down on top, and set aside for about 15 minutes or more, allowing them to continue to drain the oil.
QUICK NOTE: The longer you leave them in paper towels, the better the paper towels will absorb the excess oil, leaving the eggplant less oily.
7. When ready to serve. Lightly warm up some marinara sauce. Remove and discard all paper towels.
8. Transfer the sautéed eggplants to a serving platter. Spoon lightly with marinara sauce over the eggplant. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil on top and serve.
Serves 6 to 8
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Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Mom's Best Eggplant Parmesan
Mom's Best Eggplant Parmesan is made with chopped eggplants lightly sautéed until golden brown, then topped with a layer of fresh marinara sauce, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and fresh basil. It's simple, easy, gluten-free, and delicious!!
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Total Time
20 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 large eggplants - rinsed
- 1/2 cup of vegetable or olive oil, and extra as needed
- 1 to 2 cups of prepared Mom's Quick Marinara Sauce
- 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- freshly chopped basil leaves
Instructions
- First, cut and chop the eggplants to about 1 to 2-inch pieces.
- In a deep skillet, heat about 1/2 cup of oil on medium heat. When the oil is hot, carefully add the eggplant to fill the bottom of the skillet. Sauté for a minute or so, watching them and turning them until they are golden brown.
- Remove and drain on 2 to 3 sheets of paper towels in a deep foil pan. Spread evenly onto paper towels, this will help drain the oil from eggplants very well. Add another layer of paper towels on top of the eggplant and continue to sauté and drain on top of paper towels again.
- Once you have finished cooking all the eggplant. Place another 2 sheets of paper towels on top. Lightly press down on them, and set aside for about 15 minutes or more, allowing them to continue to drain the oil. The longer you leave them in paper towels, the better the paper towels will absorb the excess oil, leaving the eggplant less oily.
- When ready to serve. Lightly warm up some marinara sauce. Remove and discard all paper towels.
- Transfer the chopped eggplants to a serving platter. Spoon lightly with marinara sauce over the eggplant. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil on top and serve.
- Serves 6 to 8
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6 to 8 servingsServing Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 160Total Fat: 13.9gCarbohydrates: 10.6gFiber: 5.3gSugar: 5.6gProtein: 1.3g
Your eggplant parm looks so good and so healthy! You know what's funny? I have never cooked with eggplant. Can you believe it? It's just one of those things that I have been intimidated by, that and making a bread with yeast! I think every cook has something that they're intimidated with! xoxo, Jackie
Gosh, me too! I am still intimidated about making certain things, like home-made pasta- I know it sounds easy right? But I have yet to make some. So funny how we think…:) Anna
Oh please do!! , We would love to be a guest on your blog! You are an amazing woman! :)Anna and Liz
Eggplant parm is seriously one of my favorite meals of all time! Have to try your version!