Eggplant parmesan recipes and vegetarian variations

Traditional eggplant parmesan involves slicing eggplant, salting it for 30 minutes to remove moisture and bitterness, and dredging the slices in flour before frying them until golden. The slices are then layered with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and Parmigiano, then baked. To maintain texture, it is recommended to drain fried slices on a wire rack rather than paper towels.

A vegetarian variation features eggplant parmesan meatballs. These are made by mixing roasted eggplant with cheese, seasoned breadcrumbs, and fresh parsley. The meatballs are served in marinara sauce with dollops of ricotta. If the eggplant mixture is too watery, additional breadcrumbs can be added to help the meatballs maintain their shape.