Eggplant Parmesan
Today I’m featuring another recipe from Hubby’s mother. Hubby loves eggplant parm. It’s another one of the things his mom usually makes for us when we’re in town because she knows how much he loves it. Recently, we requested the recipe from her and Hubby made it at home all by himself.
Hubby likes to claim this is a healthy recipe since it’s vegetarian. I would not call this healthy, but it sure is delicious. Hubby used Panko bread crumbs because that’s all I keep in the house. I really this they give a much better texture than regular bread crumbs. If you wanted, you could make this with meat sauce if you feel like it needs some meat. Eggplant is a very meaty vegetables, so I think it’s fine without it.
This recipe also freezes really well. I wish I had thought of that back when we did our kitchen renovation and stocked up on frozen food. Since this makes a whole casserole dish, we ate it for leftovers all week. But if you don’t like leftovers, just portion it out into individual tupperware containers and freeze it after it has cooled completely.
Eggplant Parmesan
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients:
Sauce (1 large jar or homemade)
1.5 lb. eggplant, look for long slender firm eggplant
2 eggs, beaten
1.5 cups Panko cread crumbs, seasoned with salt and pepper
Cooking oil
1 lb. mozz shredded or thinly sliced
1/4 cup parmesan grated
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425.
Peel eggplant and slice about 1/4 inch thick. Dip into egg and let it drip off, then into bread crumbs. Set aside on a sheet of waxed paper.
Heat a jelly roll pan with enough oil to cover the bottom in the oven. When hot, add eggplant but see sure not to over-crowd the pan. Cook until nice and brown and crispy, then turn. Drain on paper towels.
Turn oven to 400.
Layer in a 13x9 baking dish 1/3 sauce, 1/2 eggplant, 1/2 mozzarella cheese, repeat, end with last 1/3 sauce. Sprinkle parmesan on top.
Bake uncovered for 15-20 min.
Recipe from Hubby's mom
Check out my week of Family Favorites here.
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
I have been looking for a great dip recipe, and this one looks delish! I’m glad you got your brother to share your recipe =)
Spinach and artichoke dip is my very favorite. I don’t make it often, but it’s one of those things my family expects at family events. My goddaughter even made me a special artichoke plate to serve it on!
Lucky you to get to share your brother’s secret recipe. Family recipes are the best.
Love this recipe and the fact that fresh spinach is used and not frozen! I love spinach and artichoke dip, but have always been intimidated to make it…. WHY!?!? It looks so simple. On my to-do list! 🙂
Yum…so trying this one on Sunday!! Thanks!!
One of my all time favorites! Yummy!
Yummy! This dip seems to be a favorite of almost everyone 🙂
Dear bean town baker
I’m afraid this isn’t the best way to cook corned silverside – it’s a very tough cut and needs to be braised in water and vinegar to get it tender. I add a range of aromatics and whole spices to the braising liquid – you can try fennel seeds, mustard seeds, star anise, any pickling spices …. But you are right that traditionally bay, peppercorns, cloves, allspice are the mainstays.
I add celery carrot and whole brown onion. I’ve also tried using ginger ale or coke for the braising liquid as suggested in a few online recipes (American) but I don’t think the expense is justified by the extremely subtle differ action in flavor. This is a dish for when you are low in funds after all.
The cut of silverside you get is also key … my mother would always ask the butcher for a piece of silverside from the H-bone – though todays butchers don’t always know what you are talking about when you ask for this!
Simmer it until the beef floats to the top (timing will depend on the size of the piece of beef but usually 3-5 hours). You pop in the carrots and spuds towards the end, and can also steam sliced cabbage over the pot in a colander which traditionally accompanied the dish. (I retrieve the whole onions from the braising liquid and add these to the cabbage along with butter, seasoning and occasionally a few sultanas). The small spuds, once tender, should be tossed with butter salt and pepper and parsley.
It’s crucial to cut the beef against the grain, and you must keep leftovers in the fridge submerged in the braising liquid or they will dry out.
Traditionally the dish is accompanied by a white sauce made from the braising liquid, cream, Dijon mustard (I also add horseradish) white pepper and (my own addition) a dollop of Mayo along with some parsley. It needs to be quite runny.
I hope this is useful to you. This is the way my family have been preparing corned beef for generations. The leftovers are terrific in sandwiches with mustard pickle and cheese.