Grilled Eggplant Parmesan
I know. I'm on a grilling kick lately.
It's because the heat has finally settled here- and most places I think (Except for the bizarre places that got snow last week. I need my flip flops in May/June. I can't handle snow.), and I have reached the place where having the oven on past 9 am seeks like the worst idea EVER. Which will probably help with my cookie problem.
Unless I switch cookies for ice cream.
So usually we are pretty boring and we grill chicken. Which is still boringly awesome because of this best grilled BBQ chicken recipe. But lately I've been grilling everything, and now we can add eggplant to the list.
Traditional eggplant parm is one of my kids' favorite things. But I don't make it very often 1)because I'm not really into frying things at home. It's just not my thing. 2)because there are a zillion steps and my fingers get all gummy from the egg + breading and I manage to dirty every bowl in the kitchen, and 3)it feels kind of heavy for a summer meal. Eggplant parm, to me, is like cozy and comforting January food.
Until today.
This Grilled Eggplant Parmesan is actually really fast, the mess can be confined to one little tray that you tote outside, and it's not heavy at all!
Welcome to May, eggplant parm. I might love you even more than your January cousin.
- 1-2 medium eggplant, cut into ¼-½" thick slices
- 2 tablespoons salt
- ½ cup warm water + 8 cups cold water
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- kosher salt to taste (optional)
- 1½ cups tomato sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 tablespoons Panko bread crumbs
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- sliced fresh basil, oregano, and shaved Parmesan cheese to garnish
- Place the eggplant slices in a large deep bowl or pan. Dissolve the salt in the warm water and pour it over the eggplant. Pour the cold water over it. The eggplant will float so find something to weigh it down- I flip a bowl upside down and place it right on top of the eggplant. Let it stand for 30 minutes.
- While the eggplant soaks, gather the rest of your ingredients. I like to put everything on a tray so that cooking outside is a little easier because once you start grilling this goes fast! A small bowl for the oil + a brush is helpful. You'll also want to have a clean plate, a spatula, and a spoon for the sauce.
- Combine the 3 Tablespoons Panko bread crumbs with the 2 teaspoons olive oil.
- Heat the grill to about medium.
- Drain the eggplant and pat it dry. Brush one side with the olive oil, sprinkle with the kosher salt if desired, and place the slices, oil side down, on the hot grill.
- Cook for a couple minutes- until nice grill marks appear on the side touching the grill. While the eggplant cooks, brush the top with olive oil.
- FLIP!
- While the eggplant cooks on the second side, spoon tomato sauce onto each slice.
- When the second side is done, remove the slices to the clean plate. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese, and then the bread crumbs.
- Top with the fresh basil, oregano, and shaved Parmesan. Serve immediately.
Eggplant grilling method based on the Perfect Grilled Eggplant recipe at About.com
Being a senior citizen that loves food and cooking but needs to focus on nutrition and less fat....Will certainly try this. Thanks Genyne
Thanks, Genyne! Hope you enjoy!
These look so good!!! Need to make these!
Do it.
I'm not a big fan of Italian food but I gotta say eggplant is one of the few dishes I will eat...and this looks SO good!!
When I visit my family back home I always like to cook them up a meal they'll love, and them being eggplant overs, this looks perfect!
You know I have never eaten eggplant and I find that odd since I love almost every vegetable (except mushrooms..can't get past the fungi part of their existence)..this looks so much better than that parmigiana way i see most folks eat it..
for you ( and since it looks so darn good) i shall give this a go ..
stay tuned 🙂
Try it try it!!! I can't believe you've never had eggplant! Make no mistake-- fried eggplant parm is delicious because um... it's fried. But you don't really get to enjoy the eggplant that way. THIS way is definitely seasonally appropriate, but also it lets the veggies shine! Let me know how you like it! (I love that you actually try the recipes you find here-- makes me happy!) Have a great weekend, Lynne!
Who needs chicken anyway? This looks a million times tastier 😀
Cheers
CCU
Thanks, Uru!
Heather, this is a great grill recipe! I'm ready for summer grilling and will try this!
It is really fast and simple. I was thrilled my plan worked out lol (sometimes my food ideas are better in theory). Hope you'll try it!!
Looks good! I'll have to save this for summer when we have tons of eggplant!
Yes! Are you growing eggplant? Because I think that would be awesome.