Once you know how to make a
basic red sauce
there are many dishes you can prepare with it as a base, Today I'll give
you my recipe for Eggplant Parmesan. It may seem a little complicated
because there are so many steps to breading the eggplant, but it is really
simple to do. My grandchildren love to help do this. Of course they and
the kitchen get very messy but they have a lot of fun , and after all
that's what cooking should be fun. So go ahead and try it with little
hands to help or not.
Ingredients
Peel your eggplant (some people like to leave the skin on, but I find that
the skin imparts a bitter taste) Slice eggplant into thin slices and place
on a paper towel. Salt liberally and let sit till the slices "bleed"
(moisture forms on top). Blot with clean paper towels. Meanwhile, beat
eggs and add water and salt. Pour flour on a flat plate and do the same
with breadcrumbs on another plate Sprinkle a little garlic powder in the
breadcrumbs. Now take one eggplant slice, dip it in the flour, then in the
egg and finally dip it in the breadcrumbs. Stack the breaded eggplant
slices on a large platter.
When done take a large skillet (of course I use my trusty black iron
frying pan) and fill three quarters full with a good oil such as Crisco.
Turn your burner up high and make sure your oil is hot before you start
frying. Place or 4 slices of eggplant in the hot oil and fry till light
brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels and set aside until you finish
frying all the slices of eggplant. When done take a large baking dish and
ladle some of your sauce on the bottom. Take your breaded eggplant slices
and overlap them till your pan is layered. Spoon sauce over them, lay thin
slices of the mozzarella cheese over the sauce, and then build another
layer of eggplant, sauce and cheese. Put in a 350 degree preheated oven
for about 45 minutes or until the cheese starts to brown and your sauce is
bubbling. Serve with a salad and some hot garlic bread. If your family
likes eggplant they'll love this dish. In fact, you'll have a hard job as
I do keeping them from eating the fried eggplant slices as fast as you can
make them!