# Layered Eggplant Parmesan

## Description
This authentic Italian-American Eggplant Parmesan features crispy breaded eggplant slices layered with rich marinara sauce and melted cheeses. A labor-intensive but incredibly rewarding vegetarian dish that originated in Southern Italy and became a staple in American Italian restaurants. The key to perfection is properly salting the eggplant and achieving the perfect golden crust.

## Quick Facts
- Calories: 485 per serving
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Total Time: 135 minutes
- Servings: 5
- Difficulty: hard
- Cuisine: American
- Health Score: 7.2/10

## Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 485
- Protein: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fat: 24g
- Fiber: 8g
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 980mg

## Dietary Information
This recipe is: Vegetarian, Nut-Free

## Ingredients (5 servings)
- 2 large eggplant (about 3 pounds total)
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt (for salting eggplant)
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour (for dredging)
- 4 large eggs (beaten)
- 3 cups breadcrumbs (Italian seasoned)
- 1.5 cups parmesan cheese (freshly grated, divided)
- 4 cups marinara sauce (homemade or quality jarred)
- 1 pound mozzarella cheese (fresh, sliced)
- 1.5 cups olive oil (for frying)
- 0.5 cup fresh basil (torn leaves)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano

## Instructions
1. Slice eggplants into 1/2-inch rounds. Layer in colander, salting generously between layers. Place weight on top and let drain for 30 minutes to remove bitterness.
2. Rinse eggplant slices thoroughly and pat completely dry with paper towels. This step is crucial for achieving crispy coating.
3. Set up breading station: flour in first dish, beaten eggs in second, breadcrumbs mixed with 1/2 cup parmesan in third.
4. Dredge each eggplant slice in flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture, pressing firmly to adhere. Place on wire rack.
5. Heat olive oil in large skillet to 350°F. Fry eggplant slices in batches until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
6. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread 1 cup marinara sauce in 9x13 inch baking dish.
7. Layer half the eggplant slices, overlapping slightly. Top with half remaining sauce, half mozzarella, and 1/2 cup parmesan.
8. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients, finishing with cheese on top. Sprinkle with oregano and pepper.
9. Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake until bubbly and golden, about 15 more minutes.
10. Let rest for 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.

## Allergen Information
Contains: gluten, eggs, dairy

## Tags
italian-american, vegetarian, comfort-food, make-ahead, family-style, cheese-lovers

## Source
Recipe by: CalorieGram AI

## Machine-Readable Data

### Recipe Metadata
```json
{
  "id": "b3f104ae-aa66-4a4d-a27e-072f6b0e7e93",
  "youtube_id": null,
  "title": "Layered Eggplant Parmesan",
  "cuisine_type": "American",
  "meal_type": [
    "lunch"
  ],
  "difficulty_level": "hard",
  "servings": 5,
  "prep_time_minutes": 45,
  "cook_time_minutes": 90,
  "total_time_minutes": 135,
  "health_score": 7.2,
  "created_at": "2025-06-26T07:07:17.000Z",
  "updated_at": "2025-06-26T07:07:17.000Z"
}
```

### Ingredients Data
```json
{
  "servings": 5,
  "ingredients": [
    {
      "name": "eggplant",
      "amount": 2,
      "unit": "large",
      "notes": "about 3 pounds total"
    },
    {
      "name": "kosher salt",
      "amount": 3,
      "unit": "tablespoons",
      "notes": "for salting eggplant"
    },
    {
      "name": "all-purpose flour",
      "amount": 1.5,
      "unit": "cups",
      "notes": "for dredging"
    },
    {
      "name": "eggs",
      "amount": 4,
      "unit": "large",
      "notes": "beaten"
    },
    {
      "name": "breadcrumbs",
      "amount": 3,
      "unit": "cups",
      "notes": "Italian seasoned"
    },
    {
      "name": "parmesan cheese",
      "amount": 1.5,
      "unit": "cups",
      "notes": "freshly grated, divided"
    },
    {
      "name": "marinara sauce",
      "amount": 4,
      "unit": "cups",
      "notes": "homemade or quality jarred"
    },
    {
      "name": "mozzarella cheese",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "pound",
      "notes": "fresh, sliced"
    },
    {
      "name": "olive oil",
      "amount": 1.5,
      "unit": "cups",
      "notes": "for frying"
    },
    {
      "name": "fresh basil",
      "amount": 0.5,
      "unit": "cup",
      "notes": "torn leaves"
    },
    {
      "name": "black pepper",
      "amount": 1,
      "unit": "teaspoon",
      "notes": "freshly ground"
    },
    {
      "name": "dried oregano",
      "amount": 2,
      "unit": "teaspoons",
      "notes": null
    }
  ]
}
```

### Nutrition Data (per serving)
```json
{
  "calories": 485,
  "macros": {
    "protein_g": 22,
    "carbs_g": 48,
    "fat_g": 24,
    "fiber_g": 8,
    "sugar_g": 12,
    "sodium_mg": 980
  },
  "dietary_tags": {
    "vegan": false,
    "vegetarian": true,
    "gluten_free": false,
    "dairy_free": false,
    "nut_free": true
  }
}
```

---
This recipe is from CalorieGram Recipes - Your AI-powered healthy recipe discovery platform.
Visit https://recipes.caloriegram.ai for more healthy recipes.