simple eggplant parmesan

Last yearI told you that despite it being the opposite of eggplant season, I crave eggplant parmesan incessantly each winter. I mean, who doesn’t want an aromatic, cheese-stretchy, cozy casserole of ziti-like flavors, but without the heaviness of the pasta sometimes, right? What this post omitted was my recipe, which was kind of rude. The truth is that I wasn’t completely comfortable sharing the recipe because it’s not a True eggplant parmesan, or so I believed. It’s not breaded, it’s not fried, and there’s definitely no ricotta. Even the title of the recipe as it was saved on my computer was self-conscious:(Not Really) Eggplant Parmesan. So what changed?Going to Italy this summer!We ordered eggplant parmesan (parmigiana di melanzane) almost every time we saw it on the menu and do you know what would come out? A dish that looked like this — no breading, no crumbs, no ricotta. It made more sense when I read about thehistory of the dish from Emiko Davieswhich I’ll simply link to rather than poorly summarize (it’s fascinating!) but it also gave me the nudge to finally spring the recipe from my kitchen to yours. I think it’s heavenly: Thick slices of fresh eggplant are salted, dabbed dry, and roasted in a generous application of olive oil at high heat until deeply brown on both sides — i.e. almost like fried but without the oil splatters and spread of paper towels to drain the grease. While they roast, you make a simple tomato sauce on the stove with onion, garlic, and pepper flakes softened in olive oil. You fan the slices of eggplant in a dish with sauce under and over them, cover it with a heap of mozzarella and parmesan, and bake it until blistered, cozy, and absolutely spoonable, with stretches of cheese trying to drag each spoonful back to the pan. Spoiler: It will fail; you will win. VideoPreviously6 months ago:Easy Freezer Waffles1 year ago:Eggplant Involtini2 years ago:Baked Farro with Summer Vegetables3 years ago:Shaved Fennel and Crushed Olive SaladandCorn Coconut Soup4 years ago:Salted Caramel Pretzel Blondies5 years ago:Foolproof Cacio e Pepe6 years ago:Cheesecake Bars with All The BerriesandCorn Chowder with Chile, Lime, and Cotija7 years ago:Eggplant Parmesan MeltsandEven More Perfect Blueberry Muffins8 years ago:Angel Hair Pasta with Raw Tomato Sauce,Crispy Peach Cobbler, andCorn Chowder Salad9 years ago:Strawberries and Cream with Graham CrumblesandCorn Cheddar and Scallion Strata10 years ago:Almond-Crisped Peaches,Key Lime PopsiclesandZucchini Parmesan Crisps11 years ago:Mediterranean Baked Feta with Tomatoes,Leek, Chard, and Corn FlatbreadandVanilla Custards with Roasted Blueberries12 years ago:Hazelnut Plum-Crumb Tart,Zucchini Fritters, andNaked Tomato Sauce13 years ago:Eggplant Salad ToastsandPeach Shortbread14 years ago:Griled Eggplant and Olive PizzaandPeach Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting15 years ago:Slow-Roasted Tomatoes,Kefta and Zucchini KebabsandDimply Plum Cake16 years ago:Double Chocolate TorteandSpicy Soba Noodles with Shiitakes17 years ago:Moules Fritesand44-Clove Garlic Soup 6 months ago:Easy Freezer Waffles1 year ago:Eggplant Involtini2 years ago:Baked Farro with Summer Vegetables3 years ago:Shaved Fennel and Crushed Olive SaladandCorn Coconut Soup4 years ago:Salted Caramel Pretzel Blondies5 years ago:Foolproof Cacio e Pepe6 years ago:Cheesecake Bars with All The BerriesandCorn Chowder with Chile, Lime, and Cotija7 years ago:Eggplant Parmesan MeltsandEven More Perfect Blueberry Muffins8 years ago:Angel Hair Pasta with Raw Tomato Sauce,Crispy Peach Cobbler, andCorn Chowder Salad9 years ago:Strawberries and Cream with Graham CrumblesandCorn Cheddar and Scallion Strata10 years ago:Almond-Crisped Peaches,Key Lime PopsiclesandZucchini Parmesan Crisps11 years ago:Mediterranean Baked Feta with Tomatoes,Leek, Chard, and Corn FlatbreadandVanilla Custards with Roasted Blueberries12 years ago:Hazelnut Plum-Crumb Tart,Zucchini Fritters, andNaked Tomato Sauce13 years ago:Eggplant Salad ToastsandPeach Shortbread14 years ago:Griled Eggplant and Olive PizzaandPeach Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting15 years ago:Slow-Roasted Tomatoes,Kefta and Zucchini KebabsandDimply Plum Cake16 years ago:Double Chocolate TorteandSpicy Soba Noodles with Shiitakes17 years ago:Moules Fritesand44-Clove Garlic Soup