Cheesy Italian Eggplant Delight
Experience the ultimate comfort food with our Cheesy Italian Eggplant Delight—a luscious, layered casserole that delivers all the classic flavors of Italian cuisine. Tender, golden-fried eggplant rounds are nestled between rich marinara sauce, gooey mozzarella, and nutty Parmesan cheese, all brought to life with a fragrant sprinkle of Italian seasoning. Topped with a crispy breadcrumb crust infused with garlic and a hint of black pepper, this baked masterpiece emerges golden, bubbly, and impossibly enticing. Perfect as a vegetarian main course or paired with a fresh salad and crusty bread, this crowd-pleasing dish is as satisfying as it is easy to make. Indulge in a slice of Italian-inspired comfort today!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 large Eggplant
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- 4 tablespoons Olive oil
- 3 cups Marinara sauce
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons Fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Slice the eggplants into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Lay them on paper towels and sprinkle both sides with salt. Let them sit for 20 minutes to draw out excess moisture, then pat them dry with paper towels.
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, lightly fry the eggplant slices until golden on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Add more olive oil as needed for subsequent batches. Set the cooked eggplant slices aside on a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce evenly on the bottom.
Layer half of the eggplant slices over the marinara sauce. Top with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
Spread 1 1/2 cups of marinara sauce over the cheese layer. Repeat the layers with the remaining eggplant slices, cheeses, seasoning, and remaining marinara sauce.
In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs with garlic powder, black pepper, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sprinkle this breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
Remove from the oven and let it cool for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil before serving.
Serve warm as a main dish or alongside a fresh salad and crusty bread for a complete meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
414 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 24.0 g | 31% | |
| Saturated Fat | 10.0 g | 50% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 33 mg | 11% | |
| Sodium | 2063 mg | 90% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 34.8 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 10.0 g | 36% | |
| Total Sugars | 13.1 g | ||
| Protein | 20.4 g | 41% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 469 mg | 36% | |
| Iron | 1.8 mg | 10% | |
| Potassium | 683 mg | 15% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
