Eggplant Parmigiana Recipe

Fried eggplant rounds coated with panko bread crumbs, garlic powder, paprika and Italian seasoning make an inexpensive yet delicious vegetarian meal that is perfect for Fridays during the Lenten season.

Ingredients

• 1 medium

  eggplant (with top and bottom cut off) sliced widthwise into 1/4 inch pieces

• 1 cup

  all purpose flour

• 4 large

  eggs

• 1/2 cup

  milk

• 1 1/4 cup

  panko breadcrumbs

• 1 tablespoon

  granulated garlic

• 2 teaspoons

  smoked spanish paprika

• 1/4 cup

  Italian seasoning

• 2 teaspoons

  salt

• 2 teaspoons

  freshly crushed black pepper

• Extra virgin olive oil for frying

• 1 1/2 cups

  shredded mozzarella cheese

• Simple Marinara Sauce, or storebought marinara sauce

Directions

Whisk eggs and milk together in a small bowl.

Combine panko bread crumbs with granulated garlic, paprika, Italian seasoning salt and pepper on a large dinner plate.

Make a dredging station with eggplant rounds on the far left, all purpose flour on a large dinner plate next, egg/milk mixture next, and breadcrumb mixture last.

Dredge first three eggplant rounds in flour on both sides and tap off excess.

Dunk floured rounds in egg/milk mixture, tapping off excess liquid on sides of bowl.

Coat eggplant rounds in breadcrumb mixture.

Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet on medium high heat.

Place eggplant rounds in hot oil with kitchen tongs and cook for three minutes or until golden brown and flip with tongs to cook for three more minutes or until golden brown.

While current eggplant rounds are cooking, dredge, dunk and coat three more eggplant rounds.

Transfer cooked eggplant rounds to a paper towel lined baking sheet to cool and drain.

Add more oil to the pan if necessary, and fry three more eggplant rounds, repeating previous process until all eggplant rounds have been fried.

Place eggplant rounds on a plate with tongs and place mozzarella cheese and hot marinara sauce on top. You can stack the rounds to make towers (as shown) or place them on top of cooked spaghetti. Serve hot.