Eggplant Parmesan Without Sauce
A classic Italian-American dish featuring breaded and fried eggplant slices layered with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, baked until golden and bubbly.
- Author: sarra
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
- 2 large eggplants, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
- 1 tablespoon salt (for drawing out moisture)
- 2 cups breadcrumbs
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Olive oil, for frying
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Slice the eggplants and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of salt. Let sit for 30 minutes to draw out moisture, then pat dry with paper towels.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare a breading station: place flour in one shallow bowl, beaten eggs in another, and breadcrumbs mixed with 1/2 cup Parmesan in a third.
- Coat each eggplant slice first in flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry eggplant slices until golden brown on each side, about 2–3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
- Spread 1 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Layer fried eggplant slices over sauce, then top with more sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, and basil. Repeat layers, finishing with sauce and cheese.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let cool for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a lighter version, bake the breaded eggplant slices instead of frying.
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make it gluten-free.
- Fresh mozzarella can be used for a creamier texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: eggplant parmesan, baked eggplant, Italian vegetarian recipe, aubergine parmigiana