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!
Try SnapCalorie's FREE AI assisted nutrition tracking free in the App store or on Android.
Scan with your phone to download!
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
Directions
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Step 2
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.
Step 3
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.
Step 4
In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce evenly on the bottom.
Step 5
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.
Step 6
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.
Step 7
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.
Step 8
Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
Step 9
Remove from the oven and let it cool for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil before serving.
Step 10
Serve warm as a main dish or alongside a fresh salad and crusty bread for a complete meal.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (2413.4g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 2488.4 |
| Total Fat 147.5g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 55.7g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 6.3g | |
| Cholesterol 256.0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 13960.4mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 192.9g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 48.9g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 71.4g | |
| Protein 114.2g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 0IU | 0% |
| Calcium 2742.0mg | 0% |
| Iron 12.2mg | 0% |
| Potassium 3162.6mg | 0% |
Source of Calories