Ingredients

3 large eggplants, cut into 1/3” rounds

2 cups plain breadcrumbs

3 large eggs, beaten

Vegetable oil, for frying eggplant slices

1 jar marinara sauce, or your favorite tomato sauce

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Place a layer of eggplant slices on a sheet pan lined with paper towels. Sprinkle both sides of slices with salt, and continue layering with paper towels between layers and on top of the final layer. Place a cutting board on top to act as a weight; set aside for 30-45 minutes. (This will remove excess water from the eggplant and prevent your casserole from becoming watery.)

Heat ½-inch vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pan until it spatters up a bit when some breadcrumbs are thrown in. Brown the eggplant slices in batches; approximately 1 minute each side; be careful not to overcrowd. Lower the heat if the slices are browning too quickly. Drain on paper towels.

To assemble the casserole, spread a thin layer of tomato sauce in the bottom of a casserole dish large enough to fit all slices in 3 layers. Arrange a layer of over-lapping fried eggplant slices on top of the tomato sauce. Sprinkle with a third of the mozzarella and a third of the parmesan cheese. Spread a thin layer of sauce on top. Repeat with another layer of eggplant, cheeses, and sauce. Layer the rest of the eggplant slices on top, overlapping again. Top with sauce, then the rest of the cheeses.   

Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly.  Allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 8.     

Mindi Swanson is the Higganum Village Market Masterand long-time food enthusiast. She has been expanding her extensive collection of cookbooks and culinary-appreciative husbands for over 20 years. The Purple Artichoke Catering Company is her one-woman show, specializing in cocktail parties and informal gatherings. She lives in Higganum with her three children/sous-chefs, and their dog, Noodle/disposer-of-kitchen-experiments-gone-wrong.