Eggplant Parmigiana (Grilled Eggplant)

Name: Eggplant Parmigiana (Grilled Eggplant)
Total time: 7200 s
Yield: Serves 2 or makes a generous portion for 1 serving
Ingredients: 1 Italian eggplant (about 1 lb/450 grams); 3.5 oz cooked ham (optional); 1 mozzarella cheese (4.5 oz/125g); 2 cups tomato purée (500 ml); 1/2 yellow onion; To taste, grated Parmesan cheese; To taste, salt; To taste, extra virgin olive oil; To taste, fresh basil; 1 baking dish, 8x6 inches (2 inches high)

Marica Piazzalunga @cook_110575959

Unfortunately, I don't eat eggplant, but my partner loves eggplant parmigiana, so here’s a small portion. Most recipes I find online are for larger groups, which can make it hard to figure out the right amounts.

This version is a little different from the classic parmigiana, just like my grandmother used to make it. 😊
- No fried eggplant (to make a dish that’s already rich a bit lighter).
- A little bit of cooked ham for extra flavor, but you can leave it out if you prefer.

Marica Piazzalunga @cook_110575959

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Ingredients

About 2 hours

Serves 2 or makes a generous portion for 1 serving

1Italian eggplant (about 1 lb/450 grams)
3.5 ozcooked ham (optional)
1mozzarella cheese (4.5 oz/125g)
2 cupstomato purée (500 ml)
1/2yellow onion
To taste, grated Parmesan cheese
To taste, salt
To taste, extra virgin olive oil
To taste, fresh basil
1baking dish, 8x6 inches (2 inches high)

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Steps

About 2 hours

1

Thinly slice half the onion. In a nonstick skillet, add some extra virgin olive oil and the sliced onion, and cook until softened. Add the tomato purée, a pinch of salt, and a few basil leaves. Simmer on low heat for 30–40 minutes.
2

Meanwhile, slice the eggplant crosswise into thin slices, about 1/4 inch (0.5 cm) thick.
3

Grill all the eggplant slices on a grill pan. Be careful not to burn them (remove any burnt parts if needed).
4

While the eggplant is cooking, cut the mozzarella into cubes and let it drain to remove excess liquid (I used a strainer/colander).
5

Once both the sauce and eggplant are ready, you can start assembling the dish.
6

Spread a little sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
7

Add a slice of cooked ham, then 5–6 slices of eggplant (or as many as fit without overlapping). Add a layer of sauce, some mozzarella cubes, and finish with Parmesan cheese. Repeat these layers (ham-eggplant-sauce-mozzarella-Parmesan) until all ingredients are used.
8

On the final layer, add plenty of grated Parmesan to create a nice crust while baking.
9

Bake in a preheated conventional oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 30 minutes. Let it rest for 10–15 minutes before serving.