Patrick’s Eggplant Parm

There are three foods I always request on my birthday: stuffed artichoke, eggplant Parmesan + rice krispy treats. This year my husband surprised me and made eggplant parm when I came home from work on my birthday (which recently passed beginning of January- shout out to fellow Capricorns!). I’m just as surprised as you are that Patrick doubles as a chef! Doctor by day, chef by night- who knew! BUT I will say- I was definitely leery when he said he was going to attempt eggplant parm- I don’t even order it in restaurants- simply because, I grew up in a Sicilian home + my mom’s is just the best. I’ve tried eggplant parm from “great” Italian restaurants and they have always been sub-par. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I LOVED the eggplant parm recipe Patrick found. I love Patrick but I’d never tell him something tasted amazing if it didn’t- I’m Italian aka I can’t lie about food. It is VERY different from the Romano (maiden name) eggplant parm I grew up on- but I truly love both. I will also share the Romano eggplant parm recipe with you guys soon- that one is more like an eggplant lasagna- cut an entirely different style than Patrick’s. 

From the Doctor + Dietitian: Eggplants are high in fiber; therefore, great for GI and cardiovascular health. This is because foods high in fiber have been shown to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and in turn, decreasing heart attacks and strokes. Eggplants are a rich source of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, niacin, magnesium, copper, fiber, folic acid, potassium, manganese, thiamine, and phosphorous. Because eggplants are high in calcium and iron, they are considered great for bone health and preventing anemia.

Fun Fact: Did you know eggplants are technically considered a fruit?! They are related to tomatoes and some even consider eggplant a type of berry! Because of the low sugar/nutrient content, in our minds- it’s still a veggie!

Before we get to the recipe, Patrick followed the recipe [below] exactly; however, we will add some vegan friendly modifications. Feel free to modify amount of cheese/type of cheese. Lastly, you can use your favorite tomato sauce or sauce from a jar- Patrick used my family’s Red Sauce Recipe- which I highly recommend- it’s straight from my Italian ancestors and super simple! It will make this dish a million times better too. Of note, if you’re going to make your own red sauce- we recommend doing this before you get started on the eggplant recipe so it’s ready to go!

ingredients 

Eggplant:

• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten [ok to modify to cashew milk]
• 1 tablespoon water
• 2 cups whole-wheat panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 2 (1-pound) eggplants, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• Cooking spray

Filling:

• 1/2 cup torn fresh basil
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (16-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten [sub with flax egg – 1 tbsp ground flax and 3 tbsp water mixed]
• Remaining ingredients:
• 1 (24-ounce) jar premium pasta sauce [we did not use this, see red sauce recipe]
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 ounces thinly sliced mozzarella cheese
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces) finely grated fontina cheese