Jamie Oliver's Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Stacie

Love this recipe, it's delicious. I've made it a few times. It freezes well. I have cut down on the amount of olive oil on the eggplant by putting aluminum foil on the baking sheets and spreading olive oil over it with a brush. After placing the eggplant on it, I put olive oil on the top side of the eggplant. Works fine, tastes the same but less oil.

Nancy

I've made this dish twice now and, just like other posters here, it was completely gone by the end of the meal. The first try, although it was really good, everyone agreed it needed more cheese. So the next time around I used pecorino romano which has a little stronger flavor. Also added fresh thyme along with the fresh basil. Turned out great!

Raul

This recipe is amazing. One of the tastiest ways of having eggplant, however I found the sauce a bit light. The second time I made it, I added a hit of red wine when making the sauce and it was amazing!

Jan

I have made this recipe 4 times this summer and my husband and I just love it. I have tried this with layers of eggplant and zucchini as well as just eggplant. Each time I made my own sauce with fresh tomatoes, garlic, dried red pepper flakes and red wine. One review suggested Romano Pecorino Cheese and instead of Parmesan and to add extra cheese. I totally agree. This recipe can be make ahead as well is great for leftovers.

JoanC

Loved this! I followed the recipe exactly, even using the vinegar in the sauce (which seemed weird to me), but the result was delicious. Finally, an eggplant parm recipe that isn't swimming in oil. The only thing I would suggest, and which I will do next time, is using fresh bread crumbs instead of the dried ones, which it looks like they did in the photograph that illustrates the dish. Fine dry bread crumbs create an odd texture.

marymax

You can brown the eggplant on both sides if you preheat the pan to 450 and brown on the bottom shelf of oven.

Mallory dlR

This was absolutely delicious!

You don't have to tell me twice to add more cheese to anything. I read the reviews and took their advice. :)

The only difference for me would be to leave the sauce uncovered. It was too watery for me even with the baking aspect. That's a personal preference thing. I did uncover halfway through, but it wasn't enough. I would suggest cooking uncovered on the same medium-low setting for maybe 25 minutes.

Lou

This recipe is terrific. The only change I made was that I added about 6 oz. of some sliced fresh mushrooms to it before it all went into the oven. The chewiness of the mushrooms was a nice complement to the eggplant.

Clarence

Woke up this morning and when I wandered into the kitchen, I could still smell the aroma of this wonderful dish.

The extra cheese is important, and since we are just starting Hatch Green Chile time here in Texas, I added a layer of roasted chiles to the dish. Fantastic taste, and a little kick too. This is a terrific meal.

Charlie

Having grown up on fried eggplant slices in my eggplant parm, I have for years resisted all other versions as "inauthentic." How foolish. First, in Italian farmhouses where this dish arose, folks were more likely to roast than fry - because it's cheaper and easier. Second, when it is roasted you can really taste the eggplant. This recipe is terrific. My variation is to grill the slices with just a tiny bit of apple chips. Just a bit of smoke, not too much. Very nice.

Michael

Add some red wine while cooking the onions.

After the tomatoes are nice and tender and you've added the basil/oregano go ahead and immersion blend the sauce so the red wine vinegar acts as an emulsifier for the olive oil that's already in the pan.

I used Locatelli cheese for the dish, interested in how it would go with Grana Padano.

My girlfriend, who is from a very Italian family, said that her mother probably would have smacked her because she likes it better than moms.

Stan

Heeding earlier comments I used more cheese-1 1/2 cups of parmesan and pecorino romano. It was delicious! Because the cheeses are salty I will not add salt to the sauce the next time.

Robin

Very tasty and light. After reading the other notes I added a dollop of anchovy paste and a spoonful of capers. I used crushed tomatoes and didn't have a problem with too much liquid.

Kim

I found this recipe on the web yesterday and made it last night with eggplant delivered in yesterday's CSA basket. I hastened the process by using a store bought organic basil tomato sauce and added some fresh grated mozzarella in addition to the Parmesan. It was absolutely delicious. I intend to use the left overs by incorporating them into tonight's risotto...or perhaps a pasta.

Anna

Delicious recipe and the perfect base to add flavors. I read the reviews and picked my favorites: - roast the eggplant on the parchment paper.- added 3 anchovies filets, and a tablespoon of capers to the tomato sauce and let it simmer - at the end of cooking the tomato sauce, I added fish sauce - the eggplant needed more time; plan for 45-50 min for both sides to get a nice color.- 100 grams of Gran Padana and 100 grams of Pecorino Romano

adam

In full agreement that this a great recipe. I think to give the tomato sauce a greater depth of flavor, it should really be cooked down more. Add anchovy and tomato paste, deglaze with wine, and cook for a full 40 minutes.

DawnM

I made this as written, and the sauce was really lacking - in fact, no one asked for seconds, or even commented on it (it looked lovely). Next time I will use pecorino romano as some have suggested, and add tomato paste & wine to the sauce to give it some "oomph." Also may do as others have suggested and add mozzarella. It needs to be tweaked to achieve "memorable" status.

StillLearning

We loved this. Served with simple salad and bread. Not difficult, but time consuming. Based on other comments, I used parchment, and added mushrooms, fireroasted diced tomatoes, and extra garlic to the sauce. Used pecorino, and topped with small amt of mozzarella with the breadcrumbs.. With the additions, had enough sauce and eggplant for a 9x13.

charlie lawrence

I love this recipe but it takes forever to brown the eggplant. 10-15 minutes is totally unrealistic, more like 30-40 min!

barbara

Did the recipe as written, but grilled the eggplant slices in a Foreman grill - NO olive oil, breading and frying: tasted GREAT. Super simple, easier cleanup!

Raj Menon

Loved this recipe. Haven’t enjoyed egg plan Parmesan this much. Added half a spoon on red chili flakes and would have like a bit more sauce. But awesome the way it was

a staple recipe in my house

I make this recipe at least twice a month. I often double it and refrigerate the second dish after step 3.

Low carb maker and baker

This was SO GOOD!!!! I couldn't help it and added mozarella and also doubled the parm as others suggested. Snuck 1/2 tsp red chilli flakes into the sauce. I love this dish but we think this was the best recipe ever -- with the mozza of course :)Skipped the flour too!

Lorry Taylor-Sheasgreen

I have made this recipe many times and have found that it is not only delicious but easier by far than some other eggplant parmigiana recipes. I must confess, I don't make the sauce but use one made by a good and reliable local business. I add a little parsley for flavor. I don't think the breadcrumbs improve the recipe.

Schiff Note

Add thyme

Ted

This is a great recipe. I've make it a few times. It won me over to eggplant, something I never liked before. This is delicious, and easy.

Lisa Houck

Like others, I was raised on thin, fried eggplant slices for eggplant parm, and to save others from making my mistake I offer this: if you slice the eggplant for this dish too thinly, it disappears. Next time, 1/2” thick slices at least. Also, because I happen to really like the breaded version, I sprinkled each layer with panko along with a 2/3-1/3 mix of Romano and Parmesan. Except for the disappearing eggplant, it was really good!

Eve

I found this too heavy on the tomato sauce.

AndiB

I’m an amateur and this was easy. Lined pans with foil, preheated with oven, spray with olive oil and brushed on oil on tops. Cooked about 15 minutes per side, one pan, was double insulated and needed a little more time to brown the eggplant. The rest of the recipe was straightforward and easy. Was I supposed to chop the basil? I don’t think the recipe said to, and so I just threw in whole leaves. Will shred or tear next time.

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Jamie Oliver's Eggplant Parmesan Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep eggplant Parmesan from getting soggy? ›

You want to do the most to protect your eggplant. Salting it to remove moisture before it starts cooking is very important (and letting it squeeze out excess moisture beneath the weight of a heavy pot for an hour is crucial, too). Then cut it lengthwise instead of across into medallions.

Should you sweat eggplant before making eggplant Parmesan? ›

Salt your eggplant slices and let them sit for about 30 minutes or so on a large tray lined with paper towel! The salt will draw out the moisture, and the eggplant will also "sweat out" its bitterness. This step also helps to somewhat break eggplant's "spongy" texture.

Do you leave the skin on eggplant for eggplant Parmesan? ›

The peel of an eggplant is completely edible. However, as the eggplant grows bigger and matures, the peel may become tough and bitter. People often prefer to peel larger eggplants because of this, but smaller eggplants do just fine unpeeled. It ends up being a matter of personal preference.

What is the secret to eggplant parmesan? ›

The secret to great eggplant parmesan

And that is to eliminate entirely the breading step of the recipe you are most likely in possession of. Adding the breading means the eggplant slices spend too much time in the oil during browning and provide extra places for that oil to get sucked up.

What is the mistake for eggplant parmesan? ›

Using too much sauce

Eggplant Parmesan deserves a delicious sauce, but the dish shouldn't be flooded with the stuff. For one, tangy, acidic tomato sauce will overpower the taste, and the texture will suffer too. Adding too much sauce to your eggplant Parmesan will result in soggy eggplant Parmesan soup.

Do you need to salt eggplant for eggplant parm? ›

Modern eggplant has had bitterness nearly bred out of it, so many cooks have given up the practice. Salting the slices for eggplant Parmesan is not to prevent bitter flavors, but to season the eggplant itself and, at least in my experience, keep the eggplant from sucking up too much of the olive oil from frying.

What happens when eggplant is not salted before frying? ›

Salting eliminates bitter flavors that come from storing your eggplants too long or using older eggplants. Today's eggplants may be sweeter, but they still have some bitter liquid inside, especially if they are not fresh. Fried eggplant is crispier and more savory when it's been pre-salted.

Is eggplant ok if a little brown is inside? ›

Is Brown Eggplant Safe to Eat? If an eggplant has brown spots or dark shading but shows no other signs of spoiling, such as softness, slime, or odor, then it's safe to eat. It's likely just been exposed to air and is experiencing enzymatic browning.

Why is my eggplant Parmesan watery? ›

Avoid using fresh mozzarella, as it can add too much extra moisture and make the eggplant parmigiana watery.

Why is my eggplant parm oily? ›

Its inner flesh acts like a sponge, soaking up every drop of oil it touches. It becomes sodden, greasy, and ultimately makes for quite a heavy dish. But it doesn't have to be that way — this is how to prevent greasy eggplant from happening and instead, enjoy a crispy eggplant dish.

Can you assemble eggplant parmesan ahead of time? ›

Making Eggplant Parmesan Ahead of Time

With that said, you can layer and assemble the eggplant parmesan in the baking dish, cover it, and refrigerate it overnight. From there, bake it as the recipe instructs, but you may need to add 10-15 minutes to the overall cook time.

Do you take seeds out of eggplant for eggplant parmesan? ›

We want less seeds to have the driest eggplant slices possible. Also, bigger eggplants can yield a more bitter taste. (We actually got to PICK our own italian eggplants in Tuscany for this dish). parmesan cheese - Don't you DARE buy the pre-shredded kind!

How to cook eggplant without it getting soggy? ›

A useful tip to prevent sogginess and greasiness is to salt sliced or diced eggplant and let it sit for an hour.

How do you keep eggplant firm when cooking? ›

Depending on the recipe, you might want to slice and salt globe eggplant slices before cooking them in order to draw out some of the water and keep them from turning to mush.

How do you keep eggplant from getting soft? ›

Wrap each eggplant in a paper towel or inside a paper bag with the top left open. That way the fruits can still breathe, and the paper will absorb any excess moisture that could cause them to unduly soften.

Can I assemble eggplant parm the day before? ›

Making Eggplant Parmesan Ahead of Time

With that said, you can layer and assemble the eggplant parmesan in the baking dish, cover it, and refrigerate it overnight. From there, bake it as the recipe instructs, but you may need to add 10-15 minutes to the overall cook time.

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