No Bake Eggplant Parmesan

When crispy met savoury it was a match that would stay with us forever. Food is all about flavours and textures coming together in an appealing way for the purpose of nourishment and enjoyment. This week we have proposed for your pleasure a no bake eggplant parmesan. Typically eggplant parmesan is layered together in a lasagna fashion and baked in the oven for somewhere around an hour, but let’s face it, we don’t always have that kind of time.

Eggplant is believed to have originated from India and the name stems from a white, egg-shaped variety of the vegetable that was at one point very popular. The most shocking fact about eggplant That we dug up is that it contains nicotine, but not to worry, it would take twenty to fourty pounds to equal the nicotine found in one cigarette.

Recipe:

½ cup breadcrumbs or crumbled crackers
2 Large eggs, beaten
1 Eggplant chopped into medallions, about a ¼ inch thick
1 Tbsp. olive oil
50 grams grated parmesan cheese

3 Large tomatoes, skinned and quartered
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
½ Tbsp. rosemary
1 clove garlic, diced
½ Tsp. salt

Soak eggplant in beaten eggs, transfer eggplant to breadcrumbs and coat. In a preheated pan over medium high heat olive oil and then pan fry breaded eggplant until golden and crispy. Place cut tomatoes and olive oil into a pot over a medium heat. Slowly heat and mash until it becomes paste like. Add in spices, salt and a splash of water if needed. Heat through. To serve arrange fried eggplant on plate and pour homemade sauce overtop. Grate or add parmesan cheese tableside.

These days it is more and more likely you have someone in your life that chooses a vegetarian lifestyle and one challenge that faces us is how to include them in a meal while not singling them out. (a prime rib dinner with potatoes served to your guests and a garden salad for them does not really give a welcome impression.) Eggplant parmesan served alongside a chicken parmesan is a close substitute and allows for both a vegetarian option and visually similar to those guests that choose to consume animal protein. So next time you are looking for a vegetarian dish, either for yourself or to include a vegetarian, remember eggplant parmesan. This is a quick option that allows for a delicious combination of crunch and flavour!

Enjoyable Eating,
C.