Eggplant parmesan

Oven-crisped eggplant rounds in an almond and parmesan coating, layered with tomato sauce and mozzarella.

  • A proper home cook
  • Gluten-free
  • Italian
  • Dinner
  • Vegetables
  • Low carb
  • High protein
  • High fiber
  • Meal prep
Hands-on
35 min
Total time
87 min, show breakdown
  • Prep 20 min
  • Cook 55 min
  • Clean up 12 min
Pans
4
Ingredients
10
Cost/serving
$2.90

Per serving

Calories
401
Protein
24 g
Fiber
8.1 g
Net carbs
12 g
Fat
27 g

High in (% Daily Value per serving): Calcium 44%, Vitamin E 40%, Riboflavin (B2) 37%, Selenium 33%, Vitamin B12 30%, Zinc 25%, Magnesium 22%, Vitamin B6 21%

Full nutrition facts, vitamins and minerals. All nutrition is estimated; check your own labels.

Already gluten-free, soy-free.

Ingredients for 4

Tap an ingredient for other units and forms.

  • 700 g eggplants, about 1½ medium

    Same amount as: 1.55 lb, about 1½ medium.

  • 2 large eggs (100 g)

    Same amount as: about 2 medium, about 2 jumbo.

  • ½ cup almond flour, blanched (56 g)

    Same amount as: 120 mL.

  • 50 g parmesan, grated, finely grated

    Same amount as: 1¾ oz, about 10 tbsp.

  • 2 tbsp olive oil (27 g)

    Same amount as: 30 mL.

  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed (6 g)

    Same amount as: 2 tsp fresh minced garlic, 1 tsp jarred minced garlic, ¼ tsp garlic powder.

  • 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes (242 g)

    Same amount as: 240 mL, about ¼ can.

  • 1 tsp dried oregano (1 g)

    Same amount as: 5 mL.

  • 1½ cups mozzarella, part-skim (168 g)

    Same amount as: 360 mL.

  • ¼ cup fresh basil (6 g)

    Same amount as: 60 mL.

  • salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste

Find alternative ingredients

Quantities are for 4 servings. Uses two sheet pans for the slices. Keeps 4 days in the fridge; reheat in the oven so it stays crisp.

Nutrition Facts

4 servings per recipe

Serving size 1 plate (340 g raw)

NutrientPer serving% DV*Whole recipe
Calories401
Total fat27 g35%
Saturated fat8.6 g43%
Cholesterol128 mg43%
Sodium767 mg33%
Total carbohydrate20 g7%
Dietary fiber8.1 g29%
Total sugars10 g
Net carbs†12 g
Protein24 g47%
Vitamin D0.69 mcg3%
Calcium569 mg44%
Iron2.5 mg14%
Potassium775 mg16%
Vitamin A135 mcg15%
Vitamin C10 mg11%
Vitamin E6 mg40%
Vitamin K21 mcg17%
Thiamin (B1)0.15 mg13%
Riboflavin (B2)0.48 mg37%
Niacin (B3)2.5 mg16%
Vitamin B60.36 mg21%
Folate70 mcg18%
Vitamin B120.72 mcg30%
Magnesium92 mg22%
Zinc2.7 mg25%
Selenium18 mcg33%

Estimated, not verified. These numbers are calculated from typical ingredient data and haven't been checked against a lab or your brands. Check the labels of what you buy and confirm anything that matters to you, especially sodium, sugar and allergens.

* % Daily Value shows how much one serving adds to a 2,000-calorie day. † Net carbs is not on US labels; it is total carbs minus fiber, allulose, erythritol and half of other sugar alcohols. "To taste" amounts are counted as written. Counted items (eggs, cloves, spoons) use the rounded amount shown in the ingredient list. Vitamins and minerals are from raw ingredients; cooking lowers some, especially vitamin C and folate. How this is calculated.

Steps

  1. Heat the oven to 200 °C / 400 °F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment and brush with 1 tablespoon of the oil.

  2. Cut the eggplant into 1 cm (½ in) rounds.

  3. Beat the eggs with a pinch of salt in a shallow bowl. In a second bowl, mix the almond flour with half the parmesan.

  4. Dip each slice in egg, let it drip, then press both sides into the almond mix. Lay the slices on the pans.

  5. Bake 20 minutes. Flip each slice. Bake 10 minutes more.

    Done looks like: Golden on both sides. A knife slides through the middle.
  6. While it bakes, mince the garlic. Heat the rest of the oil in the pot on medium. Cook the garlic 1 minute, then add the tomatoes and oregano. Simmer 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper.

    Done looks like: Sauce thickened and no longer watery.
  7. Spread a thin layer of sauce in the baking dish. Add half the slices, half the remaining sauce and half the mozzarella. Repeat. Top with the rest of the parmesan.

  8. Bake 20 minutes. Rest 5 minutes, then tear the basil over the top.

    Done looks like: Cheese bubbling and browned at the edges.

Equipment

Rimmed sheet pan (half sheet) $12–25

What to look for

  • Heavy aluminum that does not warp in a hot oven
  • Rim all the way round so juices stay in

Skip: Dark non-stick sheet pans; they burn the bottoms of vegetables.

Baking dish, about 20 × 20 cm (8 × 8 in) $10–25

What to look for

  • Glass or ceramic, oven-safe
  • Fits your oven with room around it

Skip: Non-stick coated metal dishes; glass lasts longer.

Medium pot with lid, about 2 L (2 qt) $15–35

What to look for

  • Lid that fits snugly
  • Thick base so it does not scorch

Skip: Glass lids that fog up are fine; copper is not needed.

Chef's knife, 20 cm (8 in) $15–50

What to look for

  • Comfortable handle that does not slip when wet
  • Blade you can sharpen, or a cheap one you replace every few years

Skip: Knife blocks with 12 knives. A chef's knife and a small paring knife cover almost everything.

Cutting board $10–30

What to look for

  • At least 30 × 40 cm (12 × 16 in), so food stays on it
  • Wood or plastic; plastic goes in the dishwasher

Skip: Glass or stone boards. They dull knives fast.

Silicone spatula $5–12

What to look for

  • One-piece (no seam where the head meets the handle)
  • Stiff enough to scrape, safe on non-stick

Skip: Wooden spatulas for non-stick pans; they work but do not scrape as cleanly.

What goes wrong

WhatCauseFix
Soggy, spongy slicesSlices too thick, or not baked long enough before layering.Keep them 1 cm (½ in) and bake until a knife slides through.
Coating falls offToo much egg left on, or slices moved while soft.Let the egg drip off before coating. Flip with a thin spatula.
Watery dishSauce not reduced.Simmer the sauce until it no longer pools on a plate.

Notes

Allergies: removing an allergen from the recipe does not remove it from your kitchen or from other products. Check labels for "may contain" warnings.

Pregnancy: Use mozzarella made from pasteurized milk. The egg coating cooks firm in the oven.