Jamie Oliver's Eggplant Parmesan

Jamie Oliver's Eggplant Parmesan
Craig Lee for The New York Times
Total Time
1 hour 45 minutes
Rating
5(5,312)
Notes
Read community notes

This eggplant parmesan recipe is an adaptation of one found in Jamie Oliver’s book, “Jamie’s Italy.” This version of the traditional Italian-American juggernaut omits the often messy process of breading and frying the eggplant, and instead calls for roasting it until golden brown. The eggplant and sauce can be prepared and the dish assembled ahead of time; cover and refrigerate it for up to 2 days and bring it to room temperature before baking. —Marian Burros

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Ingredients

Yield:4 to 5 servings
  • 3medium-large eggplants, cut crosswise into ½-inch slices
  • Olive oil
  • 1large onion, finely chopped
  • 1large clove garlic, thinly sliced
  • teaspoons dried oregano
  • 128-ounce can no-salt plum tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
  • 1tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • ½cup (packed) fresh basil leaves
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • ½cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, or as needed
  • cup fine dry bread crumbs
  • 1tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves, optional
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (5 servings)

284 calories; 13 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 7 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 36 grams carbohydrates; 13 grams dietary fiber; 18 grams sugars; 12 grams protein; 1293 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Brush both sides of eggplant slices with oil, and place in a single layer on two or more baking sheets. Bake until undersides are golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes, then turn and bake until other sides are lightly browned. Set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.

  2. Step 2

    Meanwhile, in a large saucepan over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and add onion. Sauté until soft, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and dried oregano and sauté another 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and their juices, breaking up whole tomatoes with your hands. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Add vinegar, basil and salt and pepper to taste. Into a 9-by-9-inch, 10-by-5-inch or 10-by-6-inch baking pan, spoon a small amount of tomato sauce, then add a thin scattering of parmigiano, then a single layer of eggplant. Repeat until all ingredients are used, ending with a little sauce and a sprinkling of parmigiano. In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and oregano, if using, with just enough olive oil to moisten. Sprinkle on top. If desired, recipe can be made to this point and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before baking.

  4. Step 4

    Bake until eggplant mixture is bubbly and center is hot, 30 to 45 minutes depending on size of pan and thickness of layers. Remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Recipe can also be reheated.

Ratings

5 out of 5
5,312 user ratings
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Cooking Notes

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.

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!

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!

Very nice recipe, but not fabulous. I couldn't help myself: I added a layer of mozzarella cheese on the top.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I used 2# of incredibly ripe paste tomatoes, chopped in place of canned tomatoes. I roasted the eggplant as directed instead used parchment paper. Subbed whole wheat breadcrumbs. Started with an oval ceramic baking dish and about 1/2 way in building the layers knew it was too small and pivoted to the larger one. Not a pretty site but it had to be done. Baked for about 35 minutes until golden and bubbly. It was delicious!

Should have listened to my mother and salted the (homegrown) eggplant to draw out the bitterness. The sauce recipe is a keeper, but the dish was inedible.

Use non stick cooking spray on aluminum foil on the sheet pan when baking the eggplant.

This was a big hit with everyone in my family, including those skeptical about eggplant. Notes: Though I oiled the foil, the eggplant still stuck to it and I’m not sure how to solve that except skipping the foil. Followed recommendations to add equal part pecorino romano, and red wine. Didn’t have bread for crumbs and I did not miss them. I added a few red pepper flakes to the sauce, as I usually do with tomato sauce, and those subtlely lifted the flavors. Will put in my reperatoire.

-Draw bitter out with salted eggplant before baking -Add fresh mushrooms - red wine to sauce with onions

This was wonderful. I was looking around for recipes for the glut of eggplant in my garden, and I somehow couldn't believe that a version of eggplant Parmesan that was as light as this would be flavorful. I made a trial batch, which used up a full recipe of tomato sauce in a much smaller dish than suggested, and it was a delightful dinner. Tomorrow I'll be picking the rest of my eggplant and using a larger baking dish (for freezing). For that dish, though, I'll double the sauce.

I put it in a 9x13 pan, 2 large eggplants, 2 baking sheets, 2 layers of eggplant in the lasagna. I had made extra bread crumbs so it was perfect. I also used blanched & skinned fresh tomatoes for the sauce, simmered about 15 extra minutes and the whole thing was perfect.

I had made this three times in two weeks, it is delicious. It can be prepared fully and frozen reheats beautifully. You can also cook the eggplant freeze them and then complete the recipe later, this works just as well.

Loved this dish! The sauce was fantastic (I did puree it at the end of simmer). I used Pecorino as suggested by others, as well as fresh breadcrumbs. Served with tagliatelle and tossed salad.

Have dish ready to go - but at what temperature should it be baked - seems baking temp. is missing ?

I made this tonight. Used a jar of Rao's sauce and added fresh basil to it. I had 2 medium eggplants and a couple of small yellow squash so I used them all. Made fresh breadcrumbs as suggested by some reviewers. Absolutely delicious! And excited to have the leftovers tomorrow!

It takes some work but not too much, but in my view, also did not have that much flavor. Not sure I'd make it again.

Peel the eggplant

So good! Traditional eggplant parm was always too heavy and cheesy for me, but this version is perfect. Loved the crispy breadcrumbs on top! Will make again. 🍆

Has anyone frozen this? Did you bake then freeze, or just assemble?

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Credits

Jamie Oliver

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