Melanzane alla Parmigiana/Eggplant Parmigiana

Searching for a great Italian melanzane recipe? This classic eggplant parmigiana recipe is one of the greatest of all Tuscan recipes.

Melanzane, by the way, is what Italians call eggplant or aubergine and this is the best way to cook eggplant/aubergine/melanzane in my view.

A Story About this Melanzane Recipe

A friend of ours, a signora by the name of Elena, let me share this previously secret recipe on my site. 

Elena is from Tuscany and she tells me that this recipe has been in her family for many generations.  

She learned to cook it from her mamma and nonna when she was little and they learnt it from their mothers and nonnas in turn.

It is so much a family tradition that it has never been written down... before now that is.

I've tried many melanzane/eggplant recipes before, I thought they were great...then I tried this one. WOW!

If you like it too please click like below.

Serves 4

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

6 melanzane (eggplants), sliced lengthways about 6mm thick

olive oil

30g butter

salt, to taste

500g tomato sauce (made with peeled tomatoes, an onion, a carrot, stick of celery, basil and a little olive oil)

50g grated Parmigiano Reggiano

a handful of basil leaves, chopped

250g fiordilatte mozzarella

Instructions

1) Preheat the oven to 180°C.

2) Place the melanzane (eggplants), on a baking tray then brush with olive oil.

3) Place in the oven until soft. Remove.

4) Butter a baking dish then layer the bottom with the melanzane (eggplants). Season with salt.

5) Cover with the tomato sauce, Parmigiano Reggiano, chopped basil and mozzarella. Repeat for at least 3 layers.

6) Cover the last layer of melanzane (eggplants),  with only tomato sauce then place a few rounds of mozzarella slices on top.

7) Bake in a 180 degrees celsius oven for 20 minutes. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

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