5 Ingredients or Fewer
by: Emma Laperruque
July16,2018
4.6
24 Ratings
- Prep time 20 minutes
- Cook time 40 minutes
- Serves 2
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Author Notes
What if eggplant parm was less like a layered casserole and more like an open-faced sandwich? You’d get this. To make the fresh breadcrumbs, just tear any bread into small pieces by hand. —Emma Laperruque
Test Kitchen Notes
This is one of our Big Little Recipes. Read more here: 5-Ingredient Eggplant Parm Skips the Fuss, Keeps the Cheese. —The Editors
- Test Kitchen-Approved
What You'll Need
Watch This Recipe
Unfussy EggplantParm
Ingredients
- 1/4 cupolive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 (28-ounce) can whole, peeled tomatoes
- 1 teaspoonkosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
- 1 medium globe eggplant
- 1/2 cupfresh breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cupgrated low-moisture, whole-milk mozzarella
- 2 tablespoonsgrated parmesan
Directions
- Get the tomato sauce going. Add the olive oil to a pot and set over medium heat. When it’s shimmery, add the tomatoes and their juices. Smush with a spoon to break up a bit. Add the salt and stir. Cook—somewhere between a simmer and boil, stirring every so often—for about 30 minutes, or until thick and jammy.
- Preheat the oven to 400° F.
- Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise—so, from stem to tush. Now, cut a diagonal crosshatch pattern in each: sort of like a duck breast. Figure 1/2-inch deep, 3/4-inch diamonds. Line a rimmed sheet tray with parchment or foil or a silicone mat. Place the eggplant haves on top, cut side facing up. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Rub both into the eggplant with your hands.
- Roast for about 28 minutes or until tender. During the last couple minutes, add the breadcrumbs to the sheet pan to toast a little. Pull from the oven and raise the temperature to 475° F. Mix the mozzarella and parm in a small bowl to combine. Top each eggplant half with 6 tablespoons tomato sauce, spreading evenly with a spoon. Now top each with roughly a quarter of the cheese. Then each with half the breadcrumbs. Finish with the remaining cheese.
- Bake until the cheese is bubbly and browned, about 4 minutes.
- Let cool a little before serving. Serve with a fork and very sharp, steak-worthy knife.
Tags:
- Italian
- Mozzarella
- Eggplant
- Breadcrumbs
- Tomato
- Parmesan
- Sheet Pan
- 5 Ingredients or Fewer
- Dinner
See what other Food52ers are saying.
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Kellia Brinson
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TGard
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Cheryl
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KakiSue
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Sherry E
Emma was the food editor at Food52. She created the award-winning column, Big Little Recipes, and turned it into a cookbook in 2021. These days, she's a senior editor at Bon Appétit, leading digital cooking coverage. Say hello on Instagram at @emmalaperruque.
Popular on Food52
42 Reviews
Kellia B. February 21, 2023
Meh. Not bad, but not fabulous either. Good for a quick weeknight meal if what you have is a couple of eggplants and half a jar of tomatoes.
ac1 September 1, 2022
It wasn't quite as unfussy as described, but it was good. I found that it tasted much closer to the real thing when we squished the eggplant down on our plates while eating it. That allowed the flavors to blend a bit better. I think I'll make it again.
Chandler R. February 4, 2022
SO delicious. super easy and a great way to get some veggies in. Added some dried basil (and oregano) leaves to the sauce. oh! and garlic. then added a little basil at the end for garnish. it was a hit. the breadcrumbs were a great texture with the eggplant.
NXL December 8, 2021
This recipe was just okay for me.. Fine for a quick Friday night dinner, but not to replace my oven-roasted and layered slices.
TGard September 9, 2021
This is the best deconstructed eggplant parm I've come across. All others have been tossed into the bin. Weeknight, cool; company, impressed; never happy mother-in-law, smiled. The world is a much better place with this recipe in it. I typically use my own red gravy for this recipe, a deeper, richer sauce really makes this elegant on the taste buds.
Anita G. September 9, 2021
Would you have your recipe for your red gravy recipe? I love, love this recipe but would be interested in a "red gravy" recipe.
trvlnsandy January 6, 2021
As at least one or two found -- my eggplant could have cooked longer in the initial roasting. Should have looked at reviews first --- might have cubed it, as similar to another reviewer my husband might have liked it better had I done so. Personally, I think the 28 oz of tomatoes was way too much -- I used a 14 oz can and some tomato paste and still have leftover.
trvlnsandy January 6, 2021
p.s. I liked it and will make it using a small eggplant just for myself. My husband said he didn't like it at all.
Emily D. September 29, 2020
This was delicious. I cooked the eggplant for 35 minutes at 400 degrees before adding the toppings and took it up to 425 for about 10 minutes to finish it. Very easy. I will add it to my repertoire.
sraymond54 September 14, 2020
Delicious!
Kathy July 24, 2020
This is delicious, and easy to prepare. I figured my husband would not be into carving his eggplant, so I chopped the eggplant into 1-inch cubes and roasted that way. Transferred to a baking dish, topped with sauce and cheeses and it was almost lasagna-like. May not be as striking a presentation, but it's just as delicious. What I find amazing is the depth of flavor without using a lot of herbs. This is definitely on our favorites list,
DC's P. April 23, 2020
This was a fast and easy to prepare vegetarian entree. My one quibble is that the initial cooking of the eggplant should be closer to 35 minutes, otherwise cook eggplant at 425 degrees for at least 28 minutes. Other than that, this is a terrific recipe that I will be making time and eggain!
donnap September 24, 2019
This was delicious and easy. I added oregano and basil to the tomato sauce. Also I didn't have bread so I used Panko crumbs. It was great.
Cheryl September 13, 2019
It was good, considering how easy it was to make. I'd like to experiment with eggplant slices--and someone mentioned zucchini.
KakiSue September 4, 2019
This is officially a family favorite- made as directed three times already- once with baby-ish sized eggplants. My youngest nugget (24) has already made it twice. Soooooooo good reheated
Emma L. September 4, 2019
So happy to hear that—thanks!
Sherry E. August 17, 2019
how best to reheat left over half?
Emma L. August 17, 2019
Hi! I would just stick it on a lined sheet tray and warm it up in the oven at 350°F.
Sherry E. August 14, 2019
going to try this weekend, if no breadcrumbs just proceed with recipe? liked a reader idea to make the pasta and have with-
Belma B. September 12, 2018
Thank you for your help .I would love a easy bread recipe
Sarah H. September 11, 2018
Loved this! The edges turned so crispy, but the middle was sweet and gloopy, in the best possible way. Will definitely make again, and going to try it with zucchini as well!
Emma L. September 11, 2018
Yay! Can't wait to hear how the zucchini turns out.
Heather August 13, 2018
Just made this, so good! So easy! Definitely going to make this again.
Anita G. August 5, 2018
I meant zucchini
Anita G. August 5, 2018
This was great! I wonder if it would work with eggplant. Definitely going into my book of favorites.
Emma L. August 5, 2018
Hi Anita! Glad to hear it turned out well :) You could do zucchini instead—great idea!—just adjust the cooking time accordingly. I'd start checking them after 10 minutes on the initial roast and continue cooking until barely tender.
