Eggplant Parmesan

WARNING - this recipe, as directed, is A LOT of work - like 4 to 5 hours, but it's delicious! A simpler version is to buy a pre-made sauce but because bought sauces can be watery, it will make the eggplant mushy. Instead, cook the eggplant in the oven with the cheese and put the sauce on after. It won't look as pretty, but it will still taste great.

Serves 12

Marinara (it won't be runny, it's chunky):

• • 1/4 cup olive oil

  • 1 head of garlic, cloves crushed

  • 1 large red onion, chopped

  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste

  • 1/4 cup dry white wine

  • 2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes

  • 1/4 cup torn basil leaves

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

  • Kosher salt

Eggplant and assembly:

• • 4 pounds Italian eggplants (about 4 medium), peeled, sliced lengthwise 3/4 inch thick

  • Kosher salt

  • 3 cups panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

  • 1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 1/2 cups finely grated Parmesan, divided

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 5 large eggs, beaten to blend

  • 1 1/3 cups olive oil

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped basil and parsley, plus basil leaves for serving

  • 6 ounces low-moisture mozzarella, grated (about 1 1/3 cups)

  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced

Marinara:

• • Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat oil in a large heavy ovenproof pot over medium. Cook garlic, stirring often, until golden, about 4 minutes. Add onion, anchovies (if using), and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often, until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until slightly darkened, about 2 minutes. Add wine, bring to a boil, and cook until almost completely evaporated, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes, breaking up with your hands, and their juices; add basil and oregano and stir to combine. Swirl 1 1/2 cups water into one tomato can, then the other, to rinse, and add to pot; season with salt. Transfer pot to oven; roast sauce, stirring halfway through, until thick and tomatoes are browned on top and around edges of pot, 2–2 1/2 hours.

  • Let sauce cool slightly. Pass through the large holes of a food mill or process in a food processor until mostly smooth. Taste and season with salt.

  • Lightly season eggplant slices all over with salt; place in a single layer on several layers of paper towels inside a rimmed baking sheet. Top with another layer of paper towels and more slices; repeat as needed. Top with a final layer of paper towels, then another rimmed baking sheet; weigh down with a heavy pot. Let eggplant sit until it has released excess liquid, 45–60 minutes. This step gives the eggplant a creamy texture when baked.

  • Meanwhile, pulse panko, oregano, pepper, and 3/4 cup Parmesan in a food processor until very finely ground. Transfer to a shallow bowl.

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Place flour in another shallow bowl and eggs in a third shallow bowl. Working one at a time, dredge eggplant slices in flour, then dip in egg, allowing excess to drip off. Coat in breadcrumbs, packing all around, then shaking off excess. Place on wire racks.

  • Heat 2/3 cup oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Cook as many eggplant slices as will comfortably fit in pan, turning once, until deep golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels and immediately press with more paper towel to absorb oil. Working in batches, repeat with remaining slices, adding remaining 2/3 cup oil and wiping out skillet as needed. Let cool. Taste and season with more salt if needed.

  • Toss chopped herbs, low-moisture mozzarella, and remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan in a medium bowl. Spread 1 cup sauce over the bottom of a 13x9" baking pan; top with a layer of eggplant slices (trim as needed). Drizzle 1 cup sauce over and sprinkle with one-third of cheese mixture. Add another layer of eggplant, followed by 1 cup sauce and half of remaining cheese mixture. Repeat layers with remaining slices, sauce, and cheese mixture. Cover with foil and bake on a rimmed baking sheet until eggplant is custardy, 45–60 minutes.

  • Remove from oven and arrange fresh mozzarella over eggplant. Increase oven temperature to 425°F and bake, uncovered, until cheese is bubbling and browned in spots, 15–20 minutes longer. Let rest 30 minutes. Top with basil leaves just before slicing.

Note: Marinara can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Eggplant Parmesan can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover with foil and chill. Reheat in a 350°F oven, uncovering halfway through, until bubbling gently at edges.