Best Italian Fried Eggplant Sandwich Recipes

FRIED EGGPLANT CUTLETS

Steps:

• Wash your eggplant, and remove skin if concerned over the use of pesticides. If organic, there is no need to peel.
• Slice eggplant into 1/4 inch round slices and drain if you have the time. If draining, just lay slices in a strainer rather than cube them.
• Mix the breadcrumbs and Romano (or Parmesan) cheese in a bowl.
• Place the flour in a second bowl and mix the eggs in a third bowl. You can remove the yolks, and just use egg whites, but add in an extra egg.
• Pour in enough olive oil in a sauce pan so there is about 1/4 inch of olive oil in the pan. Heat to medium-high heat.
• Dip the eggplant in the flour (tap off excess), then egg, then breadcrumbs mixture and place in hot oil.
• Do this for each of the eggplant slices and cook for about 2 minutes until the bread crumbs are golden brown, and flip.
• Cook for about 1 minute more.
• Remove each slice from the pan and place on a paper towel (on a plate) to let the oil drain.
• Continue the process until all slices are used. Add more oil if needed during the process.
• Serve warm.

THE BEST FRIED-EGGPLANT SANDWICH

Steps:

• Line a large, rimmed sheet pan with paper towels. Trim stem end from eggplants, then peel and discard skin. Using a knife or a mandoline, slice the eggplant lengthwise into 3/16-inch-thick slabs. Arrange eggplant in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle both sides of eggplant with salt. Let stand for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Pat eggplant dry with paper towels, and stack on a plate.
• Discard the wet paper towels, and replace them in the sheet pan with more, then place a wire rack on top. In a large, deep skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat until it is shimmery. Working in batches, fry the eggplant slabs until just tender, approximately 30 to 40 seconds per side. Transfer fried eggplant to rack to drain. Remove skillet from heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and grated Parmesan. Return the skillet to the stove over medium-high heat until the oil is hot again.
• Working in batches, dip drained eggplant into egg batter, then fry in oil until puffed, lightly golden and cooked through, approximately 2 to 4 minutes per batch. Transfer fried eggplant to rack to drain. You can cook the eggplant in advance of assembling sandwiches. Covered, it will keep in the refrigerator for a few days, though the eggplant is best at room temperature.
• Assemble sandwiches. Cut the hero rolls open, then spread each one with mayonnaise. Layer the slices of eggplant onto the bread in equal portions, and top with equal portions of the mozzarella and the sliced roast beef. Add slices of hot cherry peppers to taste, fold the sandwich together and serve.

ITALIAN FRIED EGGPLANT SANDWICH

Steps:

• 1. get ingredients ready. mix the first 5 ingredients for the dressing in a small mixing bowl. add sliced tomatoes and chill until ready to build your sandwiches
• 2. preheat oven to 425 degrees. place eggplant slices on a rack on an oven proof baking dish. bake eggplant for 20 minutes. the eggplant will start to turn golden in color. remove and set aside
• 3. heat your deep fryer to 350 degrees. add eggplant slices and fry until golden brown any crispy. this should take about 2 minutes. remove and drain
• 4. Build your Sandwich: take one slice of eggplant followed by a slice of cheese, salad mix, tomatoes and vinegar dressing, salami, red onion, pancetta, cheese slice and top with eggplant slice. slice and serve.

SIMPLE ITALIAN FRIED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Wash and dry eggplant. Cut of the stems at both ends. Using a sharp, serrated knife, or a Mandoline cut the eggplant into 1/4 inch round pieces leaving the skin on.
• Lie the eggplant slices onto a large platter slightly overlapping. Sprinkle salt onto eggplant. Layer if needed but, salt each layer. When done, let eggplant rest for 15 so the brown, bitter juice can "sweat out."
• Meanwhile, heat the oil on med/high heat in a large frying pan and make the dredging station: Put flour onto a paper plate (easier clean up) and the beaten eggs into a shallow bowl. Line a platter with two paper towels for draining the fried eggplant.
• When eggplant slices are done sweating out the bitter, brown juice, dip them in this order: first in the flour and then dunk them in the eggs until fully coated with egg on both sides and then in the frying pan. Repeat these steps. The next step talks more about frying.
• Fry eggplant slices in med/high heat 365 degrees if using an oil thermometer, for about 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Thicker slices will need to cook a bit longer. Drain the fried eggplant slices on the paper towel-lined platter.

CLASSIC ITALIAN SUB WITH ROASTED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Lay the eggplant slices on a baking sheet in a single layer and brush liberally with the Homemade Italian Dressing. Roast in the oven until cooked through and golden, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Build the sandwich on the rolls with the mozzarella first, then the salami, capicola, prosciutto, mortadella, roasted eggplant and top with the lettuce, tomato and a generous drizzle of the Homemade Italian Dressing. Serve while blasting Louis Prima.
• Place the vinegar, mustard, sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic and shallots in a blender or food processor. While the machine is running, slowly drizzle the olive oil through the blender top or feed tube until the dressing is combined and emulsified. Adjust the seasoning if necessary; add more oil if you want it less acidic. Store the dressing up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

THE FRANKIES' FRIED EGGPLANT SANDWICH

Steps:

• In a large deep saucepan over medium low heat, combine 1/4 cup oil and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden and fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in chile flakes; cook 30 seconds.
• While garlic cooks, place tomatoes and juices in a large bowl and crush with clean hands. Remove tomatoes' firm stem ends and any basil leaves packed into the can. Stir crushed tomatoes and salt into pot. Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until tomatoes and garlic have completely broken down and sauce is thick, about 2 hours. Cool.
• Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment or paper towels. Trim stem end from eggplants; peel and discard skin. Using a knife or a Japanese mandolin, slice lengthwise into 3/16-inch-thick slabs. Arrange eggplant in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle both sides of eggplant slices with salt. Let stand 10 minutes. Pat eggplant dry with paper towels.
• Line another rimmed baking sheet with paper towel and place a wire rack on top. In a large, deep skillet, heat 1/2 cup oil until a drop of water flicked into pan sizzles. Working in batches, fry eggplant until just tender, 20 to 30 seconds per side. Transfer fried eggplant to rack to drain. Remove skillet from heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano and 2 tablespoons pecorino. Add 3/4 cup oil to the skillet and return to medium-high heat until oil is sizzling.
• Working in batches, dip drained eggplant into egg batter; fry in oil until lightly golden and cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes per batch. You will know oil is hot enough if batter puffs and sticks to eggplant on contact with oil. If it falls off, the oil isn't hot enough.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan. Arrange eggplant over the bottom of pan in a tight, even layer. Top with 1/3 of the remaining combined cheeses. Repeat layer of sauce, eggplant and 1/3 of cheese. Finish with a final layer of sauce and cheese (reserve any remaining sauce for serving). Transfer pan to oven and bake until cheese is melted and golden, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven; Spoon additional sauce over top, and garnish with additional cheese. Cool for at least 20 minutes.
• Cut eggplant into six equal pieces. Cut ciabatta into six pieces equal to the size of the eggplant servings. Split each portion of the ciabatta horizontally and toast. Sandwich eggplant portions between bread and serve.