EGGPLANT PARMESAN WITH FRESH MOZZARELLA

Eggplant Parmesan with Fresh Mozzarella image

Removing all but a strip of the eggplant's skin lets the flesh meld with the sauce without falling apart.

Provided by Dawn Perry

Categories Side Kid-Friendly Dinner Lunch Mozzarella Parmesan Eggplant Fall Winter Bon Appétit Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher Cheese Week Small Plates

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 medium onion, finely chopped
10 garlic cloves, 2 finely chopped, 8 whole
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
4 medium or 8 small eggplants (about 4 pounds), halved lengthwise
8 sprigs oregano
1 1/4 cups coarse fresh breadcrumbs
12 ounces fresh mozzarella, torn into bite-size pieces
3 ounces Parmesan, finely grated (about 3/4 cup)

Steps:

Heat 1/4 cup oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 6-8 minutes. Add chopped garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, until beginning to darken, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, crushing them with your hands as you add them; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, mashing tomatoes occasionally, until slightly thickened, 15-20 minutes. Set tomato sauce aside.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Using a vegetable peeler, remove skin from rounded side of each eggplant half, leaving a 1" strip of skin around the cut edges. Divide eggplants, oregano sprigs, whole garlic cloves, and 1/2 cup oil between 2 large rimmed baking sheets. Turn eggplants to coat with oil; season with salt and pepper and place cut side down. Cover baking sheets tightly with foil and bake until eggplants are very soft, 40-45 minutes.
Toss breadcrumbs and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a medium bowl. Transfer eggplants, oregano, and garlic to 2 large shallow baking dishes, placing eggplants cut side up. Top eggplants with tomato sauce and mozzarella, then sprinkle with breadcrumbs and Parmesan. Bake until mozzarella is bubbling and breadcrumbs are golden, 25-30 minutes.
Do Ahead
Tomato sauce can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Eggplants can be cooked 1 day ahead. Keep covered; chill. Entire dish can be assembled 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.