Ingredients
- Vegetable oil spray
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)
- 2 large egg whites
- 1 tablespoon water
- 3 pounds eggplant, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- 8 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)
Preparation
Step 1
1. Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 475 degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil spray. Combine panko and 1 tablespoon oil in medium saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until golden, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer to shallow dish and let cool for 10 minutes. Combine ½ cup Parmesan with cooled panko. In second shallow dish, whisk egg whites and water together until combined.
2. Season eggplant all over with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Place half of eggplant slices in single layer on first prepared sheet and set aside. Dip 1 side of each remaining slice of eggplant into egg white mixture, then dredge same side in panko mixture (only 1 side of eggplant should be coated). Transfer, panko side up, to second prepared sheet in single layer. Spray all eggplant slices lightly with vegetable oil spray. Transfer breaded eggplant to upper-middle oven rack and unbreaded eggplant to lower-middle oven rack. Bake until eggplant is tender and breaded tops are crisp, about 25 minutes, rotating and switching sheets halfway through baking.
3. Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in medium saucepan over medium-low heat until shimmering. Add onion and ½ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes and sugar, increase heat to high, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened slightly, about 10 minutes. Off heat, stir in remaining ½ cup Parmesan and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Spread 1½ cups tomato sauce in bottom of 13 by 9-inch baking dish. Place unbreaded eggplant slices on top of sauce, overlapping as needed to fit all slices. Spread ¾ cup sauce over eggplant and sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella. Layer breaded eggplant over top, panko side up, overlapping as needed to fit all slices. Dollop remaining ¾ cup tomato sauce over top, leaving majority of eggplant exposed so it remains crisp. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella. Bake on upper-middle oven rack until bubbling and mozzarella is beginning to brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Serve.