Crispy Eggplant Parmesan Stacks

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Servings: 9
Yield: 9 servings

Description

Eggplant rounds are breaded and baked, then stacked and layered with Ragu® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce and mozzarella cheese, then baked again until hot and cheese has melted.

Ingredients

2 large eggplants, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
1 teaspoon Salt to draw moisture from eggplant
1 pinch Salt and pepper to taste
4 eggs
4 cups panko bread crumbs
1 Cooking spray
1 (24 ounce) jar RAGÚ® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce
2 (8 ounce) packages mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2 Sprinkle both sides of eggplant rounds generously with salt; place on baking sheet for 15 minutes to draw out moisture. Use paper towels to blot moisture from each side of the eggplant slices. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
3 Whisk eggs in a shallow bowl. Place panko bread crumbs in a second bowl. Dip each side of the eggplant slices in the whisked eggs, then press into the panko crumbs to coat each side. Place slices on a cooling rack on a baking sheet.
4 Spray the tops of eggplant generously with cooking spray. Bake 8 minutes in preheated oven. Turn each slice, and spray the other side with cooking spray. Bake an additional 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
5 Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees (175 degrees C).
6 To make the stacks: Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a large slice of eggplant on the parchment. Top with a spoonful of Ragu® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce and a slice of mozzarella. Place another slice of eggplant on the first; repeat the layering process until you have about 5 or 6 slices in a stack. Top with a generous layer of parmesan cheese.
7 Bake stacks until the cheese has melted, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Serve warm.