Are you looking to cook something that looks like the definition of luxury? Without the huge price tag, while keeping the great flavour that we all crave in our food, I have just the thing for you and best of all, you can make it in your air fryer and it’s super healthy!
Aubergine Parmigiana is a dish that you need to make, this is a delicious dish, something a little special. Now there are a couple of ways in which this can be made, you can make it the traditional Italian way or in my case, I made it a healthier way.
What is Aubergine Parmigiana? / What is Eggplant Parmigiana?
Aubergine parmigiana, also known as melanzane alla parmigiana, is a traditional Italian dish made with layers of fried aubergine (eggplant), tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. The dish is then baked until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Aubergine parmigiana is typically served as a main course or as a side dish with grilled meats or fish.
If you’re Italian, please don’t hate me for making amendments to the recipe, I wanted to try and make this recipe a little healthier, as frying foods is not something that I am a fan of.
So I have made a few changes to this recipe and made it with all the same ingredients, but in my opinion, lighter and tastier.
If you’re looking at what to serve with aubergine parmigiana, then you can either serve it as a main meal on it’s own or as a side. I used this as a main meal, that way, you have a delicious vegetarian meal that is packed full of flavour and so delicious.
Why Aubergine Called Eggplant
I’ve always wondered why aubergine is called eggplant, I have always thought that it is strange and I’m sure I’m not the only person thinking this. Well, I want to tell you why there is a difference in the name.
The word “aubergine” comes from the French word “aubergine”, which means “purple-brownish colour”. The word “eggplant” comes from the English word “egg”, because the first eggplants brought to America from Europe were white (in varying shades) in colour, with a shiny smooth outside. Thus, they began to be referred to as eggplants.
In the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and India, the word “aubergine” is more commonly used to refer to this vegetable. In the United States, Canada, and South Africa, the word “eggplant” is more commonly used.
The eggplant is a member of the nightshade family, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. It is a versatile vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes, such as eggplant parmesan, baba ganoush, and moussaka. I will be creating more aubergine recipes soon.
Here are some of the health benefits of eggplant:
- Good source of fibre: Eggplant is a good source of dietary fibre, which can help to regulate digestion and promote heart health.
- Low in calories: Eggplant is low in calories and fat, making it a good choice for people who are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
- High in antioxidants: Eggplant is high in antioxidants, which can help to protect the body against damage from free radicals.
Can You Freeze Aubergine Parmigiana
If you like to meal prep your dinners and want to know it eggplant parmigiana can be frozen, well I the answer is, Yes. You can freeze aubergine parmigiana. Here are some tips:
- Let the aubergine parmigiana cool completely before freezing. This will help to prevent the formation of ice crystals, which can make the dish soggy.
- Wrap the aubergine parmigiana tightly in plastic wrap or aluminium foil. This will help to prevent freezer burn.
- Label the aubergine parmigiana with the date and freeze for up to three months.
To thaw aubergine parmigiana, simply remove it from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. You can then reheat it in the oven or microwave.
Here are some extra tips for freezing aubergine parmigiana:
- You can freeze the aubergine parmigiana in individual portions, which will make it easier to thaw and reheat.
- If you are planning on freezing the aubergine parmigiana for longer than three months, you may want to consider freezing it without the cheese. This will help to prevent the cheese from becoming grainy.
- When you are ready to reheat the aubergine parmigiana, you may need to add a little bit of water or broth to prevent it from drying out.
Other Vegetarian and Meat-Free Recipes
Here are some fantastic recipes that are vegetarian, the first on the list is a delicious Vegetable Pie, with a rich and tasty tomato sauce.
Did someone say Falafel? Here is a wonderful cumin scented falafel which will be loved by all.
If soups are more your thing, here are 11 soup recipes that will fill you up.
Is Aubergine Parmigiana Healthy?
In my opinion, the traditional recipe uses a lot of oil for frying, so this means that the oil is soaked up by the aubergine. This won’t make it that healthy, so to make it a lot easier, I have turned this recipe into an aubergine parmigiana in the air fryer.
The part that I don’t do in this recipe other than frying in oil, I don’t stack and layer the aubergine parm, the reason for this, is that I prefer the breadcrumbs to be crispy and not go mushy.
With that being said, a portion of aubergine parmigiana is 580 calories, so if you are cooking aubergine parmigiana for one even aubergine parmigiana for two, you just need to half or quarter the ingredients. If you do may any adjustments to the recipe, then you will need to look at the calories.
If you do make any changes, please let me know, as it would be great to see what you have done.
Equipment I Used Making This Aubergine Parmigiana Recipe
I couldn’t make this recipe without some kitchen tools and gadgets, so I want to make it easier for you, here are the tools that I use, that will make your life easier when you’re cooking this recipe.
Where To Get The Ingredients
If you’re not sure where to get all of the ingredients for the recipe, you can try and find them in the supermarket, but why not make your life so much easier and just get them from Amazon? There is a section on Amazon called By Amazon, this is where you can find loads of fantastic produce, fresh and delivered straight to your door, what’s not to love?
Here are the ingredients you will need:
How To Make Aubergine Parmigiana
Air Fryer Aubergine Parmigiana
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Chopping Board
- Kitchen Knife
- Deep Frying Pan
Ingredients
- 800 g By Amazon Passata
- 300 g By Amazon Aubergine
- 150 g By Amazon Mozzarella Di Bufala Campana sliced
- 150 g By Amazon Golden Breadcrumbs
- 100 g By Amazon Parmigiano Reggiano grated
- 2 Cloves By Amazon Large Garlic Bulb chopped
- 10 g Fresh Basil
- 1 tbsp By Amazon Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Happy Belly Dried Oregano
- 1 Egg
- 3½ tsp Happy Belly Salt
- 1 tsp Happy Belly Pepper
Instructions
- Slice the aubergine into long slices about 1/2 an inch thick, and place in a bowl with some water and 2 tsp of salt. Leave the aubergine in the water for 15 minutes.
- Now drain the aubergine and leave to stand for 1 minute.
- You need 2 large bowls. The first bowl add the egg and beat it until it is fully combined. In the second bowl, add the breadcrumbs, 3/4 of the Parmesan cheese, ½ tsp of salt and 1 tsp of pepper. Mix until the seasoning is all mixed in with the breadcrumbs.
- Dip both sides of the aubergine into the egg mix and put it into the breadcrumbs. Coat the aubergine in the breadcrumb mixture. Set aside for later. Repeat for all of the aubergines.
- Cook in the air fryer at 190℃ / 375℉ for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, turn the aubergines over and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Add the garlic to a pan, cook with a little oil and cook until the garlic starts to turn golden.
- In the pan, now add the oregano and passata and cook on medium heat.
- Chop the basil and add to the tomato mixture and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Slice up the mozzarella and place over the aubergine slices, put it back into the air fryer at 190℃ / 375℉ for 2 minutes or until the mozzarella has melted.
- In a bowl, add some of the tomato sauce, top with 2 slices of aubergine and serve with a sprig of fresh bazil on top.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
| INGREDIENTS | WEIGHT | CALORIES | PRICE | |
| By Amazon Aubergine | 2 | 300 | kcal | £1.18 |
| By Amazon Garlic | 2 Cloves | 9 | kcal | £0.05 |
| By Amazon Passata | 800 g | 193 | kcal | £0.85 |
| By Amazon Parmigiano Reggiano | 100 g | 400 | kcal | £1.70 |
| By Amazon Our Selection Mozzarella Di Bufala Campana | 250 g (Drianed) | 748 | kcal | £4.50 |
| By Amazon Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil | 1 tbsp | 119 | kcal | £0.08 |
| Basil (Fresh) | 10 g | 2 | kcal | £0.18 |
| Oregano (Dried) | 1 tsp | 3 | kcal | £0.01 |
| By Amazon Golden Breadcrumbs | 150 g | 540 | kcal | £1.00 |
| Sea Salt | 3.5 tsp | 0 | kcal | £0.03 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp | 5 | kcal | £0.01 |
| TOTAL | 2319 | kcal | £9.59 | |
| PER SERVING | 580 | kcal | £2.40 | |
Don’t forget that you can share this aubergine parmigiana with your friends and family. It’s an amazing air fryer aubergine parmigiana recipe and I think everyone should know how amazing it is, if you have a family member who wants to eat tasty meals and still lose weight, this is the one they need especially when it’s cold out!
