Eggplant Parmesan Sliders
Kelly Senyei
5
-
77 Comments
Football season is in full swing and I am soaking up every single minute of it. I generally cheer on my San Diego Chargers with a Bloody Mary in one hand and and a Soft Pretzel in the other, but this past weekend I was feeling inspired and dreamt up an original creation: Eggplant Parmesan Sliders.
Did you notice the perfectly circular eggplant patties? Those bad boys weren’t an accident, as all my fellow obsessive compulsive cooks can attest to the sense of satisfaction derived from stacking circular patties atop circular buns. No overhang. No excess. Just geometric glory.
Top off the patties with homemade tomato sauce and a slice of fresh, melted mozzarella and you just scored a touchdown with carnivores and vegetarians alike.
Eggplant Parmesan Sliders
Ingredients
- 2 eggplants (2 1/2 lbs)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 2 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
- 1 lb. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into rounds
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 2 cups tomato sauce, store-bought or homemade
- 2 dozen brioche slider rolls
Special Equipment:
- 3 inch round cookie cutter
Instructions
Slice the eggplants lengthwise into ½-inch thick slices, then use the cookie cutter to cut out two rounds from each of the slices.
Place the eggplant rounds in a colander and toss them with 1½ teaspoons salt. Let them drain in the colander over a bowl in the sink for 45 minutes to remove excess moisture.
Bread the eggplant rounds in batches by coating them in the flour, then the eggs and then the breadcrumbs.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add enough oil to liberally coat the bottom of the pan. Pan-fry the breaded eggplant rounds in batches for 2 to 3 minutes, flipping them once until both sides are golden brown. Remove the cooked eggplant rounds and immediately transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate. Continue the pan-frying process, changing the oil as necessary, until all of the rounds are cooked.
Halve the brioche slider rolls and add 1 tablespoon of tomato sauce to the bottoms of the rolls. Stack an eggplant round atop the sauce, top it with another tablespoon of sauce and a piece of sliced mozzarella. Repeat the assembling process with all of the buns, transferring them to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Turn your broiler to high and carefully slide the cookie sheet under the broiler just long enough until the cheese melts. Immediately cap off the sliders with the tops of the buns and serve.
Kelly's Notes:
Chop up the discarded eggplant from the cutouts and roast it for a simple side dish, or use it to make Pasta Arrabiata with Roasted Eggplant.
You Might Also Like...
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pretzel Tart
Sweet and salty join forces in this recipe for the ultimate Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Tart. One of my all-time favorite snacks in college was pretzels (the crunch…
Overnight Eggnog French Toast
Make the most of winter's most polarizing beverage with a family favorite recipe for Overnight Eggnog French Toast. Eggnog: Love it or hate it? If you handed it to me in…
Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Add a show-stopping breakfast (or dessert!) to your holiday table with this easy and festive recipe for a Puff Pastry Christmas Tree. Food has taken on a festive holida…
Pork Potstickers with Citrus-Soy Dipping Sauce
Toss the takeout menus and whip up a quick and easy recipe for the best Pork Potstickers with Citrus-Soy Dip. How to Make Potstickers Potstickers get my vote for the m…
Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuit Crust
Transform leftover turkey (or rotisserie chicken!) into a top-rated recipe for Leftover Turkey Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuit Crust. My family lives by one very simple motto …
No-Bake Orange Cranberry Cheesecake Parfaits
Free up your oven during the holiday baking rush with a crowd-friendly recipe for No-Bake Orange Cranberry Cheesecake Parfaits. When it comes to planning your Thanksgiving …
Comments
Post a reply