Panko And Beer Battered Eggplant Parmesan Stacks

• 8 (1/4 inch thick) slices eggplant rounds
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups canola oil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 leeks, chopped
• 6 ounces fresh spinach
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 6 fluid ounces beer
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1. Place eggplant on paper towels; cover with 1 teaspoon salt. Let sit until moisture is drawn out, 10 to 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Heat canola oil in a deep fry pan over medium heat.
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; add the leek. Cook and stir until leek is slightly translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook until slightly wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until spinach is fully wilted, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Combine panko, Parmesan cheese, and parsley in a bowl. Whisk flour, paprika, salt, and pepper together in a separate bowl; pour in beer. Whisk until batter is loose, adding more beer if batter is too thick. Dredge eggplant in the batter, allowing excess to run off; coat in panko mixture.
5. Drop 1 pinch of panko into the canola oil to test the heat. It should bubble up without splattering out. Fry battered eggplant for 30 seconds; flip. Fry until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Place on a paper towel to drain.
6. Combine spinach mixture, ricotta cheese, salt, and pepper in a bowl; spread an even amount onto 4 of the fried eggplant slices. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese; cover with a second slice of fried eggplant. Top with mozzarella cheese. Place onto a baking sheet.
7. Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is golden brown, about 10 minutes.

eggplant rounds, salt, canola oil, olive oil, leeks, fresh spinach, clove garlic, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, whole wheat flour, paprika, salt, beer, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese

Taken from www.allrecipes.com/recipe/254981/panko-and-beer-battered-eggplant-parmesan-stacks/ (may not work)