Baked Country Vegetables
- 1 lb medium eggplant, thinly sliced lengthwise
- 12 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for salting the eggplant
- vegetable oil, for frying the vegetables
- all-purpose flour, for dredging
- 1 lb medium zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon softened unsalted butter, for the baking dish
- 8 ounces low moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup grated grana padano (Reggiano cheese) or 1 cup parmigiano (Reggiano cheese)
- 1 12 cups marinara sauce
- Season the eggplant slices liberally with salt.
- Fan out in a large colander.
- Set a large bowl inside, weighted with cans, to help press the excess liquid and bitterness from the eggplant.
- After about 20 minutes, rinse and drain the eggplant, and pat dry.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large skillet, heat about 1/4 inch of vegetable oil over medium--high heat.
- When the oil is hot but not smoking, dredge the eggplant in flour, tapping off the excess, and fry in batches until browned and crisp on both sides, about 2 minutes per side.
- Drain on paper towels.
- Season the zucchini with the 1/2 teaspoon salt, and dredge in flour.
- Fry until browned and crisp on both sides, about 2 minutes per side.
- Drain with the eggplant.
- Grease an 8x8 inch ceramic or glass baking dish with the butter.
- In a bowl, toss together the mozzarella and Grana Padano.
- Spread 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of the dish.
- Fan out a layer of half the vegetables, like shingles.
- Sprinkle with half of the cheese.
- Spread another 1/2 cup of the sauce.
- Fan the remaining vegetables out, then cover with the remaining sauce, and sprinkle the top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, until bubbly and the cheese is browned and crusty, about 30 minutes.
eggplant, kosher salt, vegetable oil, flour, zucchini, butter, mozzarella cheese, padano, marinara sauce
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/baked-country-vegetables-511371 (may not work)