Simple Italian Cooking - The Best Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

My wife and I tend to get disappointed when we dine out anymore. Other than a choice few restaurants we dine in the vast majority of the time. We do this a lot because I know I can make it better and healthier at home in my own kitchen. Having managed Italian restaurants in the past, I have come to enjoy simple Italian cooking and have come up with what my wife, family, and friends consider to be the best eggplant Parmesan recipe ever! Couple this recipe with a simple roasted red pepper sauce and a simple pasta side dish and I guarantee a meal better than most of the Italian restaurants in town!

Parmesan Ingredients
1 -- Eggplant. You are looking for the best cylindrical shape you can here.
2 -- Large Eggs
1 and half -- Cups Italian Bread Crumbs
1- Cup all purpose flour
18 -- Slices Mozzarella Cheese (the fresher the better)
2 -- Tablespoons water
1/2 -- Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 -- Cup Parmesan Cheese

Sauce Ingredients
1 -- Red Bell Pepper
1 -- 16oz Can Diced Tomatoes
1/4 -- Cup Chopped, Fresh Basil
2 -- Teaspoons Dried Oregano

Putting it All Together
Halve and deseed the red bell pepper. Brush the surface of both halves lightly with olive oil. Place under a broiler until the skin starts to char (do not blacken!) and bubble.

Roughly chop the pepper and place in a blender with the diced tomatoes, half of the basil, and the oregano. Blend until well mixed and then place in a sauce pan, covered under low heat.

Heat olive oil in a deep frying pan until hot enough to pop a small drop of water (safely). Preheat oven to 425. Wash and slice the eggplant into quarter inch or thinner rounds. Vigorously mix the eggs with the water to make a "wash". Put flour and bread crumbs into separate, "dredgeable" pans (I use pie pans).

Dredge the eggplant first through the flour, egg wash, and the bread crumbs (follow this order). Fry the eggplant in the hot olive oil and set aside on paper towels when lightly browned.

In a baking dish put a light coat of the sauce you were heating on the bottom. Stack the eggplant and the Parmesan alternately (Should be about 3-4 rounds high with eggplant on top). Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until cheese has melted and bubbly.

Serve lightly covered with sauce and garnished with Parmesan and basil. You should be able to yield 6 servings and have some eggplant left over that you can slice thinly, fry, and toss with freshly grated Parmesan as an appetizer later.