Healthy Eggplant Parmesan

My mom's side of the family is Italian, and so I have been raised with a love of pasta, bread, and red wine. As I mentioned in my last post, all foods should be enjoyed in moderation. Life is too short to not eat the things you love! As we head into what is supposed to be a beautiful fall weekend, I thought I would share my family recipe for Eggplant Parmesan.

My grandmother died a few years ago, and my grandfather has since married a woman who also lost her spouse. She and my grandpa created this dish using my grandmother's eggplant recipe and her husband's sauce recipe.

Eggplant Parmesan
Serves 6

Marinara Sauce
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium red onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, chopped fine
Pinch of oregano and thyme
1 bay leaf
1 14 oz. can tomato sauce
1 14.oz can diced tomatoes with garlic, basil and oregano

Heat olive oil in a large pan. Add onions and saute 5 to 7 minutes until soft. Stir in garlic, oregano, and thyme and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomato sauce and canned tomatoes. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Eggplant
1 large eggplant
1/2 cup egg whites
1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

Peel eggplant and slice into 1/4 inch slices. Rinse, drain, and pat dry with paper towels. Dip the slices lightly in egg whites and sprinkle lightly with bread crumbs. Place on cookie sheet and bake in 500 degree oven until brown and crisp on one side; then turn (approximately 10 minutes on first side; turn for 5 minutes). Layer sauce, eggplant, and cheese in a glass casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until cheese melts.

Pair with a vegetable and a small slice of Italian bread for a well balanced meal! We chose steamed broccoli and ciabatta bread.

Eggplant Parmesan contains: 298 calories, 13.5 grams of fat
Entire meal pictured contains: 423 calories, 14 grams of fat

This recipe satisfies an Italian food craving without making it impossible to zip your favorite jeans. The fat content from the cheese and the fiber from the eggplant and broccoli will keep you full for much longer than a huge plate of pasta would. If you wanted to lower the fat content, you can cut back on the cheese and just put it on top of the dish.

I hope everyone will enjoy this recipe that is truly a marriage of two families. Have a great weekend!