Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan

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Do you find yourself tired of consuming the same uninteresting dishes each day, like I used to?

I’m sure most of you are.

Our daily life has become so hectic, especially since the pandemic hit and we started working from home.

Most of us wake up from bed and go straight to the work desk without even having breakfast.

I know you sometimes wish that you could tell that annoying boss of yours to shut up and let you live in peace!

Am I right, people?

Jokes aside, while I can’t solve that problem for you, I can undoubtedly help you make those same meals delicious by adding a side dish!

It is made by microwaving eggplants, which is good because people don’t usually like eating those.

And don’t worry, it won’t take hours to make and will still be just as amazing!

So then, what are we waiting for?

Let’s dive right into it!.

Ingredients:.

To make this recipe, you will require the following ingredients.

You can substitute the parmesan cheese with any other cheese available to you.

It won’t make such a big difference..

Fresh eggplants – 1 or 2

 

Parmesan cheese

 

Tomato-based sauce (homemade or store-bought)

 

Chopped tomato – 1

 

Basil (fresh or dried)

 

●Olive oil

 

●Cheddar cheese (optional)

 

Mixed herbs

 

.Step-by-step Procedure:.

Following is the process to make this side dish, and it takes around 20-25 minutes, including prepping time and cooking time..

1.Wash and peel the eggplant and cut it into circular or vertical slices, as per your choice. You can also use the eggplant as it is, without peeling it.

 

2.In a mixing bowl, add the tomato-based cooking sauce and the chopped tomato pieces. Add some water if you find its consistency too thick.

 

3.Mix it well, and then add basil leaves or dried basil and mixed herbs to this paste.

 

4.In a microwave tray or casserole, place the eggplant slices, sprinkle or apply olive oil over them and then cover them with this sauce and sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top.

 

5.Repeat this process in a casserole for a lasagna-type dish if you have too many eggplant slices. Add cheddar cheese slices in between them for that cheese pull.

 

6.Place the tray or casserole in the microwave and set it for 12-15 minutes.

 

.You can check the tray in between and turn the slices over to ensure they’re cooked evenly from both sides..

Special Cooking Tips:.

Some of the essential cooking tips to follow are:.

1.Don’t slice the eggplant too thin or too thick. If the slices are too thick, they won’t cook thoroughly.

 

2.Keep the cheese minimal. The main ingredient here is eggplant. Please don’t put in too much cheese as it may ruin the flavor and add too many calories.

 

3.Do not overcook it, as it will lose the crunchy feel of the eggplant.

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What Health Benefits Does It Have?.

Here are some of the most popular health benefits of eggplants:.

1.Eggplant in itself is filled with nutrients and antioxidants, such as Vitamin C and Vitamin A.

 

2.It also consists of so many different minerals like Calcium, Potassium, Iron, etc., which are very helpful for bodily functions in human beings.

 

3.Eggplants help in digestion because of all the fiber content.

 

4.They are also said to lower the risk of heart disease and improve brain function.

 

5.The polyphenols present in eggplant may help protect us from cancer. Chlorogenic acid and Anthocyanins help in safeguarding the human cells from any harmful effects caused by free radicals.

 

6.It may help in preventing the growth of a tumor and the formation of a culture of cancer cells in the human body.

 

7.Eggplants also help lower cholesterol if appropriately consumed.

 

8.They have a high value of good carbohydrates, which energize the human body, equipping it for all the daily tasks.

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Nutritional Value:.

This eggplant parmesan side dish serves 5-6 people.

The average amount of serving size is around 180 gms.

Following are the nutritional values of the dish:.

Calories: 302

Total Fat: 19 grams

Saturated Fat: 7 grams

Trans Fat: 0.1 grams

Cholesterol: 80 milligrams

Sodium: 639 milligrams

Potassium: 253 milligrams

Total Carbohydrates: 20 grams

Dietary Fiber: 3 grams

Sugar: 4.2 grams

Protein: 14 grams.

Note: These values may be approximate and not exact.

They are standard values and may change according to the actual quantity of ingredients used..

How To Serve This Recipe?.

Since this recipe is a side dish, it can be served with any meal of the day.

Preferably, it is served with the main meals, i.e., lunch and dinner.

This dish can also be served as a snack instead of a side dish.

It is very healthy as compared to store-bought snacks and will be a party favorite for sure!

It will enhance the quality of your meals and make you want to eat on time.

It can be a refreshing change, which may help your mind release the happy hormones and make you cheerful and energetic for the rest of the day!.

What are the benefits of cooking eggplant in the microwave?.

Microwaving the eggplant has many benefits as compared to cooking it by traditional methods.

They are as follows:.

1.Since the eggplant is tough in nature, cooking it on a stove takes more time than cooking it in the oven.

 

2.Microwaving can speed up the process and ensure that it is fully cooked in less time.

 

3.It may save energy as compared to using a stove or induction.

 

4.Since the microwave is a closed device, it doesn’t have to be monitored.

 

5.Using a microwave for cooking will give you that crispy and crunchy feel of the eggplant instead of making it mushy.

 

6.The cheese can be melted easily in a microwave, and it also gets that lightly roasted taste that you can’t get by using the traditional gas stove.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about this recipe:.

How do you know when the eggplant parmesan is done?.

It takes about 12-15 minutes for an eggplant parmesan side-dish to cook in a microwave.

After it is cooked, leave the tray aside for at least 30 mins.

When the cheese has melted fully, and the eggplant feels cooked but not soggy, you know it is done..

How do I keep my eggplant parmesan from getting soggy?.

To prevent the eggplant from getting all soggy and too soft, make sure that you do not overcook the dish.

Set it for 12 minutes, to begin with.

If the slices are thinner than usual, 12 minutes is enough for the eggplant parmesan to cook evenly.

If it isn’t cooked, set it again for two more minutes or so..

Is the eggplant parmesan supposed to be all mushy?.

No.

The eggplant parmesan is not supposed to be mushy unless you like it that way.

For the best taste, the eggplant parmesan should be microwaved till it is crunchy and crispy, along with the delicious flavor of melted cheese and mixed herbs..

What is the best way to cut the eggplant for microwave eggplant parmesan?.

You can cut the eggplant into any type of slices according to your choice.

You can make vertical slices, horizontal slices, etc.

You can even go for diced or chopped eggplant if you like it that way.

It won’t change the taste and flavors of the dish..

Do you leave the skin on while making eggplant parmesan?.

Yes.

It is highly advisable to keep the eggplant skin on instead of peeling it.

This skin is high in fiber content, and it aids the digestion process.

Also, it doesn’t make much of a difference in the taste if you keep the skin on or peel it off..

How long can I keep uncooked eggplant parmesan in the refrigerator?.

You can keep the eggplant parmesan in the fridge for about two days.

After two days, the water content will dry up, and the nutritional value will also reduce.

It may also go bad if the electric supply is cut off for a long time..

How do you fix soggy eggplant?.

In order to fix the soggy eggplant, you have to sprinkle salt on it (preferably sea salt, coarse or powdered) and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes.

This will help get the eggplant’s water content out on the surface.

After that, you can take a paper towel and pat the eggplants dry, removing all the water..

Conclusion:.

It is the standard recipe for making an eggplant parmesan side dish, which will enhance the quality of your meals.

You can even make it an entire meal when you’re too busy or lazy to cook.

We’ve all been there and done that.

If you’re health-conscious or vegan, you can replace the cheese with nutritional yeast or skip it entirely.

In that case, you may also want to keep the olive oil usage in check.

It is all your call.

Make it however you like it and enjoy!

Eggplant Parmesan

Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan

It is the standard recipe for making an eggplant parmesan side dish, which will enhance the quality of your meals.
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 3
Calories 11 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 microwave

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Fresh eggplants
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Based tomato sauce
  • 1 Chopped tomato
  • fresh Basil
  • Olive oil
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Mixed herbs

Instructions
 

  • Wash and peel the eggplant and cut it into circular or vertical slices, as per your choice.
  • You can also use the eggplant as it is, without peeling it.
  • In a mixing bowl, add the tomato-based cooking sauce and the chopped tomato pieces.
  • Add some water if you find its consistency too thick.
  • Mix it well, and then add basil leaves or dried basil and mixed herbs to this paste.
  • In a microwave tray or casserole, place the eggplant slices, sprinkle or apply olive oil over them and then cover them with this sauce and sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top.
  • Repeat this process in a casserole for a lasagna-type dish if you have too many eggplant slices.
  • Add cheddar cheese slices in between them for that cheese pull.
  • Place the tray or casserole in the microwave and set it for 12-15 minutes.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 11kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 143mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Microwaved Eggplant Parmesanː The easiest and most delicious side dish for your daily meals
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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