All the classic elements of eggplant Parmesan are here. The surprise is a breading of almond flour and egg whites that bakes up tender on the inside and crispy on the exterior. Braising kale in the tomato sauce boosts the flavor and adds nutritional punch.
Related: Easy Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan
ingredients
directions
Special equipment: A broiler-safe 9 x 13-inch baking dish
Position 2 oven racks in the middle and upper third of the oven, and preheat to 425ºF. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment.
Cook the oil, garlic and ½ teaspoon salt in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring, until the garlic just starts to turn golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the tomatoes; rinse the can with about 1 ½ cups water, and add the tomato water to the skillet. Add the kale and basil, bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens, about 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the almond flour and breadcrumbs in a medium bowl until evenly mixed. Whisk the egg whites and 3 tablespoons water in another medium bowl until frothy.
Lay out the eggplant slices on a clean surface, and season with ½ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Dip the eggplant slices in the egg whites, then press into the almond-breadcrumb mixture to coat. Place the eggplant pieces on the baking sheets. Bake until the eggplant is tender and the crust is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets if the top one is browning too quickly.
Turn the oven to broil. Spread a little of the sauce on the bottom of a broiler-safe 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Arrange half the eggplant in the dish in as close to an even layer as you can without overlapping too much. Spread half the remaining sauce on top, then ¼ of the mozzarella. Top with the remaining eggplant, sauce and mozzarella and the Parmesan. Place the baking dish under the broiler until the cheese is melted and browned, about 1 minute. Serve immediately, while the cheese is still warm. Sprinkle the top with the parsley.