Eggplant Parmesan

Are you ready for a meatless Monday where you don't miss the meat?  Here it is!  Well, unless you don't eat meat anyway then it's just Monday.  Anyway....this is a much healthier version of eggplant Parmesan because the eggplant is baked, not fried and while there is cheese involved it's not too much and I use a reduced fat variety!  Layer it up in a baking dish, bake and it's the perfect meatless main dish!  I served it with caesar salad!  Enjoy!

Eggplant Parmesan (adapted from Every Day with Rachael Ray, May 2014)

4 T. flour

1/4 t. pepper

3 large eggs

1 egg white

1 c. Italian style breadcrumbs

1 1/4 lb. eggplant, cut crosswise into 1/4" rounds

2 c. jarred marinara sauce

6 oz. reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese

6 T. grated Parmesan cheese

Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 450.  Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray.  On a large plate combine the flour and pepper.  In a pie plate whisk together the eggs and egg white.  On another large plate spread out the breadcrumbs.  Working with one eggplant slice at a time, coat with flour, then egg mixture, then breadcrumbs, shaking off the excess after each step.  Place on prepared baking sheets and repeat with remaining eggplant.  This step can be done ahead - just bake the eggplant as directed below when you are ready to make dinner!

Bake for 10 minutes then flip the eggplant slices and switch the positions of the pans in the oven.  Bake until the eggplant is golden brown, about 10 minutes more.  

Coat an 8 inch square baking dish with cooking spray then spread with 1/2 c. of the marinara sauce.  Arrange 1/3 of the eggplant slices in a single layer, cutting as needed to fit the pan.  Top with 1/2 c. sauce, 1/2 c. mozzarella and 2 T. Parmesan.  Repeat the layering twice more with the remaining ingredients.  

Reduce the oven temperature to 350.  Bake until the casserole is browned and heated through and the cheese is melted about 25-30 minutes.  Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

6 servings (296 calories each serving) according to my calculator on loseit.com