AprilB; First of all it sounds like your not using enough oil. Eggplant sucks up oil like a sponge and I suggest that it's biting into a partially oil soaked piece is what gives that buttery mouthfeel. I start with 1/2 in slices of eggplant. Put them into a couldren and pour kosher salt all over the slices to get them to sweat out the bitter juices of the eggplant. Let sit 30 min. then rince and pat dry. Have a pie plate with flour,one with egg wash and one with italian bread crumbs. coat each slice with flour.dip in egg wash then put in italian bread crumbs and repeat on all slices. Put plenty of olive oil in a med. hot pan,1/16 in deep. when olive oil is heated,3 to 4 min.,fry slices to golden brown adding more more olive oil as needed. Put some marinara or spagetti sauce in bottom of baking pan,I prefere glass sprayed with a release spray, layer eggplant place 2 to 3 tbl. sauce on slice and top lightly with a mix of parmesian and mozerella. repeat one more time and top with lots of cheese. Bake in a preheated 375* oven for around 30 min till cheese is lightly browned. I would'nt worry about the amount of oil since this is a once in a while dish and the olive oil is good for the body. Make sure to pick a fruity oil. I got kind of carried away with this responce to your thread. I think I had a senior monent...lol...good cookin...cookie  |