Our Classic Eggplant Parmesan Recipe Is A (Worthwhile!) Labor Of love (2024)

FAQs

Which eggplant parmesan is famous for inducing labor? ›

Down in Cobb County, Georgia, this Italian restaurant, Scalini's, has their walls lined with photos of women and their babies, hundreds of them. What do they have in common? They all ate Scalini's famous Eggplant Parmesan within 48 hours of going into labor.

The Bracha Rishona on Eggplant is Borei Pri Hoadama, and the Bracha Acharona is Borei Nefashos.

The deep purple skin of the eggplant provides a good dose of anthocyanins, a plant pigment that protects brain cells against cellular damage. High in fiber and rich in folate, eggplant is part of the Nightshade family of fruits.

There are some theories about how this might work, it could be the eggplant combined with the spices and the cheese, no one really knows. Science is pretty unconvinced about the validity of an eggplant induced birth, but we're not doing a scientific study.

That said, most of the foods credited with kick-starting labor, such as pineapple, dates, eggplant parm and spicy dishes, are perfectly safe to eat in moderation during pregnancy, although they can sometimes lead to heartburn or an upset stomach.

Older recipes call for salting eggplant to draw out the bitter juices, but today's eggplants are less bitter (unless very large), so salting is largely unnecessary. It will, however, help the spongy flesh absorb less oil and crisp up like a dream.

The peel of an eggplant is completely edible. However, as the eggplant grows bigger and matures, the peel may become tough and bitter. People often prefer to peel larger eggplants because of this, but smaller eggplants do just fine unpeeled. It ends up being a matter of personal preference.

Modern eggplant has had bitterness nearly bred out of it, so many cooks have given up the practice. Salting the slices for eggplant Parmesan is not to prevent bitter flavors, but to season the eggplant itself and, at least in my experience, keep the eggplant from sucking up too much of the olive oil from frying.

Eggplant Parmigiana (V) | Lunch & Dinner Menu | Olive Garden Italian Restaurant.

Eggplant contains a lot of water, so it's no wonder it can become soggy. Baking this eggplant parmesan dish uncovered allows moisture to escape so the final dish won't be too water-logged.

What pairs well with eggplant parmigiana? ›

Eggplants are high in fiber and low in calories, making them an excellent addition to any weight loss regimen. Fiber moves through the digestive tract slowly and can promote fullness and satiety , reducing calorie intake. Each cup (82 grams) of raw eggplant contains 3 grams of fiber and just 20 calories.

Eggplant parmesan tends to be lighter on the stomach and is considered to be more healthy. Eggplant is also less expensive. Restaurants find that it is a much cheaper option for guests.

The lore surrounding Scalini's eggplant parmesan eventually led the restaurant to compile a wall of photographs — affectionally known as the “Baby Eggplant Club” — filled with hundreds of pictures of infants supposedly born because their mothers had eaten the eggplant parmesan within hours or days of giving birth.

In a baking dish, alternate layers of marinara sauce, eggplant slices, ricotta, parmesan and romano cheeses, until you fill the baking dish. Cover with shredded mozzarella cheese. bake for 25 minutes in a preheated oven at 190 degrees Celsius. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Italian Eggplant

These large dark purple eggplants are a bit smaller than globe eggplants and often have a teardrop shape. They tend to have a sweeter flavor than globe eggplant.

SICILIAN EGGPLANT

Italian Eggplant, also called “Baby Egg- plant”, looks like Regular Eggplant only smaller and more slender. This variety is ideal for roasting and can be used in ways similar to regular eggplant.