Olive Garden Eggplant Parmigiana

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2

Blanch and peel eggplant. Cut into 1/2" thick slices. Place the slices in a colander over a bowl. Sprinkle salt over all the slices. Let stand for 30 minutes. Rinse. Pat dry. Set aside.

Step 3

Mix egg, milk and olive oil and place into a bowl.

Step 4

Mix bread crumbs and grated parmesan cheese in another bowl.

Step 5

Dip each slice into flour, toss lightly to remove excess flour and then dip quickly into the egg and milk mixture. Allow excess milk and egg coating to drip off and then place the slice in the cheese and bread crumb mixture. Coat each slice thoroughly.

Step 6

Place the coated eggplant slice on a rack and allow to dry for at least an hour.

Step 7

Saute in clarified butter until golden on each side. Remove from skillet and place in a baking pan heavily greased with olive oil.

Step 8

Cover each slice of cooked, coated eggplant with as much mozzarella as needed. Pour tomato sauce over the cheese covered eggplant slices and bake for about ten minutes.

Step 9

Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Step 10

Sprinkle lightly with ground oregano and serve with additional tomato sauce. Serve with pasta.

Step 11

This Olive Garden Eggplant Parmigiana is a traditional and popular dish. Over the years, Olive Garden has become a staple in Italian fare in America.

Step 12

The first Olive Garden opened in Orlando, Florida in In less than four decades, the chain has grown to be international and has almost 900 locations nationwide.

Step 13

The chain was originally owned by General Mills, the company famous for cereal. Spaghetti for breakfast, anyone? They are now owned by Darden, the same company that owned Red Lobster. They tried a hybrid restaurant between the two, but it flopped and Red Lobster was sold.

Step 14

During their "Never-Ending-Pasta-Bowl" promotion in 2013, the company sold over 13 million bowls of pasta. That's a lot of noodles!

Step 15

In 2014, it was estimated that over 675 million breadsticks were sold. It seems like no one can say no to Olive Garden breadsticks!

Step 16

Late-night television host Jimmy Fallon is such a big fan that he now owns the rights to the former Olive Garden slogan, "When You're Here, You're Family."