If you like eggplant parmigiana, you’ll love these open-face sandwiches. For the best flavor, make the tomato sauce and bread crumbs yourself.

　　

Ingredients

serves 4

　　2 large eggs

　　Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

　　3/4 cup plain dried bread crumbs (page 365)

　　Olive oil, for baking sheet

　　1 eggplant (about 1 pound), sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds

　　1 small loaf soft Italian bread (8 ounces)

　　2 cups Basic Tomato Sauce (page 364) or store-bought sauce

　　8 ounces mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced

　　

Step 1

Preheat oven to 475°F. In a shallow bowl, lightly beat eggs with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread bread crumbs in another shallow bowl.

　　

Step 2

Lightly oil a rimmed baking sheet. Dip eggplant rounds in egg, letting excess drip back into bowl, then dredge in bread crumbs, turning to coat completely; transfer to prepared baking sheet. Bake (without turning slices) until golden and tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

　　

Step 3

Meanwhile, split bread lengthwise, and place halves, cut sides up, on another baking sheet; press gently in centers of each bread half to create a well.

　　

Step 4

Layer both bread halves with tomato sauce, eggplant, and cheese. Bake until cheese is browned in spots, 6 to 8 minutes. To serve, cut into 4 pieces.

　　

Breading Made Easy

Step 5

Rather than being fried on the stove, the breaded eggplant slices are baked to a golden crust in the oven, with much less cleanup. When breading, dip one or two slices at a time in the egg, then allow the excess to drip back into bowl before coating completely with bread crumbs.

　　Everyday Food: Fresh Flavor Fast by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Copyright © 2010 by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Published by the Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.Martha Stewart Living magazine was first published in 1990. Over the years, more than two dozen books have been published by the magazine’s editors.Martha Stewart is the author of dozens of best-selling books on cooking, entertaining, gardening, weddings, and decorating. She is the host of The Martha Stewart Show, the successful daily syndicated television show.