Why it works: Mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,093 recipes. Both carry ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, which smells fruity, apple. The science ↓
Eggplant Parmigiana with Sauce and Cheeses
Ingredients
Directions
Broil the eggplant
Heat broiler.
Place half the eggplant on broiler rack, coat with nonstick spray.
Sprinkle with half the pepper.
Broil 8 min. per side or until lightly browned and tender.
Repeat with remaining eggplant and pepper.
Assemble and bake
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Spread ½ cup marinara sauce in a shallow 3 quart baking dish.
Line with ½ the eggplant, spoon on 1¼ cups sauce, top with 1 cup mozzarella, then remaining eggplant, sauce and mozzarella.
Sprinkle with parmesan, cover with foil.
Bake 45 min. or until bubbly.
Let rest 15 min.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 5 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Parmesan Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 110 |
| Mozzarella Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 85 |
| Eggplant | 1 cup cubed (82g) | 35 |
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Mozzarella cheese + parmesan cheesetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,093 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Eggplant + peppertop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,123 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
-
Eggplant + mozzarella cheesetop 12% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together146 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-methylbutyraldehyde (malty, chocolate).
-
Pepper + parmesan cheesetop 14% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together5,322 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Sauce + mozzarella cheesetop 17% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together804 recipes
Shared aroma: decanoic acid (soapy, waxy).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Eggplant
- Forms the tender layers that hold the sauce and cheese together.
- Marinara sauce
- Adds moisture and acidity that keeps the layers from drying out while baking.
- Part skim mozzarella cheese
- Melts into stretchy layers that bind the dish and add creaminess.
- Parmesan cheese
- Adds salty, savory flavor and browns on the surface when baked.
The step that matters
Broil the eggplant until lightly browned and tender. Eggplant is spongy and holds a lot of water. Broiling it first drives off moisture and softens the flesh, so the assembled dish does not turn watery or bitter.
Swap the eggplant
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (pepper, sauce, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese):
- Tomatofits better
- Capsicumfits better
- Spinachfits better
- Eggplantthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against pepper, sauce, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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