Spicy Eggplant Tex-Mex Parmigiana

Where Brooklyn Nonna meets San Antonio Fiesta.

If your Italian grandmother and your Tex-Mex-loving tia threw a dinner party, this is what they’d serve. It’s crispy eggplant, spicy black bean salsa, chipotle marinara, and melty dairy-free cheese all stacked like it’s waiting for a standing ovation from both coasts. Oh, and it’s plant-based, because your abs and your arteries deserve to get along.

Ingredients:

For the Eggplant:

• 1 large eggplant, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup cornmeal
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• Olive oil spray

For the Chipotle Marinara:

• 1 can (15 oz) crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• Salt to taste

For the Black Bean Salsa Layer:

• 1/2 cup cooked black beans
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 1/4 cup diced tomato
• 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
• Juice of 1 lime
• Pinch of chili flakes (optional)

For the Topping:

• 1/2 cup shredded dairy-free mozzarella (or real mozzarella if you swing that way)
• Optional: sliced jalapeños, avocado slices, or chopped scallions

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🔥 Instructions:

1. Prep the Eggplant: Salt the eggplant slices and let them sweat for 20 minutes. Pat them dry.
2. Bread It: Dip each slice in almond milk, then coat with the breadcrumb/cornmeal/spice mix.
3. Bake It: Preheat oven to 425°F. Arrange eggplant on a baking sheet, spray lightly with olive oil. Bake for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
4. Make the Chipotle Marinara: In a small pan, sauté garlic in olive oil for 1 minute. Add tomatoes, chipotle, and oregano. Simmer for 10–15 minutes. Adjust salt.
5. Mix the Salsa: Combine all salsa ingredients in a bowl. Taste for lime/salt balance.
6. Assemble Like a Boss: In a baking dish, spoon marinara, layer crispy eggplant, top with salsa, a bit more sauce, then cheese. Repeat for a couple of layers if desired.
7. Bake to Unite the Flavors: Bake at 375°F for 10–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly.
8. Serve It Up: Garnish with avocado, jalapeños, or scallions. Serve with a side of lime-cilantro rice or grilled corn.

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🏁 Finishing Touch:

Tell your taste buds to buckle up. This fusion dish brings the drama of Sunday supper and the fiesta of Taco Tuesday into one epic, plant-based masterpiece. Bellissimo y delicioso.