These delicious little devils are less work than they look. It’s a lot of dishes, but it’s worth it. They even save pretty well! I made this for a informal Passover 2021 and it was a nice, semi-fresh compliment to a heavier meal.

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Caprese Eggplant Bites

An appetizing bite-sized dish

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Appetizer, Dinner

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings: servings

Calories: 360kcal

Ingredients

½ cup all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
2 cups bread crumbs
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
1 large graffiti eggplant or 1 medium regular eggplant
½ cup oil Canola or other high-heat oil
3 medium heirloom tomatoes
12 oz fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
Fresh basil
½ tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

Prep the breading work area. Measure flour and put on a plate. Then measure the breadcrumbs and put on a second plate; add salt and pepper and mix well. Beat 3 eggs in a large, shallow bowl and place between the two plates.
Trim the top and bottom of the eggplant. Slice about ⅜" rounds, or just larger than ¼" rounds.
Preheat the oil in a large frying pan over medium, medium-high heat.
Using one hand, move each slice of eggplant through the flour, coating well. Then dip into the egg, coating well again. Finally, gently press each side into the bread crumbs to ensure it's well-coated.
Using a slotted turner (or tongs), gently place battered eggplant slices into the oil in a single layer. You will have to do a few batches. Fry on each side without disturbing for about 3 minutes per side, until golden brown. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Repeat until all slices are fried.
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. While the slices fry, slice the tomatoes into the same number of slices as you have eggplants. Also prepare the sliced mozzarella. Once the slices are fried, place on a lightly oiled sheet pan (half-size is fine) and top with the sliced tomatoes and then the sliced mozzarella.
Bake the slices at 400ºF for 3-5 minutes, until the mozzarella just barely starts to melt. While that bakes, slice the basil leaves.
Remove and top with a pinch of red pepper flakes, a pinch of a flaky salt and the sliced basil leaves.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Caprese Eggplant Bites

Amount Per Serving

Calories 360 Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Fat 24g37%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Trans Fat 1g

Cholesterol 76mg25%

Sodium 667mg29%

Potassium 413mg12%

Carbohydrates 20g7%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 17g34%

Vitamin A 1078IU22%

Vitamin C 10mg12%

Calcium 333mg33%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.