I made eggplant Parmesan using recipes from 3 celebrity chefs. The best one was worth the extra time and effort.

Paige BennettJul 10, 2024, 22:24 IST

One recipe took significantly more time to make, but the taste made it worth it.Paige Bennett

I made eggplant Parmesan using recipes from Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, and Ina Garten.
Flay's recipe was the most complex and time-consuming, but I ended up loving it the most.

Lately, I've wanted to incorporate more eggplant into my diet, but I haven't found a recipe that I really love yet. With the high cost of groceries, I want to ensure I'm not spending money to make a meal that I'm not crazy about.

That's why I decided to try a few eggplant Parmesan recipes from some of my favorite celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, and Ina Garten.

Here's how the three recipes stacked up.

Bobby Flay’s eggplant Parmesan recipe was daunting from the start.

Bobby Flay's recipe called for making sauce and breadcrumbs from scratch.Paige Bennett

This recipe took longer than the stated time.

The recipe took almost four hours to make.Paige Bennett

It was quite tedious to make Flay's version of eggplant Parmesan.

It took a while to prepare the breadcrumbs and sauce.Paige Bennett

It was difficult handling all the tasks at once.

The dish looked and smelled great as I was cooking.Paige Bennett

From my first bite, I knew this recipe was worth making again.

The sauce and different cheeses made the dish come out super tasty.Paige Bennett

I will definitely make Flay's recipe again for a special meal.

Next time, I'll plan to make the breadcrumbs and sauce in advance.Paige Bennett

The recipe from Giada De Laurentiis was surprisingly simple.

Giada De Laurentiis' recipe called for a much shorter ingredient list than Bobby Flay's.Paige Bennett

I had to sub the type of eggplant, but the process was otherwise seamless.

Giada De Laurentiis' recipe was quick and easy to make.Paige Bennett

De Laurentiis' eggplant Parmesan was quick and easy to make.

Using jarred marinara and panko breadcrumbs sped up the process.Paige Bennett

This is a great option for quick, weeknight dinners.

The red pepper-flakes and torn basil enhanced the dish's flavor.Paige Bennett

Ina Garten’s eggplant Parmesan recipe balanced homemade elements with shortcuts.

Ina Garten's recipe called for both homemade and premade ingredients.Paige Bennett

The dish comes together more like a lasagna or casserole.

Ina Garten's recipe required me to layer the ingredients on top of each other.Paige Bennett

I topped the dish with breadcrumbs before putting it back in the oven.

The garlic made the breadcrumbs smell amazing.Paige Bennett

Although the goat cheese was a little overwhelming, this was an amazing eggplant Parmesan recipe.

I'll likely halve the amount of goat cheese I use next time.Paige Bennett

All three recipes were good enough to make again, but Flay’s turned out to be my favorite.

Despite the additional time required, I enjoyed Bobby Flay's recipe the most.Paige Bennett

I tried vanilla ice cream from Costco, Whole Foods, Wegmans, and Trader Joe's. From now on, the winner will always be in my freezer.

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