This is an Eggplant sandwich to satisfy all tastebuds and is my entry in the Mezzetta Make That Sandwich Contest.

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We used Mezzetta Napa Valley Bistro Artichoke Marinara Pasta Sauce  and Mezzetta Golden Greek Pepperocini Slices to add the ultimate flavor to this lunch or dinner meal.

  • 1 medium eggplant, sliced about 1/3″ thick into 8 to 10 slices. Leave the skin on and salt in a colander for 30 minutes.
  • 3 beaten eggs
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 TBS Italian seasoning
  • olive oil for frying
  • 1 fennel bulb, sliced thin
  • 1 large tomato, sliced thin in 8 – 10 slices
  • 8 to 10 fresh basil leaves, crumbled
  • salt and pepper
  • 8 oz Mozzarella cheese, sliced into 8 – 10 slices
  • 1 cup or more of Napa Valley Bistro Artichoke Marinara Sauce
  • 1 cup or more of Mezzetta Golden Pepperocini Slices, drained
  • 8 TBS Honey or Sweet-Hot Mustard
  • 8 – 10 pieces of crisp lettuce
  • 8 – 10 Whole wheat or Kaiser Rolls, toasted

Preheat oven to 425 F.

Heat frying pan on medium – high and cover the bottom with oil.  Mix the breadcrumbs with the Italian seasoning and put into a dish. Dip the eggplant (after it has been salted and sat for 30 min.) into the beaten eggs, then into the seasoned breadcrumbs. Fry at about 5 – 6 minutes per side. Do not overcrowd the pan.

Add the fennel to the hot an and saute for about 4 minutes. Set aside.

Prepare a baking sheet with foil and place the eggplant slices on the sheet.  Top with a tomato slice, basil, salt and pepper, mozzarella cheese, 1 TBS Napa Valley Bistro sauce, some fennel and bake for 8 – 10 minutes.

Toast the rolls. Place a piece of lettuce on the bottom of each roll, top with prepared eggplant, put about 1 TBS pepperocini on each egglant, spread about 1 TBS mustard on top roll and enjoy.

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This sandwich was SO good. Ted loved it – he ate 2!  I enjoyed it so much, I could’ve eaten two but thought better of it – the stomach can only hold so much..or so it told the brain.

The Mezzetta Pepperocini slices really did the trick to adding so much flavor. If you give this a try, don’t leave out the pepperocini. They come in mild or hot options.

Now it’s off to begin the long weekend.  Please stop by for a visit since I’ll be posting more delicious recipes. Do you have a favorite you want me to try? If so, either leave it in the comments, email it, or let me know your blog where I can find it. I just LOVE to try new things!

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