Dish guides
What is parmigiana di melanzane?
Parmigiana di melanzane is a southern Italian bake of fried aubergine (eggplant) slices layered with tomato sauce, mozzarella, parmigiano and basil. It contains no meat in its classic form and is served warm or at room temperature as a starter, side or main.
- At a glance
- Parmigiana di melanzane
- Baked layers of fried aubergine, tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmigiano.
- Pronunciation
- Say it like par-mee-JAH-nah dee meh-lahn-DZAH-neh · IPA /parmiˈdʒaːna di melanˈdzaːne/
- Also written as
- parmigiana, melanzane alla parmigiana, la parmigiana, aubergine parmigiana, eggplant parmesan
What’s in it
Core ingredients
- aubergines (eggplant), sliced and fried
- tomato sauce
- mozzarella or fior di latte
- parmigiano reggiano
- basil
- olive oil
Often added
- flour or flour and egg coating on the aubergine
- caciocavallo, provola or pecorino (Sicily and the south)
- hard-boiled egg between the layers
- ham or salami (some home recipes)
Allergens
| Allergen | How likely |
|---|---|
| Dairy | Typically contains |
| Gluten | Sometimes contains |
| Eggs | Sometimes contains |
| Celery | Rarely contains |
| Peanuts | Rarely contains |
| Tree nuts | Rarely contains |
| Shellfish | Rarely contains |
| Fish | Rarely contains |
| Soy | Rarely contains |
| Sesame | Rarely contains |
| Diet | Suitable? |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian | Depends — No meat in the classic recipe, but parmigiano reggiano is made with animal rennet (mozzarella often is too), and some versions add ham or salami. |
| Vegan | No |
| Pescatarian | Usually |
| Halal | Depends — No meat in the classic version, but some recipes add ham or salami, and some halal diners avoid cheese made with animal rennet. |
| Kosher | Depends — Only with kosher-certified cheese, which ordinary Italian restaurants don't use. |
| Gluten-free | Depends — Only when the aubergine slices are fried without a flour or breadcrumb coating; ask. |
Allergen and calorie details are AI estimates based on the menu and typical recipes. They can be incomplete — if you have a serious allergy, always check with the staff.
How parmigiana is made
Aubergines are sliced, salted and fried until soft and golden. They're layered in a baking dish with a simple tomato sauce, torn mozzarella or fior di latte, grated parmigiano and basil leaves, then baked until the layers fuse. In some places the slices are dipped in flour, or flour and egg, before frying. Sicilian cooks may use caciocavallo or pecorino, and some families add slices of hard-boiled egg or ham.
The dish rests before serving and is often eaten warm or at room temperature, when it slices cleanly into layers. It's rich and oily in the best way.
Not from Parma, probably
Despite the name, parmigiana is a southern dish, and Campania, Sicily, Calabria and Apulia all claim it. The name may refer to parmigiano cheese, or, according to Sicilian food writers, to parmiciana, the Sicilian word for the slats of a window shutter, which the overlapping aubergine slices resemble. A recipe recognisable as today's version, with tomato and parmigiano, appears in a Neapolitan cookbook from 1837.
Typical price
Median price 11.5 EUR
Typical range 8–18 EUR.
Median of 46 menus, 2025-04 – 2026-05. Basis: Italian-language menus scanned with MenuGuide.
How to order it
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vorrei la parmigiana di melanzane, per favore. | I'd like the aubergine parmigiana, please. |
| Le melanzane sono infarinate o impanate? | Are the aubergines coated in flour or breadcrumbs? |
| C'è carne o prosciutto dentro? | Is there any meat or ham in it? |
Not to be confused with
Frequently asked questions
Is parmigiana di melanzane vegetarian?
It has no meat in its classic form, so most vegetarians eat it: the recipe is aubergine, tomato, mozzarella, parmigiano and basil. Some home and restaurant versions add ham or salami, so check the description. Strict vegetarians should also know that parmigiano reggiano is made with animal rennet. It isn't vegan, because cheese is essential to the dish.
Does parmigiana have egg in it?
Sometimes. Many recipes simply fry the aubergine slices, but some dip them in flour and beaten egg first, and some Sicilian and Neapolitan cooks add sliced hard-boiled egg between the layers. If you're allergic to eggs, ask "C'è l'uovo?" (Is there egg in it?) before ordering.
Is parmigiana di melanzane gluten free?
It can be, but it depends on how the aubergines are fried. When the slices are fried plain, the dish is typically gluten-free. When they're dredged in flour or breadcrumbs first, it isn't. Ask "Le melanzane sono infarinate?" (Are the aubergines floured?), and mention coeliac disease if cross-contact matters to you.
How do you pronounce parmigiana di melanzane?
Say par-mee-JAH-nah dee meh-lahn-DZAH-neh. The gi in parmigiana is a soft j sound and the i isn't pronounced separately. The z in melanzane sounds like dz. In IPA it's [parmiˈdʒaːna di melanˈdzaːne]. Melanzane means aubergines (eggplants).
