Whether you refer to the name as Parmigiana, Parmesan or just plain Parm, more than likely you’ve enjoyed devouring a variation of this popular entree, but did you know the authentic Italian Parmigiana dish began as a meatless dish and consisted of a base of eggplant deep-fried in oil and layered with cheese and tomato sauce, then baked.
Of course, it wasn’t too long before other countries outside of Italy began crafting new variations of this popular baked entree by replacing the fried eggplant with meatier substitutes such as chicken, veal, beef and my favorite elk.
Now my version of this entrée is similar to what you might find on the menu in your favorite restaurant but instead uses a delicious medley of sliced elk dredged in seasoned breadcrumbs lightly fried until golden brown, then set in a tomato sauce with each cutlet topped with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese. And to make the dish even more substantial, I like to add a few spoonfuls of ricotta cheese to the sauce and then bake.
You’ll end up with an enticing combination of tender breaded elk, warm tomato sauce and gooey melted cheese that’s a perfect combination to serve over cooked pasta or wilted spinach.
Ingredients • 1 ½ pounds elk roast
• 3/4 cup plain bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ cup flour
• 2 eggs + 1 tablespoon water
• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 3 cups spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
• 8 slices fresh mozzarella
• ¼ cup fresh basil, finely chopped
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Cut the elk roast into 8 pieces, roughly 1 inch thick, and pound with a meat mallet to tenderize.
Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, dried basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a bowl. In another bowl, beat eggs with water. Add ½ cup of flour to a plate and lightly dredge each piece of meat shaking off any excess. Dip into the egg mixture and then transfer to the breadcrumb mixture, pressing firmly to coat both sides. Set aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil. When the oil is nice and hot, add the breaded elk meat and cook on both sides until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes per side. You may need to do this in batches so not to overcrowd the skillet.
Pour the spaghetti sauce into a 9×13 inch baking dish, add the elk meat and top each one with a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese. Spoon ricotta cheese into the sauce and sprinkle chopped basil over the top. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
Serve the elk parmesan over cooked pasta or wilted spinach and garnish with fresh basil.
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