Parmigiana facts for kids
Parmigiana is a tasty dish from Southern Italy. It is made with thin slices of food, often fried, layered with cheese and tomato sauce, then baked until bubbly and golden. The first and most classic version of this dish uses eggplant. In other countries, especially where many Italians have moved, you can find other types of Parmigiana. These often use breaded meat, like veal or chicken cutlets.
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What is Parmigiana?
Parmigiana is a baked dish with layers of ingredients. It usually includes a main ingredient (like eggplant or meat), tomato sauce, and cheese. These layers are stacked up and then baked in an oven until everything is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly. It's a comforting and popular meal!
History of Parmigiana
The exact origin of Parmigiana is debated. Both the regions of Campania and Sicily in Southern Italy claim to have created it.
Even though the name "parmigiana" sounds like it comes from Parma in Northern Italy, the dish is actually not from there. The original dish is called melanzane alla parmigiana, which means "eggplant Parmigiana." It's a classic Southern Italian recipe.
Over time, as many Italians moved to other parts of the world, different versions of Parmigiana were created. For example, in places like the United States and Australia, people started making Veal Parmigiana or Chicken Parmigiana. These versions use thin slices of veal or chicken breast. The meat is usually dipped in egg, covered in breadcrumbs, and then lightly fried. After that, it's topped with a red tomato sauce, often called marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Finally, it's baked until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
How Parmigiana is Cooked
Making Parmigiana involves a few steps. First, the main ingredient, like eggplant slices or meat cutlets, is often pan-fried in oil. This gives it a nice texture and flavor.
Next, these fried slices are layered in a baking dish. You add layers of tomato sauce and different kinds of cheese. Some recipes use hard, grated cheeses like Parmesan or Pecorino Romano. Other recipes prefer softer cheeses that melt easily, such as Mozzarella or Caciocavallo. Sometimes, a mix of both types of cheese is used for the best flavor and texture.
Finally, the layered dish is baked in an oven. This allows all the flavors to blend together and the cheese to become wonderfully melted and bubbly.
Parmigiana Around the World
Parmigiana has become very popular in many countries, especially where Italian immigrants settled.
In the United States and Canada, veal or chicken Parmigiana is often served in a submarine sandwich, also known as a "grinder." It's also a common dish served with or on top of pasta. Sometimes, people add diced onions or green bell peppers to their Parmigiana.
In Australia, chicken or veal Parmigiana is a very popular meal found in pubs. It's often served with chips (fries) and a salad. This dish might also have extra toppings, like sliced ham or even fried eggplant slices. Australians often shorten the name to "parma" or "parmi."
A similar dish called the Parmo is popular in England. It uses either pork or chicken instead of veal or eggplant.
What Does "Parmigiana" Mean?
There are a few ideas about where the name parmigiana comes from.
One common idea is that the name comes from Parmigiano-Reggiano, which is a famous Italian cheese often used in the dish.
Another interesting idea suggests the name comes from a Sicilian word, parmiciana. This word refers to the wooden slats that make up the central part of a window shutter. These slats overlap, much like the slices of eggplant or meat overlap in the Parmigiana dish.
In English-speaking countries, the word Parmigiana is often shortened to "Parmesan," which comes from a French word meaning "from Parma."
See also
In Spanish: Parmigiana di melanzane para niños
