As Bastianich says, this is the time to go for the best ricotta you can find: whole milk and as fresh as possible. Of course, ...

Coat an 8-by-11 1/2-inch baking dish with cooking spray. To prepare eggplant: Cut eggplants crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Whisk egg whites with water in a shallow dish until frothy.

Set aside. Generously spray non-stick cookie sheet with cooking spray. Set aside. Coat each eggplant slice with remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place each slice on prepared ...

Add flour to one bowl, eggs to another and panko to the third. Pat the eggplant slices dry. Dip each in the flour, and then the beaten eggs and finally the panko, really packing on the bread ...