The recipe I have is from the newspaper in Little Rock, AR it also listed bacon drippings for the onions and 1oz grated cheese.

There are a few things that are different in my recipe but the ones listed are all close.

Here is how I've been making it for the past 30 years: Terry's Eggplant Casserole

I don't think that Franke's had any rotel, peppers or cheese in it. The recipe from Arkansas Online seems like the old recipe to me. If anyone used to work at Franke's, please weigh-in. I think that the flavor came from the cornbread (not crackers), eggplant, butter and tomatoes.

Frankies closed the Little Rock location but have one in Conway, AR now so all is not lost.

I have the eggplant casserole recipe from the 1950' that I make from memory so I will try to help here as much as I can.

Ingredients:
2 med sz eggplant
1/2 cup onion
1/2 cup Bell Pepper
1 can diced tomatoes -or-
1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies
2 eggs
1/2 sleeve of saltine crackers crushed
Velveeta Cheese grated about 2 Cups
1 tsp. garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:
Peel eggplant, dice into cubes or strips, boil until tender enough to mash with fork.
Saute Onion and bell pepper in butter until tender.
Drain eggplant in colander and return to pan boiled in and mash with potato masher.
Add sauted onion and bell pepper and all other ingredients except salt and pepper and cheese.
Mix well then add S & P to taste.
Pour into greased casserole dish, top with cheese, cover with foil, bake at 350°F for 30 minutes, remove foil continue baking until cheese begins to brown a little.
Rest dish for 15 minutes before serving (my preference).

Thank you for your post. Since the 1st recipe, I have been wondering what to do with those eggs? It looks like something worth trying to cook now.

Yes this is more like it. I knew it had crackers in it. I used to eat it all the time. Mom used to make it to. Love it!

Nope, sorry. No bell peppers in there and not saltines either, rather corn bread crumbs. And no Velveeta, use American cheese or mild cheddar.

While growing up in southwest Arkansas, our mother took us to shop in Little Rock.
We would ride the train from our small town of Gurdon to Little Rock and then home again later in the day. We always ate lunch at Franke's Downtown Cafeteria.
Eggplant casserole was always one of my favorite choices. Thank you. I am now
70-years-young and living in Texas.

The best dish ever! I add garlic and jalepeños to put a twist on it. Thank you for posting this!

Green onions and chopped parsley.

OMG I can't wait to make this, its like hitting a gold mine, I grew up in little rock and Franke's was a place that my grand parents use to take us and the egg plant it was my fave now I live in California and I heard they closed I always wanted to know how to make its to die for. Is the the same recipes if so I give it 10 stars

James, this is Christen Franke. Just so you know we are still open and have never closed. We have been serving the good people of Arkansas for over 94 years. Next time you come home, swing by and give us a visit! As for the recipe... while not exactly correct, you've got the basics down. :-)

The recipe I've kept safely in my recipe file, written on an old tattered piece of what used to be pink paper from somewhere in the 1950's, IS VERY SIMILAR to this, yes, but they've listed one ingredient that isn't in there, and I've got one ingredient that's not in this recipe. I'm going to stick with my tattered piece of pale pink paper...

And you are not sharing the 'pot of gold'? Hey, Christen, my mother -- who is now in her 90's and can work the 'stuffin' out of me any day of the week would love to know what you know. She grew up on Nona St. in Little Rock and, also, loved to go to Franke's to eat and I remember her talking about the eggplant casserole.

It's another controversial recipe that people claim isn't authentic and they know the real recipe yet won't share it. I see this all the time.

Looking forward to trying this as we love eggplant but never know what to do with it. If Etta is a relative, we should take her advice!

My grandmother worked at Franke's when I was a little girl. Mom would take us there 2 or 3 times a week and we always had the eggplant casserole. It is SOOOO good. Good memories too.

I have eaten this delicious eggplant since 1958 at Franke's in Little Rock. I have misplaced my orginial recipe from the Arkansas Gazette (Yes that far back) but feel fortunate to have found this via "net". Thanks.

You didn't say to add the 4 eggs nor that they should be beaten when you add them. I have been eating this 65 years at Franke's Cafeteria and it is delicious. Cynthia

My thanks to Cynthia for mentioning the eggs that are listed in the recipe. I gather from her comments that they are just added in with the other ingredients. Needed this clarification before making what sounds like a good dish..Thanks!