Balsamic Eggplant Aubergine Stacks Food

HALLOUMI AND EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) STACK

Steps:

• Mix all salad dressing ingredients together and stir well.
• Brush eggplant slices with olive oil and place under a hot grill; cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until lightly browned and cooked through; alternatively, grill on BBQ.
• Coat haloumi cheese in flour and fry in a little olive oil in a not-stick frying pan on high heat until lightly brown on both sides; alternatively, grill on BBQ (do not coat with flour if grilling on the bbq).
• Divide eggplant and haloumi slices into 2 equal portions; place the largest slice of eggplant on a plate, cover with one layer of haloumi cheese and alternate eggplant and haloumi slices, ending with an eggplant layer; repeat this process with the remaining eggplant and haloumi slices.
• Spoon salad dressing ingredients over the two stacks.

GRILLED EGGPLANT & TOMATO STACKS

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium-high or place a grill pan over medium-high heat until hot.
• Use 2 teaspoons oil to brush both sides of eggplant slices; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Grill the eggplant slices for 5 minutes. Turn; continue grilling until tender and marked with grill lines, 3 to 5 minutes more. Transfer to a large platter.
• Spread each eggplant slice with 1 teaspoon pesto. Top with a slice of tomato, a slice of mozzarella and a basil leaf.
• Drizzle vinegar and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over the towers; sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND TOMATO STACKS

Steps:

• In a large bowl toss the eggplant slices with 1/4 cup kosher salt. Using your fingertips, evenly distribute the salt on both sides of each slice. Place the eggplant in a colander set over a large bowl or sheet pan to catch juices. Set aside for 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line two 18 by 13-inch baking sheets with heavy-duty foil.
• Rinse the eggplant under cold water and dry thoroughly with paper towels.
• Arrange the eggplant slices in a single layer on one baking sheet. Brush olive oil on 1 side. Brush with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper.
• Drizzle the other pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Arrange the tomato slices in a single layer, season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with the minced garlic.
• Roast the tomatoe slices until they are very soft and just beginning to brown, 10 to 15 minutes, without turning. Bake the eggplant slices until they are tender and well browned, 20 to 30 minutes, without turning. Let the tomato and eggplant slices cool until you can handle them with your fingers.
• Make a short stack starting with eggplant on the bottom, 1 slice mozzarella, and then tomato. Top with another piece of eggplant. Warm stacks in the oven until mozzarella lightly melts. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

EGGPLANT STACKS

Steps:

• Lay the eggplant slices on a sheet pan; lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Mix together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice, and lightly brush the eggplant slices.
• Heat the broiler or grill pan, or low gas grill. Grill or broil the eggplant, turning over occasionally, until eggplant is very tender, 6 to 10 minutes; do not let them burn. Cook low and slow for sweetness. Remove and reserve.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• On baking pan, arrange 4 of the largest eggplant rounds side by side and spread each with thin layer of pesto, then top each with largest tomato rounds. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper, and top each with about 1 tablespoon feta and a pinch of chopped basil. Continue to layer, ending with cheese.
• Bake in the oven (or on the grill) until cheese begins to melt, about 3 to 4 minutes. Garnish with fresh lemons.

BALSAMIC EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Combine vinegar, oil, oregano, 1/2 tsp each salt, pepper and sugar.
• Coat large cookie sheet with vegetable cooking spray.
• Brush both sides of eggplant with vinegar mixture and arrange in single layer on cookie sheet.
• Bake 15 minutes per side or until fork-tender.
• Combine onions, garlic, and 2 Tbsp of wine in large non-stick skillet, stirring over medium-high head until onions are soft, approximately 5 minutes.
• Stir in stewed tomatoes with their liquid, chopped tomato, basil, remaining 2 Tbsp wine, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp sugar.
• Bring to boil over high heat; reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally to break up tomatoes, 10 minute.
• Makes approximately 2 1/2 cup sauce.
• Note: In a pinch I have used canned spaghetti sauce, and it worked just fine.
• Spoon one third of the sauce into shallow 2-quart baking dish.
• Arrange half the eggplant over sauce.
• Spoon half the remaining sauce over eggplant.
• Sprinkle on half of the mozzarella.
• Layer again with remaining eggplant, sauce and mozzarella.
• Top with parmesan.
• Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
• Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes more, until bubbly.
• Let stand 15 minutes before serving for easier cutting.
• Enjoy!

POLENTA STACKS WITH EGGPLANT, TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• For polenta:
• Bring 2 cups water and salt to boil in heavy small saucepan. Gradually whisk in cornmeal. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until polenta is very thick, whisking constantly, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cheese and butter; whisk until melted. Mix in basil. Season generously with pepper. Spread in 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Chill until cold, about 1 hour.(Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover, keep chilled.)
• For stacks:
• Preheat broiler. Place eggplant on baking sheet. Brush with oil on both sides; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil until brown, about 4 minutes per side. Arrange 12 tomato slices on large plate (discard end slices). Drizzle each slice with a few drops of vinegar. Sprinkle eggplant and tomatoes with oregano.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Oil baking sheet. Cut polenta into 25 squares. Place 12 squares on sheet. Top each with eggplant round. Cut cheese into 1/3-inch thick slices; place atop squares. Top each with tomato slice (save remaining polenta and cheese for another use).
• Bake polenta stacks until heated through and cheese melts, about 15 minutes. Top each stack with 1 basil leaf.

GRILLED EGGPLANT STACKS

Steps:

• Place eggplant slices in colander; sprinkle evenly with 1/2 tsp salt.
• Let stand 10 minutes and then rinse slices thoroughly; dry with paper towels.
• Combine vinegar, wine, and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer until reduced to about 1/4 cup (8 minutes).
• Prepare grill.
• Trim ends from the zucchini and yellow squash; slice length-wise into 4, 1/4-inch strips.
• Flatten pepper pieces with hand.
• Brush vegetables with olive oil then sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper.
• Place pepper pieces skin side down, eggplant, zucchini and squash on grill rack.
• Grill 8 minutes or until tender turning once.
• Combine cheese with basil and oregano.
• To assemble stack, place 1 eggplant slice on plate.
• Top with 1/4 of the cheese mixture lay one strip of squash and one strip zucchini side by side.
• Drizzle with 1.5 tsp balsamic mixture. Then place 1 piece of pepper and top with another eggplant slice.
• Repeat procedure with remaining vegetables, cheese, and sauce.
• Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

GRILLED BALSAMIC EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Add the marinade ingredients into a bag tossing to combine. Add the 4 quarters of the eggplant and marinade for 1 hour at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator.
• Preheat grill to high. Place the wedges on the grates reserving the marinade.Grill on hot oiled grates lowering heat to medium.
• Brown on all three sides. Marking each side. Will be ready when easy to remove from grate. For more tender move to indirect heat and grill till desired. About 10 minutes.
• Pour the reserved marinade over the hot eggplant.

EGGPLANT, TOMATO, AND PESTO STACK

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse 1/2 cup walnuts until finely chopped. Add 2 cups basil and garlic, and pulse while slowly adding 1/2 cup oil, scraping down sides as needed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add Parmesan; season with salt and black pepper; process until pesto is well combined. Heat oven to 400°F. Brush eggplant slices with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with sea salt; roast on a baking sheet, turning once, until tender and golden, 20 minutes. Top each with 1 tablespoon pesto. Alternately layer 2 eggplant slices, 2 tomato slices and 1 slice mozzarella. (Refrigerate any remaining pesto for another use.) Divide balsamic vinegar, remaining 2 tablespoons walnuts and basil leaves among stacks.

LAMB AND EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) STACK

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a pan and cook the onion until soft. Remove from pan.
• Heat the remaining oil and cook meat and spices until well browned-breaking the lumps up with a wooden spoon. This will take about 10 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the herbs, pine nuts, currants, lemon juice and onion, keep warm.
• Heat a chargrill pan until hot. Slice each eggplant lengthways into thin slices-you will need 12 slices in total.
• Brush the slices with oil and season with salt and pepper. Chargrill on both sides.
• Place a slice of eggplant on each plate and top with some of the lamb mixture, then a second eggplant slice. Repeat teo make a second layer.
• Crumble cheese over the stack and serve with lemon wedges and a sprinkle of parsley and or mint.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN STACKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Season eggplant with salt. Heat 1 cup oil (about 1/4 inch) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, so as to not crowd the skillet, fry eggplant rounds, turning once, until soft and pale golden, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
• Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, and cook 20 seconds (do not let brown). Add tomatoes and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until tomatoes break down and are soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in oregano and basil. (Alternatively, stir oregano and basil into 1 1/4 cups Freezable Tomato Sauce Base.)
• Place 6 slices of eggplant on a rimmed baking sheet. Top each slice with 1 tablespoon sauce and a few pieces of mozzarella, and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons Parmesan. Repeat layering twice.
• Bake until heated through and cheese is bubbling, about 12 minutes. Serve immediately, garnished with oregano and Parmesan shavings.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN STACKS

Steps:

• Rinse eggplant and trim off and discard both ends.
• Cut eggplant crosswise into 8 equally thick slices.
• Cut Polenta crosswise into 8 equal rounds.
• Lightly coat a 14- by 17-inch baking sheet with olive oil spray or brush with olive oil.
• Arrange eggplant and polenta slices in a single layer on sheet.
• Lightly coat slices with more olive oil.
• Bake in a 425 degree regular or convection oven until eggplant is soft when pressed and polenta is heated through, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a 8-to 10 inch nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat, stir onion, garlic, and basil occasionally until onoin is lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add tomato puree and 1/4 cup water; simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until flavors are blended, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover and keep warm over low heat,stirring occasionally,until eggplant is done.
• When eggplant is soft, sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses equally over eggplant and polenta.
• Return to oven and bake until cheese is melted, about 2 minutes.
• On each of 4 dinner plates, place 1 slice eggplant (use larges sizes first) and drizzle with 1 tablespoon sauce; top with 1 slice polenta and 1 tablespoon sauce, Repeat until all slices are used.
• If desired garnish with rosemary sprigs.
• Spoon remaining sauce around base of eggplant stacks, Serve.