Creamed Eggplant Food

MOUSSAKA: EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Salt the eggplant. Spread the eggplant slices in one layer and sprinkle with salt. Let set for 30 minutes to "sweat out" its bitterness.
• Turn the broiler of your oven on.
• Prepare a large sheet pan or two and brush with extra virgin olive oil. Pat the eggplant slices dry, removing excess salt, and assemble in one layer on the prepared pan. Brush generously with olive oil.
• Place the sheet pan about 6 inches away from the broiler. Broil the eggplant briefly, turning over so that both sides are softened and golden brown (do not worry if parts of the eggplant are slightly charred, but watch carefully so it doesn't burn). Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Prepare the meat sauce. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet. Cook the onions on medium heat until they turn slightly golden brown, stirring regularly (about 5 minutes). Now add the ground lamb. Cook the lamb until fully browned, tossing regularly. Drain the lamb from any excess fat and return to the skillet. Add the dried oregano, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg, and hot paprika. Stir to coat the meat with the spices. Add the wine and boil for 1 minute to reduce. Stir in the canned tomatoes, sugar, and broth. Simmer over medium-low heat for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350 degrees F and work on the bechamel.
• Make the bechamel. In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper. Cook until golden (if needed, added a little more olive oil). Gradually add the warmed milk, whisking continuously. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes. Add the nutmeg. In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of the hot bechamel mixture with the 2 eggs. Then return all to the pan and stir into the bechamel mixture. Continue to stir or whisk the mixture bringing to a gentle boil for just 2 more minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Remove from the heat and allow to cool and thicken a little more. (You should have a creamy, thick and smooth bechamel sauce.)
• Assemble the moussaka. When ready, lightly oil a 9 ½" x 13" oven-safe baking dish. Layer half the eggplant slices on the bottom. Add the meat sauce and spread well. Add the remaining eggplant slices. Pour the bechamel on top and spread to cover all the eggplant, then sprinkle with the bread crumbs.
• Bake. Bake the moussaka casserole on the center rack of the heated oven for 45 minutes. If you need to, transfer the baking pan to the top rack and broil briefly so that the top of the moussaka gains a nice golden brown color (watch carefully).
• Remove from the heat and let the casserole sit for 10 minutes before cutting through into squares to serve. Enjoy!

CREAMY EGGPLANT PARMESAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment. Combine bread crumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan in shallow dish. Reserve 2 Tbsp. crumb mixture for later use. Spray both sides of 1 eggplant slice with cooking spray; dip in remaining bread crumb mixture, turning to evenly coat both sides of eggplant slice. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining eggplant slices.
• Bake 30 min. or until eggplant is tender and golden brown, turning after 15 min.
• Meanwhile, microwave cream cheese in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 40 sec. Gradually whisk in milk until blended. Stir in garlic and 1/4 cup basil.
• Spread 1/4 cup cream cheese sauce onto bottom of 9-inch pie plate sprayed with cooking spray. Top with layers of 1/3 of the eggplant, 4 cheese slices, 1/4 cup of the remaining Parmesan and 1/3 cup of the remaining cream cheese sauce; repeat layers twice. Top with tomatoes, remaining cheese slices and reserved crumb mixture.
• Bake 25 min. or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining basil.

CHICKEN-FRIED EGGPLANT WITH CREAMY RED-EYE GRAVY

Steps:

• For the eggplant: Lay the eggplant slices out on a paper or kitchen towel-lined cutting board and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 20 to 30 minutes. (This will pull the moisture out.)
• Heat 1 inch oil in a 14-inch cast-iron pan to 350 degrees F. Line a sheet tray or workstation with kitchen towels or paper towels.
• Sprinkle the flour with salt and pepper in a bowl. Pat the eggplant dry with more paper or kitchen towels, then dip each slice in the buttermilk followed by the seasoned flour. Repeat 1 more time. Fry the eggplant in batches until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Remove from the oil and drain on the prepared workstation.
• For the gravy: Add the ham to a large cast-iron pan over medium heat and let the fat begin to render and get crispy, about 3 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the strong coffee and add the butter, stirring constantly, to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• Shingle the eggplant pieces in a large shallow dish. Top with the gravy and more pieces of ham. Serve.

STEAMED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Quarter 2 pounds Japanese eggplants lengthwise and cut into 2-inch pieces; season with salt. In two batches, cook the eggplants in a steamer over medium-high heat, tossing halfway, until softened, 6 minutes. Let cool on paper towels. Whisk 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoons each sesame oil and minced garlic, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, 1 teaspoon gochugaru and 1 teaspoon rice vinegar in a large bowl. Toss the eggplants in the sauce; top with chopped scallions and toasted sesame seeds.

CREAMED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Put the eggplants in a roasting pan with 1/2 cup of the olive oil and the lemon juice. Season all over with salt and pepper. Cover tightly with foil and bake in the oven until completely collapsed, 1 to 2 hours.
• Scrape the contents of the roasting pan into a blender. Add the cumin, garlic and sesame paste, and blend, adding the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil in a thin stream. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature with roast leg of lamb or as a dip with crunchy bread and pickled chilies.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) WITH GARLIC CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Salt and sweat the eggplant pieces for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven 400 degrees.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 Tb.
• olive oil, saute onion until limp and golden.
• Add rest of ingredients through salt& pepper.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes, until sauce is thick and chunky.
• Or use any tomato sauce you personally like.
• Best if thick and chunky.
• Boil the unpeeled garlic cloves in water to cover for 2 minutes.
• Can skip, if your cloves are already peeled.
• Drain, hit each clove lightly with mallet or flat side of large knife.
• Peel.
• Place in a small saucepan with stock to cover.
• Simmer for about 45 minutes.
• Replenish stock as needed.
• Whirl garlic and stock in blender until pureed.
• Set aside.
• Rinse and drain eggplant of salt.
• Brush a large baking sheet with 1/4 olive oil.
• Place in oven until hot.
• Place eggplant on hot pan.
• Bake 25-30 minutes.
• Check frequently, turn with tongs after 15 minutes, do not burn or allow to become crisp.
• Looking for soft, golden, and cooked eggplant.
• May need more oil.
• Drain and blot off oil with paper towel.
• Reduce oven to 350 degrees.
• Heat 4 Tbs.
• butter in heavy saucepan.
• Whisk in flour.
• Let roux cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 3-4 minutes.
• Whisk in hot scalded milk.
• Cook gently, stirring frequently for 10-15 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper to taste,.
• and stir in garlic puree.
• Remove from heat.
• Beat egg.
• Beat some of sauce into the egg to temper.
• Beat egg into sauce.
• Taste for seasoning.
• Place half of tomato sauce on bottom of a 2quart pan.
• Spread 1/2 tomato sauce on bottom, top with 1/2 eggplant slices, spread remaining tomato sauce over eggplant, top with remaining eggplant.
• Pour the garlic cream sauce over all.
• Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
• Bake 45-60 minutes til golden brown and bubbling.
• Can be vegan leave off cheese.