Creole Stuffed Eggplants Food

CREOLE STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat the butter and olive oil together in large skillet.
• Add the onion, celery, and garlic and saute over low heat until the onion is translucent.
• Add the diced bell pepper and continue to saute until the onion is golden.
• In the meantime, stem the eggplants and cut them in half lengthwise.
• With a sharp knife, score each half several times lengthwise and across, carefully removing the pulp.
• Leave a sturdy shell of about 1/4" all around.
• Chop the eggplant pulp and add it to the skillet mixture along with all the remaining ingredients except the bread crumbs.
• Add a bit of water, just enough to keep the mixture moist.
• Simmer, covered, over low heat until the eggplant is tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the bread crumbs.
• Set the eggplant shells in an oiled shallow baking dish, which should be of a size that they can be securely propped up against each other.
• Stuff the eggplant shells with the sauteed mixture, then drizzle them with 2 tablespoons of melted butter apiece.
• Bake at 375 degrees F for 30-40 minutes, or until the shells are tender but not collapsed.
• Serve with a bit of grated Parmesan for garnish.
• Note: if you do not like green bell pepper, you might want to try substituting with orange, yellow, or red bell pepper.

EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH CREOLE SHRIMP

Steps:

• Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise. Run a knife around the inside rim of each half, about 1/2 inch from the skin, making a 1-inch deep cut. Scoop out the pulp, dice and place in a large colander. Toss with 1 teaspoon of salt. Set aside to drain for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wrap the eggplant halves in foil and bake until soft, about 20 to 30 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Combine 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion, garlic, cayenne pepper, thyme and bay leaf in a nonstick skillet. Cook over medium heat until aromatic, about 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Add the eggplants and Tabasco. Stir. Cook for 3 minutes.
• Transfer the stuffing to a large bowl. Set aside to cool slightly. Add ham, red pepper, tomato, shrimp, beaten egg and 3/4 cup bread crumbs. Mix well. Season to taste with remaining salt and pepper.
• Use a spoon to mound the filling into the 4 halves. Sprinkle each with the remaining bread crumbs. Brush the bottom of a baking dish with the remaining oil. Put the halves in a baking dish. Bake about 30 minutes.

MOM'S STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplant in half and scoop out the center, leaving enough meat inside the skin so that it holds its shape when baked. Boil the scooped-out center part until very soft, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saute pan heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Add the seasoned ground beef to the pan and saute until all of its liquid is evaporated and the beef begins to brown slightly. Drain the beef, removing the extra, unnecessary fat. Let cool briefly and chop the cooked beef so that there are no large chunks of meat. In another medium saute pan over medium heat add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and saute the onions, peppers and garlic together.
• In a bowl mix together the cooked eggplant, vegetables, cooked beef, herbs, 1 cup of the cheese, bread crumbs, and the egg.
• Fill the scooped-out eggplant halves with this mixture, dividing it evenly among the 2 halves.
• Top with chopped tomatoes and the remaining 1/4 cup of grated cheese, season with salt and pepper, place on an oiled oven tray or baking dish, and bake for 50 minutes in preheated oven. Let cool briefly, slice widthwise and serve.

EGGS CREOLE OVER TOAST

Steps:

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir mushrooms, onion, and pepper in melted butter until soft, about 5 minutes; add tomatoes and capers and bring to a simmer.
• Pour beaten eggs over vegetable mixture; cook and stir until eggs are scrambled and no longer runny, about 5 minutes. Spoon egg mixture over toast.

CREOLE STUFFED EGGPLANT SOUP

Steps:

• 1. In a large stockpot, over medium heat melt the butter and saute the eggplant until slightly soft. Add the onions, season with a little salt and pepper, and saute until translucent; then add the celery, bell peppers, garlic and tomatoes.
• 2. Saute for about 5-10 minutes until the vegetables soften up. Add the rosemary and flour, and use a wire whisk to incorporate it into the vegetable mixture.
• 3. Cook the roux for 3-4 minutes until you get a white roux (don't brown the flour). Then add the chicken stock, a cup or two at a time, whisking to incorporate all the roux, then add a little more stock, whisk again and repeat until you have a nice smooth sauce.
• 4. Add the rest of the chicken stock, bay leaves, and the andouille, bring to a boil stirring often, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 30 minutes.
• 5. Add the raw shrimp*, half & half, green onion, parsley, Creole seasoning to taste, then cook for 10 more minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed.
• 6. Leave the soup chunky like it is for a rustic effect; for a more elegant soup, you may puree it in batches in a food processor, or right in the pot with a hand blender.
• 7. *If you want to puree the soup, remove about 24 shrimp and set aside. Coarsely blend the soup so that it still has some texture to it.
• 8. Serve with toasted garlic french bread and place two or three whole shrimp on the top of the soup. Sprinkle with shredded Parmesan cheese if desired.

STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Scoop out the flesh of the eggplant, chop, and reserve. Season shells with salt and pepper, and coat with some olive oil; set aside.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Saute sausage and garlic until sausage is evenly brown. Stir in the reserved chopped eggplant. Season with parsley, salt and pepper. Pour in wine, and cook 5 minutes. Mix in the bread crumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. If mixture is dry, stir in more olive oil. Stuff mixture into eggplant shells, and sprinkle top with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until eggplant is tender.