Donald Links Eggplant Casserole Food

EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Add the eggplant and cook halfway through. Add red pepper, celery, and onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until vegetables begin to wilt. Add the basil leaves. Remove from heat. Add Parmesan, cream, bread crumbs and salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
• Place skillet in the oven and cook until heated through, about 20 minutes. Serve with grilled lamb chops.

DONALD LINK'S EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• For the béchamel: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk until pale golden, about 5 minutes. Add milk, salt, white pepper and nutmeg, and whisk to combine thoroughly. Cook, whisking frequently, until thickened and smooth, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• For the casserole: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread eggplant slices in a single layer on a baking sheet, and thoroughly coat both sides with olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and black pepper. Roast until fully cooked, 12 to 15 minutes, then remove from heat but do not turn off oven. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet over medium-low heat, sauté merguez until browned and fully cooked. Remove from heat and slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds.
• Oil an 8-by-11, 2-inch-deep baking dish. Spread one-third of béchamel in baking dish. Top with half the eggplant, then half the fontina and half the merguez. Coat with half of the remaining béchamel. Top with remaining eggplant, fontina and merguez. Spread with remaining béchamel and the Parmesan.
• Bake until hot, bubbling and lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to rest for a minute or two, then serve.

EGGPLANT DONUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the eggplant donuts: Halve the eggplant lengthwise, score diagonally and generously brush with olive oil to coat the flesh. Put on a baking pan cut-side up and roast until soft, about 45 minutes. Set aside.
• Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Grease donut hole or mini muffin pans with butter, then coat with flour.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, brown sugar and egg until smooth. Remove the roasted eggplant flesh from the skin and mash. Mix the mashed eggplant into the wet ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until combined.
• Using a small scoop, fill each donut hole mold three-quarters full. Bake until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes.
• For the cinnamon-sugar coating: Put the melted butter in a bowl. Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in another bowl.
• Remove the donuts from the pan and dip each in the melted butter. Roll in the cinnamon sugar to coat.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C.
• Heat oil in saucepan.
• Sauté eggplant and onion until soft.
• Remove saucepan from heat and stir through margarine until melted.
• Add remainder of ingredients, and combine well.
• Transfer to a casserole dish, and bake until golden and bubbling, approx 45 minutes.