Eggplant And Walnut Phyllo Pie Food

EGGPLANT CRISP WITH WALNUT STREUSEL

Steps:

• Adjust two racks to the top and bottom position of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Pierce the eggplants all over with a fork, and place on the foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Roast on the top rack until completely soft when pierced with a paring knife, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss the grape tomatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds pepper. Spread on a small baking sheet and roast in the same oven until the tomatoes are soft and wrinkled, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Mix together the panko, walnuts, flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Drizzle in 3 tablespoons olive oil and mix until the mixture starts to clump. Reserve.
• When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, halve them and scoop the soft flesh into the bowl with the tomatoes (if the eggplants are too slippery to handle, hold them with a clean towel while scooping). Discard the skins and stems. Using a fork or spoon, mash the eggplant into smaller bite-sized pieces. (It's okay if the tomatoes get mashed in the process.) Add the garlic, 1 tablespoon each of dill and parsley, the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and a few grinds of pepper. Check for seasoning and add more salt, if necessary.
• Drizzle a little olive oil in the bottom of a wide 2-quart baking dish. Spread the eggplant mixture in the dish. Sprinkle feta in an even layer, then top with the reserved panko-walnut mixture. Bake until the top is golden brown and the eggplant is hot, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Right before serving, sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons each dill and parsley and the lemon zest.

EGGPLANT-FETA PHYLLO PIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly brush cut sides of eggplant with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place eggplant, cut side down, on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake until tender, 20 minutes, then remove from oven. Reduce heat to 375 degrees. When cool enough to handle, scrape flesh from skin and roughly chop. Transfer eggplant to a medium bowl and add feta, 3 tablespoons pistachios, coriander, red-pepper flakes, and mint. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine.
• Lightly oil 6 standard muffin cups. Lay 1 sheet phyllo on a work surface and, with a pastry brush, lightly brush with oil. Stack 4 more phyllo sheets on top, brushing each with oil. Cut into 6 squares. Gently press one square into each muffin cup and fill with 1/4 cup eggplant mixture. Gently fold over corners of phyllo to enclose filling. Brush tops with oil and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon pistachios. Bake until golden, 30 minutes. Let cool in pan, 5 minutes. Serve pies warm or at room temperature.

EGGPLANT AND TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Line a lightly oiled 9- or 10-inch tart pan with the dough. Using a fork, pierce at regular intervals to allow for even baking. Refrigerate or freeze until ready to prebake and fill.
• Heat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice the eggplant about 1/3 inch thick and toss with salt to taste and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Line 1 to 2 baking sheets (as needed) with foil and brush the foil with olive oil. Lay the eggplant slices on the foil in 1 layer. Roast in the hot oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the slices are soft when pierced with a knife and browned in spots. Remove from the oven and carefully fold the foil up over the eggplant slices (be careful not to burn yourself!). Crimp the edges of the foil and allow the eggplant to steam for another 15 to 20 minutes. It should now be completely cooked. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees.
• Beat together the eggs in a medium bowl. Set the tart pan on a baking sheet to allow for easy handling. Using a pastry brush lightly brush the bottom of the crust with the beaten egg and place in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Whisk the milk into the eggs. Add salt (I usually use about 1/2 teaspoon) and pepper. Spread 1/4 cup tomato sauce over the bottom of the crust. Top with a layer of eggplant slices. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon one third of the remaining sauce over the eggplant and sprinkle with thyme, Parmesan, and half of the Gruyère. Repeat the layers one or two more times, depending on the size of your eggplant slices, ending with the Gruyère. Pour on the egg and milk mixture. It should seep down into the layers; if it looks like it's not moving and going to overflow the crust, use a fork to create some holes so it does seep down. Arrange the sliced tomatoes on top and sprinkle any remaining thyme over the tomatoes. Drizzle on 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Place in the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until set and bubbling and browned on the top and edges. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm, or room temperature.

JULIA CHILD'S EGGPLANT-WALNUT DIP

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Cut green caps off eggplants and place them whole in a baking dish. Bake until very soft and collapsing, 30 to 35 minutes. When cool enough to handle, scrape flesh into the bowl of a mixer (or use a hand mixer).
• Beat at high speed for about two minutes, until smooth and fluffy. Add walnuts, garlic, ginger, allspice, two big pinches of salt and one of pepper. Shake in a few dashes of hot sauce. Mix well.
• With the mixer running, gradually drizzle in oil, as if making mayonnaise, just until mixture is emulsified and creamy. Stop, taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper and hot sauce. If desired, beat in remaining olive oil.
• Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to one week.

EGGPLANT WALNUT PATE BY DR ANDREW WEIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F Pierce the eggplant with a fork in several places and bake until very soft, about 45 minutes.
• While the eggplant is baking, grind the walnuts in a food processor until very fine, and set aside.
• Remove the eggplant from oven, slash to let steam escape, drain off any liquid, and scrape the pulp into a food processor with the ginger root, garlic and olive oil. Process until smooth.
• Add the ground walnuts and allspice, and process until smooth.
• Season to taste with the salt, and hot pepper sauce.
• Spoon into a small loaf dish and chill several hours or until firm.

EGGPLANT TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 500 degrees.
• Line baking sheet with foil and lightly grease.
• In large skillet, place 1 tablespoon olive oil, balsamic vinegar and eggplant and stir to coat thoroughly (no heat).
• Place eggplant cubes onto baking sheet, place in hot oven for 15 minutes, stirring once, until tender and lightly carmelized.
• Set aside skillet with reserved oil/vinegar
• Remove cooked eggplant to bowl and mash.
• Lower oven to 375 degrees.
• Saute onion in oil/vinegar mixture until caramelized, adding more oil if necessary.
• Turn off heat on skillet and stir in garlic letting it sit 5 minutes.
• Fold eggs, butter, pesto, and breadcrumbs into eggplant.
• Grease a pie pan and place a layer of sliced tomato to cover bottom.
• Combine cheeses and sprinkle 1/2 over tomatoes.
• Cover with eggplant mixture.
• Add layer of remaining cheese.
• Sprinkle finely sliced basil over cheese and top with layer of tomatoes.
• Bake 30 minutes until set, remove from oven and cool 10 - 15 minutes.