Eggplant Aubergine Croutons Food

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Slice eggplant into rounds and 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle lightly with salt.
• Place slices directly on an oven rack, carefully laying them out so they don't fall between the bars. Bake for 20 minutes or until the eggplant shrinks and becomes dry.
• Lightly rinse each slice to remove excess salt. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Combine oil and paprika in a small frying pan.
• Oven medium-high heat, cook each slice on both sides until crips and browned, 3-4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) AND CHEESE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F
• Spray a 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, boil the 4 cups salted water.
• Add eggplant (and onion, if using it) and continue to boil for 3 minutes; drain.
• In a mixing bowl, combine eggplant, croutons, and half of the cheese.
• Spoon into baking dish.
• In another mixing bowl, combine milk, flour, salt, pepper, and oregano; pour over eggplant mixture in baking dish.
• Top with remaining cheese and drizzle with melted butter.
• Cover and bake at 325F for 20 minutes.
• Uncover and bake for additional 5-7 minutes to melt and brown cheese.

DEEP-FRIED EGGPLANT CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat a fryer to 375 degrees F.
• In separate shallow dishes add flour, egg and bread crumbs. Coat the eggplant cubes in the flour, then the egg and finally through the bread crumbs. Carefully add the cubes to the fryer and fry until crisp and golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the fryer to a paper towel lined platter to drain. Sprinkle with salt and set aside.
• Vinaigrette:
• In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, garlic and mustard. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to combine and emulsify. Add the herbs, salt and pepper. Set aside to dress salad.
• In a large serving bowl, toss together the greens, herbs, cheese, tomatoes and onion.
• Toss with the desired amount of dressing, top with eggplant croutons and serve.

ROASTED GARLIC AND EGGPLANT SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Peel away any excess paper from the bulb of garlic, then cut the top off to expose the cloves. Rub exposed cloves with 1/4 teaspoon olive oil, and set onto the prepared baking sheet. Poke the eggplant all over with a fork; place onto baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until the garlic has turned golden brown and the eggplant is tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool until cool enough to handle. Peel eggplant and chop into large chunks; peel or squeeze the roasted garlic from its skin, and set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onion, and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Pour in chicken broth, then stir in reserved eggplant, roasted garlic, tomato puree, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 40 minutes.
• Once cooked, carefully puree soup in batches in a blender or food processor until smooth. Return soup to the stove in a clean saucepan. Stir in half-and-half, season to taste with salt and pepper; cook over medium-low heat until hot.

EGGPLANT CROQUETTES

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on medium-high 3 minutes. Turn eggplant over and microwave another 2 minutes. The eggplant should be tender, cook another 2 minutes if the eggplants are not tender. Drain any liquid from the eggplants and mash.
• Combine cheese, bread crumbs, eggs, parsley, onion, garlic and salt with the mashed eggplant. Mix well.
• Shape the eggplant mixture into patties. Heat oil in a large skillet. Drop eggplant patties one at a time into skillet. Fry each side of the patties until golden brown, approximately 5 minutes on each side. Patties can be frozen before frying and cooked later.

DEEP-FRIED EGGPLANT CROUTONS WITH A SALAD!

Steps:

• Preheat a fryer to 375 degrees F.
• In separate shallow dishes add flour, egg and bread crumbs. Coat the eggplant cubes in the flour, then the egg and finally through the bread crumbs. Carefully add the cubes to the fryer and fry until crisp and golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the fryer to a paper towel lined platter to drain. Sprinkle with salt and set aside.
• Vinaigrette:
• In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, garlic and mustard. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to combine and emulsify. Add the herbs, salt and pepper. Set aside to dress salad.
• In a large serving bowl, toss together the greens, herbs, cheese, tomatoes and onion.
• Toss with the desired amount of dressing, top with eggplant croutons and serve.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN

Steps:

• preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• mix egg and milk together in bowl, blend.
• heat olive oil in med frying pan.
• dip eggplant slices into egg/milk mixture.
• dip eggplant into breadcrumbs.
• place 4 slices at a time, into olive oil in frying pan.
• fry eggplant on each side, until each side is golden brown (you want them crispy, not mushy).
• remove eggplant from skillet, and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
• repeat dipping and frying proces with other 4 eggplant slices.
• place 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce into 9x13 casserole dish.
• place eggplant into bottom of cassserole.
• pour spaghetti sauce over top of eggplant.
• sprinkle mozzarella/parmesan cheese over top of spaghetti sauce.
• bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.
• serve over pasta if desired.

CROUTON EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line an oven-safe baking pan with aluminum foil or wax paper.
• Place croutons into a food processor; blend until coarsely ground, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate.
• Mix egg, salt, and pepper together in a bowl; dip eggplant slices into the egg mixture until coated. Transfer to crouton crumbs plate; coat eggplant in croutons. Placed breaded eggplant into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until breading is golden brown on both sides, 10 to 15 minutes per side.
• Mix pasta sauce and garlic powder together in a bowl. Pour half of the sauce mixture into an oven-safe baking pan; top with half the Parmesan cheese.
• Place baked eggplant onto Parmesan cheese layer; cover with mozzarella cheese. Pour remaining pasta sauce over mozzarella layer; top with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until Parmesan cheese is a light golden brown, about 25 minutes.

EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Melt butter.
• In large bowl, mix together eggplant, celery, bell peppers, onion, soup, pimientos, eggs, butter (melted) salt and pepper to taste.
• Add Stove Top, mixing everything together thoroughly.
• Place in 9 x 13 casserole, coated with nonstick cooking spray.
• Top with shredded cheese.
• Cover with tinfoil and bake at 350 for one hour.

EGGPLANT SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Pierce eggplants several times with a fork, and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours, or until completely softened. Cool completely. Remove skin and chop fine. Transfer to a large mixing bowl, and set aside.
• In a skillet, cook garlic in 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat until lightly browned. Transfer to a small bowl. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, the vinegar, sugar, oregano, and basil until well blended and sugar is dissolved. Pour over the eggplant, and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and toss again. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.