Eggplant Goat Cheese Dream Food

EASY EGGPLANT WITH GOAT CHEESE AND BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450F.
• Peel the eggplants and slice them lengthwise into 1/3- inch thick pieces. Each eggplant should make about 6 slices.
• Using a silicone pastry brush or just your hands, brush the eggplant slices lightly with olive oil on both sides.
• Arrange the eggplant on a large baking tray and bake for about 20-25 minutes. (Depending on the size of your oven you may need to bake the eggplant in batches).
• Once the eggplant is baked, let it cool completely.
• Spread 1/2 tbsp of goat cheese onto half of the eggplant, just like you see in the photo below.
• Place 2 slices of tomato and 1 basil leaf on top of the goat cheese. Fold the eggplant in half. Garnish with basil leaves.

BAKED EGGPLANT WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400*.
• Spray a baking sheet with a non-stick spray or brush with oil for the eggplant slices.
• Wash the eggplant and slice it into thick, 1-inch slices. You should have 4 to 6 nice slices. Optional step: With a sharp paring knife, remove the peel from each slice. The skin is edible but it can be tough in larger, more mature eggplants.
• Sprinkle the eggplant slices with the salt on both sides and place them in a colander or on a plate. This will draw away the excess water and remove any bitterness from the eggplant. Let the eggplant slices sit in the salt for 30 minutes.
• While the eggplant is draining add the butter and garlic to a small skillet and cook over medium heat until the garlic is fragrant. Add the bread crumbs to the skillet and stir to coat them in the butter. Continue to cook, stirring frequently until the Panko crumbs become golden brown (about 4 to 5 minutes). Transfer the breadcrumbs to a plate.
• Rinse the eggplant slices under cold water to remove the salt. Wipe each slice dry with a paper towel and set on a plate.
• In a shallow dish or pie plate, mix the egg white, whole egg, and salt. Set aside
• Arrange the plate with the eggplant slices, the plates of eggs, and bread crumbs for assembly.
• Dip one eggplant slice into the eggs and then the bread crumbs, pressing down so the crumbs adhere. Place on the baking sheet, repeat with the remaining slices.
• Transfer the baking sheet to the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until slightly soft.
• Remove from the oven and flip each slice over. Top each slice with basil and marinara sauce. Finally, add a slice of the softened goat cheese to each eggplant slice.
• Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes. If you want to brown the tops further, turn the oven temp to broil for the last 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately

EGGPLANT AND GOAT CHEESE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat grill or broiler.
• Cut the eggplant horizontally into slices one-half-inch thick. Cut any slices more than three inches in diameter in half. Very large slices should be quartered. Spread them on a work surface or baking sheet and sprinkle them on both sides with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Grill the eggplant until attractively browned on both sides.
• Heat two tablespoons of the oil in a large, heavy skillet. Saute the onions over medium heat until the pieces are tender but not brown. Add the garlic and pepper and continue to saute until the pepper pieces are tender. Stir in the tomatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in the thyme and the parsley.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread a fourth of the tomato mixture about two inches deep into the bottom of a one-and-a-half-quart baking dish. Arrange a layer of the eggplant over the tomato mixture, then crumble a third of the goat cheese over it. Repeat twice more, finishing with a layer of the tomato mixture. Sprinkle with the bread crumbs and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil.
• Place in the oven and bake about 25 minutes, until heated through. Serve at once.

GOAT CHEESE, EGGPLANT, AND ROASTED PEPPER TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Grease a fluted pan, pie tin, or shallow springform pan. Roll out the puff pastry to the width of the baking pan. Dust the rolling pin with flour and carefully roll the pastry back onto the rolling pin, then unroll it over the pan. Press the dough into place and crimp the edges. Brush the pastry with the softened butter.
• Place the bell peppers over an open flame or under the broiler and completely blacken them on all sides. Put the blackened peppers in a plastic bag, seal it, and allow them to steam for 20 minutes. Remove the peppers from the bag and peel away and discard all black skin. Cut the peppers in half and remove all seeds and veins. Cut into 1/2--inch thick strips.
• Cut the eggplant crosswise on the bias into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Brush the eggplant lightly with the clarified butter and season with salt and pepper. Roast the eggplant in the oven for 15 minutes, or until done but not mushy.
• Place the crumbled goat cheese on top of the pastry. Top the goat cheese with the eggplant and peppers in a spiral fashion, overlapping each. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the eggplant and peppers.
• Bake the tart for about 20 minutes, or until it is golden brown and the edges are puffy. Garnish with the fresh basil leaves.
• Whisk together the vinegar, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Slowly add the olive oil while whisking. Toss with the greens and any remaining eggplant or peppers and serve on top of the tart.

GRILLED EGGPLANT AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Drizzle the olive oil over the slices of eggplant and toss to coat. Grill the eggplants until tender and grill marks appear, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Place the eggplants side-by-side on a serving platter. Sprinkle with the pine nuts, goat cheese, basil, and mint. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
• Cook's note: Plating the eggplant salad this way allowed the cheese to stay bright white. The salt and pepper showed up on it. The herbs remained green and fluffy. The grill marks on the eggplant were distinct.

BAKED EGGPLANT WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the grill. Place the eggplants in a grill pan, then grill them, turning regularly until the skin is charred and blistered.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, peel them and chop the flesh.
• Transfer to a bowl, then add the mint, tomatoes, garlic and pepper and mix together.
• Spoon the mixture into a baking dish and crumble the goat cheese over the top.
• Bake for about 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.

EGGPLANT WITH LENTILS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 475°. Remove pulp from eggplants; cut pulp from one eggplant into 1/4-inch cubes and discard the rest. Coat eggplant shells with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, place eggplant shells open side down. In a bowl, coat eggplant cubes with cooking spray and toss with 1/4 teaspoon salt; place in one layer on a second baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake eggplant shells and cubes until tender, 10 minutes. Remove eggplant; reduce oven to 350°. In a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Cook onion, celery and carrot until soft, 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook, 1 minute. Add lentils, eggplant cubes, broth, vinegar, pepper and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; reduce heat to simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Stir in chopped mint. Flip shells on baking sheet and stuff with lentil-eggplant mixture; cover with aluminum foil and bake until warm; 10 minutes. Top with cheese and mint leaves.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN WITH GOAT CHEESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Lightly brush both sides of eggplant slices with olive oil and sprinkle with the salt; place the eggplant on a heated grill (indoor or outdoor) and cook until browned and softened, 4-5 minutes per side.
• Spread each slice of bread with 1 1/2 tsp of tomato paste; spread 2 slices with the goat cheese and top the cheese with the grilled eggplant slices; top the eggplant with a second slice of bread, tomato past side down; brush the outside of the sandwiches with more olive oil and then pat about 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan onto the outside of each piece of bread- the cheese should stick to the bread.
• Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet; place the sandwiches in the skillet and cook until the Parmesan has browned, about 4-5 minutes per side.
• Serve hot.