Eggplant Marinara Sauce Food

ROASTED PEPPER AND EGGPLANT MARINARA

Steps:

• Char the skins of sweet and hot peppers to black under a broiler with oven door slightly ajar, to prevent steam build up or place directly over stovetop flame. Cover the charred peppers and cool, peel, and seed. Reserve.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cut head garlic to expose the cloves, dress in extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Press the garlic into the chopped rosemary and coat the cut cloves. Wrap the garlic up in foil and roast 40 to 45 minutes, until soft but still moist.
• Halve the eggplant lengthwise and brush with extra-virgin olive oil. Season the eggplant with salt and pepper and place cut-side down on baking sheet and roast to very tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool the eggplant until easy to handle, then scoop the flesh away from skins and add to a food processor with roasted garlic and roasted sweet and hot peppers, then puree.
• In saucepan, heat the stock and tomatoes. If the tomatoes are whole, break them up. Stir in the eggplant-pepper mixture and add basil and oregano, salt, and pepper, to taste.
• Simmer sauce to combine flavors then cool and store for make-ahead meal.
• Reheat over medium heat.
• Boil long, curly pasta in salted water to al dente, toss the pasta with sauce and serve with cheese and a sprinkle fresh parsley.

EGGPLANT MARINARA SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat
• Once boiling, add salt and the penne and cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions
• Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat
• Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft, about 5 minutes
• While the onions and garlic are cooking, scoop the eggplant flesh from the skin and mash with a fork in a bowl
• Add the mashed eggplant to the skillet with the onions and garlic
• Season with salt and pepper
• Add the crushed tomatoes and the torn basil
• Add the penne to the skillet along with the Parmigiano Reggiano and mix thoroughly to combine
• To roast the eggplant: Preheat oven to 400F
• Cut eggplants in half, drizzle with a little EVOO and a sprinkle of salt and pepper
• Place eggplants on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven for about 45 minutes, until tender and golden brown
• Remove from the oven and let cool

EGGPLANT MEATBALLS WITH MARINARA SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place the eggplant on top. Use a fork to prick the eggplant 4 times, then place the eggplant in the oven and roast it until it has completely collapsed and a paring knife easily slips into the center, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool the eggplant 20 minutes. Leave the oven on.
• Slice the eggplant in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh (discard the skin). Place the roasted eggplant in a medium bowl and stir in the egg and beans. Add the garlic, basil, parmesan, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir to combine, then mix in the breadcrumbs.
• Again, line the rimmed baking sheet with a clean sheet of foil and lightly mist it with spray. Shape the eggplant mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball (2 tablespoons per ball; you should get about 16). Place them on the prepared baking sheet and lightly mist the top of the balls with spray. Bake the eggplant balls until they are golden brown and firm, about 20 minutes.
• While the meatballs cook, warm the marinara sauce in a small saucepan. Remove the meatballs from the oven, sprinkle with a little extra parmesan and serve with the marinara sauce.

EGGPLANT PARM LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a cooling rack. Lightly coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season eggplant slices with salt, then place in a colander set over a plate. Set aside.
• Combine panko, Italian seasoning, 1 cup parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to combine until finely ground, then transfer crumbs to a shallow dish or bowl. Place eggs and flour in separate shallow dishes or bowls.
• To prepare eggplant, dredge each slice on both sides in the flour, then eggs, then the panko parmesan mixture and place on the cooling rack. Heat 3/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, fry the eggplant until golden and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Add additional olive oil if needed during frying. Drain fried eggplant on a towel-lined plate.
• In a large bowl, stir to combine ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup chopped parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.
• To assemble lasagna, spoon 1/2 cup marinara sauce into the bottom of the pan, spreading to coat. Top with 4 lasagna noodles, then 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, a layer of eggplant, 1 cup marinara sauce and 1 cup shredded mozzarella. Repeat layering twice more and top last layer of lasagna noodles with sauce, 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella and 2 tablespoons chopped parsley. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake for 10 minutes.
• Let sit 10 minutes, then slice and serve. Top with sliced basil.