Eggplant Pie With Italian Sausage Bechamel Sauce Food

EGGPLANT PIE WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE & BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• 1. Turn on oven broiler. Place eggplant on broiler pan and brush with oil. Broil on both sides untill golden brown. While the eggplant is broiling (watch carefully), fry down the bulk Italian sausage (optional) and drain all grease.
• 2. Once eggplant is out of the oven, turn oven on 350 degrees. In an 8x8 or 7x11 inch oven-proof casserole, layer half the eggplant slices then half the sauce. Top with half the sausage and then half the mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers.
• 3. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
• 4. While casserole is baking, make the white sauce by melting the butter in a heavy saucepan. Whisk in flour and continue to whisk over medium heat until mixture is a light tan. Slowly add the milk; whisking constantly. Cook and stir over low heat untill the sauce is smooth and thick. Season lightly with salt and pepper, then remove from heat, stir and cover untill ready to spread over casserole.
• 5. After 45 minutes of baking, remove the aluminum foil from casserole dish and spoon white sauce over the top of the casserole. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top. Turn oven to BROIL and heat heat casserole until top is lightly browned and bubbly. I serve with crisp green salad and garlic bread.

EMERIL'S EGGPLANT, SAUSAGE, AND ZITI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Lightly grease a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1/4 cup of the oil.
• Add the eggplant in batches, seasoning on both sides with salt and pepper, and cook until golden, adding more oil as needed.
• Transfer to a plate as they cook, and set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• When hot but not smoking, add the onion and sausage, and cook, stirring, until the sausage is browned and the onion is soft, about 6 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until it begins to brown, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, their juices, the Italian seasoning, black olives, 1 teaspoon of salt, and the crushed red pepper.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and gently simmer, uncovered, until the flavors marry and the sauce slightly thickens, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat.
• Add the basil and adjust seasoning, to taste.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and forms a light roux, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the milk and, whisking frequently, cook until the sauce is thickened and smooth, about 4 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and season with the nutmeg and salt and pepper, to taste.
• Arrange half of the eggplant slices on the bottom of the casserole, overlapping as necessary.
• Top with half of the cooked pasta, then half of the sausage-tomato sauce.
• Place another layer of eggplant slices on top of the sauce, then layers of pasta and sausage-tomato sauce.
• Pour on the white sauce, then top with the grated mozzarella and Parmesan.
• Bake for 1 hour, or until puffed and golden brown on top.