Eggplant Sandwich With Black Olive Pesto Food

BAGUETTE SANDWICH WITH ROASTED EGGPLANT, TOMATOES AND PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Toss eggplant slices with olive oil, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few pinches pepper.
• Lay eggplant on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven and brush with the balsamic vinegar.
• Cut baguette in half lengthwise and hollow out the center.
• Brush both sides generously with pesto, then lay eggplant in bottom in overlapping slices.
• Follow with an overlapping layer of tomatoes and sprinkle them lightly with salt and pepper.
• Place the cheese on top and follow with the lettuce.
• Place the top of the baguette on the sandwich and slice diagonally into 4 sandwiches.

TRENETTE WITH EGGPLANT AND BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• For the pesto: In a blender or food processor, pulse the basil, pine nuts, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until finely chopped. With the machine running, gradually add the oil until the mixture is smooth and thick. Add the cheese and pulse until just incorporated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
• For the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water. Put the pasta into a large serving bowl and add 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Toss until coated.
• In a large, nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the eggplant and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring frequently, until the eggplant turns golden brown, about 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and cool slightly. Add the pesto and toss until the eggplant is coated.
• Add the eggplant mixture to the serving bowl with the pasta and toss until all of the ingredients are coated. Thin out the sauce with a little pasta water, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and serve.
• Cook's Note: To toast the pine nuts, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven until lightly toasted, about 5 to 6 minutes. Cool completely before using.

DECONSTRUCTED EGGPLANT PARMESAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner and another baking sheet with a wire rack.
• For the eggplant: In a bowl, toss the tomatoes with the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, brown sugar and some salt. Evenly place the tomatoes on the lined baking sheet. Place in the oven and roast until slightly caramelized and dried out a bit, 20 to 30 minutes. Set aside.
• Set the eggplant slices on the wire rack (if you don't have a rack you can use a colander set in the sink). Sprinkle salt on each side of the eggplant and let the salt do the work for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Once the salt has released moisture from the eggplant, pat the slices dry with paper towels. Then sprinkle each side of the eggplant with pepper.
• Set up a standard breading station with the flour in one shallow dish, the eggs in another and the panko mixed with the Parmesan in a third dish. Dredge each eggplant slice in the flour, shake off any excess, dip in the egg, let any excess drip off and then coat in the panko. Set aside on the wire rack and repeat.
• In a large cast-iron skillet, heat 1-inch vegetable oil to 350 degrees F.
• Working in small batches, fry the eggplant slices, turning once, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes a side. Using a pair of tongs, transfer back to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining eggplant. Make sure to season the eggplant as it comes out of the oil.
• For the sandwich build: Butter and griddle both sides of the buns until golden and crispy (you can toast the buns as well). Tear the burrata over the bottom buns, then add 2 hot eggplant slices, some roasted tomatoes, a few pickled cherry peppers and some fresh basil leaves on each bun. Serve to applause.

EGGPLANT SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Slice the eggplant into 15 pieces, brush with olive oil, place on cookie sheet, and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 25 minutes and let cool.
• Cut the baguette into 1/3's and slice in 1/2 for sandwiches. Slice green and red peppers, discarding stems and seeds. Slice the tomatoes and red onion and set aside. Mix goat and feta cheese together, set aside. In separate bowls place oregano, salt, pepper and olive oil.
• Spread goat and feta cheese mix on 1 side of baguette and brush other side lightly with olive oil. Spread 5 pieces of eggplant on baguette, generous amounts of red and green peppers, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro. Lastly, sprinkle with oregano, salt, and pepper.

EGGPLANT SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat your oven's broiler. Brush eggplant slices with olive oil, and place them on a baking sheet or broiling pan. Place the pan about 6 inches from the heat source. Cook under the broiler for 10 minutes, or until tender and toasted.
• Split the French rolls lengthwise, and toast. In a cup or small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and garlic. Spread this mixture on the toasted bread. Fill the rolls with eggplant slices, tomato, feta cheese and basil leaves.

BLACK OLIVE PESTO

Steps:

• Place the garlic, and herbs in a food processor and blend until finely chopped.
• Add the tomatoes, olives and Parmesan and pulse until coarsely chopped.
• Scoop the mixture into a bowl and stir in the olive oil to make a thick paste.
• Serve tossed with freshly cooked spaghetti, black pepper and extra Parmesan, or on bruschetta.

BLACK OLIVE PESTO

Steps:

• Add the first 4 ingredients to a food processor; pulse to blend.
• Add in the olive oil and pulse a few more times to form a cohesive but still coarse paste.
• The pesto can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

EGGPLANT SANDWICH WITH BLACK OLIVE PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the flour, salt, and pepper. Coat each eggplant slice with the seasoned flour.
• In a large skillet heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil over medium-high heat and fry the eggplant slices until golden brown on both sides, adding more oil as needed. Remove the eggplant from the skillet and blot lightly on paper towels.
• Cut the focaccia in 1/2 horizontally and spread the Black Olive Pesto on the inside of both halves. Arrange the eggplant slices on 1 half of the focaccia. Layer the tomatoes and roasted peppers on top and sprinkle with cheese. Cover with the other half of the focaccia, pressing firmly to join.
• Cut the sandwich in 2 pieces. Brush each side of the focaccia with olive oil. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and grill both sides until golden and crispy. Place the sandwiches on a baking sheet and place in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and gooey.
• Cut each sandwich into 3 and serve warm.
• Black olive pesto:.
• In a food processor puree the olives, Parmesan, olive oil, and garlic until smooth.
• Can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks in an air tight container.