Eggplant Stew With Golden Raisin Polenta Rachel Ray Food

QUICK FAKE-OUT "STUFFED" EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 475 degrees F.
• Halve 4 eggplants lengthwise. Pour about 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season the cut eggplant with salt and pepper, to taste, and arrange, cut side down, in the oil. Put in the oven and roast until tender, about 20 minutes.
• Peel the remaining eggplant and dice into 1/2-inch pieces. In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Stir in the beef or lamb, the tomato paste, onions, garlic, diced eggplant and raisins. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the wine or stock, and cook until the eggplant and onions are soft, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the pine nuts and basil.
• While the meat cooks, melt the butter in small skillet over medium heat, add the bread crumbs and toast until golden. Transfer to a bowl and cool.
• Stir the parsley and cheese into the bread crumbs and add half of this mixture to the meat.
• Remove the eggplant from the oven, flip it over and transfer to a serving platter. Top each halved eggplant with a mound of stuffing and sprinkle the remaining cheesy bread crumbs over the top before serving.

EGGPLANT STEW WITH GOLDEN RAISIN POLENTA- RACHEL RAY

Steps:

• heat oil in a dutch oven over medium high heat, add garlic, onion and crushed red pepper.
• add carrot, celery, pepper and eggplant as you chop them, in that order.
• add bay leaf, salt and pepper and cover the pot for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• uncover and add balsamic, chicken stock and tomatoes, breaking up the tomatoes with a spoon.
• simmer 15-30 minutes, while you make polenta.
• for polenta:.
• heat milk, stock, raisins and rosemary over high heat until it comes to a boil.
• whisk in polenta over medium heat until thickened and remove from heat.
• stir in butter and honey and cheese.
• spoon into bowls and top with eggplant stew.

EGGPLANT STEW WITH HONEY AND GOLDEN RAISIN POLENTA

Steps:

• Place dried mushrooms and 2 cups chicken stock in a small pot over medium-low heat.
• Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a Dutch oven or high sided skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add garlic, crushed pepper, onions, carrots, celery, peppers, and eggplant to the pot as you chop them. Add the bay leaf, season with salt and pepper and cover the pot to sweat the vegetables out a little faster. Stir occasionally for 10 to 12 minutes then uncover and add the balsamic vinegar.
• Remove the reconstituted dried mushrooms to the pot with a slotted spoon. Pour in all but the last few tablespoons of mushroom stock. The last of the stock can hold a little loose grit from the dried mushrooms. Add tomatoes and break up with a wooden spoon. Simmer over low heat the last few minutes before serving. Adjust salt and pepper.
• Heat the remaining 2 cups stock with 1 cup milk, golden raisins and rosemary over medium high heat. Whisk in polenta and stir 3 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in honey, butter and cheese.
• Pile some polenta in shallow bowls and spoon the stew around the polenta.;

QUICK COOKING CHEESY POLENTA

Steps:

• In medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock and milk to a boil. Whisk in the polenta, stirring until the polenta just pulls from the side of the pot. Stir in the Manchego cheese and serve warm.

FOUR CHEESE POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring the chicken stock and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a pot. Reduce the heat to a simmer and gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Cook, stirring, until tender, 30 to 35 minutes (the polenta should still be thin enough to pour). Stir in the butter, parsley, nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.
• Butter a baking dish. Pour in one-quarter of the polenta and top with 1 kind of diced cheese of your choice. Add another quarter of the polenta followed by another diced cheese. Add another layer of polenta and the remaining diced cheese. Top with the remaining polenta and sprinkle with the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Garnish with the rosemary and tomatoes. (If you are not serving immediately, let the casserole cool, then cover and refrigerate. To reheat, bring to room temperature, then bake as directed. It may take an extra 10 to 15 minutes.)
• Bake the casserole until golden, 20 to 30 minutes.
• If you have any leftovers, fry the polenta and serve it the next morning with eggs.

SICILY KNOWS BEST--EGGPLANT STEW WITH HONEY & GOLDEN RAISIN

Steps:

• Place the dried mushrooms and 2 cups of the stock in a small pot over medium-low heat.
• Heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven or high-sided skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, onions, carrots, cubanelle and bell peppers, and eggplant to the pot as you chop them.
• Season with salt and pepper and cover the pot; sweat the vegetables for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, then uncover and stir in the balsamic vinegar. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the reconstituted dried mushrooms out of the soaking water, and add them to the pot. Pour in all but the last few tablespoons of mushroom stock, which may have a little loose grit from the dried mushrooms. Add the tomatoes to the pot and break up with a wooden spoon. Simmer over low heat for a few more minutes; adjust with salt and pepper.
• While the veggies are sweating down, in a medium saucepan slowly heat the remaining 2 cups of stock with the milk, raisins, and rosemary over medium-high heat. When it just simmers, whisk in the polenta and stir for 3 minutes, or until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the honey, butter, and cheese.
• Pile some polenta in shallow bowls and spoon the stew around the polenta.