Giada Fried Eggplant Balls Food

EGGPLANT PARM BITES

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil and heat another 30 seconds. Add the eggplant and salt and cook, stirring often, until the eggplant is golden brown and soft, about 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the marinera, basil and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan.
• Lay one sheet of phyllo on a cutting board. Brush it gently with some of the remaining oil. Lay another sheet on top of that sheet and brush with oil. Do this 2 more times until you have 4 layers of phyllo, finishing the top layer with oil. Cut the sheet into 12 squares. Press one square (with all 4 phyllo layers) oil-side down into each cup of a 24-cup metal mini muffin tin. Repeat with the remaining phyllo.
• Divide the eggplant mixture among the cups, about 1 teaspoon per cup. Divide the mozzarella over the top of the bites. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Bake on the lower rack until golden brown and bubbly, 13 to 15 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

EGGPLANT "MEATBALLS"

Steps:

• Heat a large high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and saute the garlic in the hot oil until just fragrant and barely starting to lightly brown, about 30 seconds. Add the eggplant and 1/4 cup of water. Lower the heat to low and cover the skillet. Allow the eggplant to steam until soft, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, if you have time.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.
• Place the eggplant mixture in a food processor and pulse until well chopped, but not pureed. Or just do this on a cutting board with a knife.
• Transfer the eggplant mixture to a large mixing bowl and add the cheese, parsley, basil, eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Stir the mixture well to combine, using your hands or a wooden spoon. The mixture can be refrigerated at this point, covered for up to a day. It is easier to roll into meatballs when the mixture is cooled down. (If doing so, preheat the oven 30 minutes before baking the meatballs.)
• Roll or scoop the mixture using a 1- to 1 1/2-ounce ice cream scoop into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, or until firm on the outside and light brown underneath.
• Meanwhile, heat the marinara sauce in a large saucepan over low heat until simmering. Transfer the meatballs to the saucepan with marinara sauce. Toss with the sauce and serve.

ITALIAN EGGPLANT MEATBALLS / POLPETTE

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 400F (200C). If Baking then lightly drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil on a small non-stick cookie sheet.

AUNT MARY'S EGGPLANT BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
• Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Pour in olive oil and saute garlic just until lightly browned. Mix in eggplant and water. Reduce heat to low and cover skillet. Allow eggplant to steam until soft, about 20 minutes. Place eggplant in a large bowl and allow to cool slightly.
• Mix cheese, parsley, eggs, and bread crumbs into eggplant. Stir with a wooden spoon or your hands until ingredients are thoroughly combined and mixture can be rolled into balls. Add more bread crumbs as needed to make mixture workable. Refrigerate mixture for 15 minutes, then roll into balls or form into patties.
• Place eggplant balls on prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

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.

MINI EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• For the sauce: Heat the oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium. Add the garlic, shallots and salt. Stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, basil, oregano and crushed red pepper. Simmer the sauce until the flavors blend and the sauce thickens, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Mix in the vinegar.
• For the eggplant: Mix the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Place the panko breadcrumbs in another shallow bowl. Whisk the egg whites in a medium bowl until frothy. Dip each eggplant slice in the flour mixture, then into the beaten egg whites, and then into the panko breadcrumbs to coat completely.
• Heat the oil in a heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat until hot (the surface will appear to be shimmering), 2 to 3 minutes. Add half of the eggplant slices. Cook until deep golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the eggplant to a paper-towel-lined plate. Fry the remaining eggplant. (Can be made 1 hour ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Preheat a broiler. Toss the mozzarella and Parmesan in a small bowl until well blended. Spread 1 generous teaspoon of the sauce over each eggplant slice. Top with a rounded teaspoon of the cheese mixture; spread out to cover and press lightly to adhere. Transfer the eggplant slices to a rimmed baking sheet. Broil until the cheese has melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mini eggplant parmesans to a platter and garnish each with small basil leaf. Let stand 2 to 3 minutes before serving.

ITALIAN EGGPLANT BALLS (USE JUST LIKE MEATBALLS) FRY OR BAKE

Steps:

• In food processor, prepare the ingredients that need to be minced or diced mentioned above.
• In a large saucepan, heat oil & gently sauté garlic until golden brown.
• Add diced eggplant & water - then cover & simmer under low heat until eggplant is VERY soft. Drain if watery when done then transfer to large bowl.
• Combine eggplant, breadcrumbs, parsley, eggs and cheese in large bowl. Let stand for 20 minutes.
• Form into balls (same size as you prefer your meatballs to be) and fry in olive oil in large pan or bake in over for 30-35 minute at 325º or until brown.

SIMPLE EGGPLANT PARM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Arrange the eggplant halves cut-side up on a rimmed baking sheet. Using the tip of a knife, score the flesh of the eggplant, being careful not to cut all the way through. Rub them evenly with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with the salt. Roast until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the eggplant from the oven and divide the marinara evenly over the halves. Sprinkle with the mozzarella. Mix together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small bowl. Top the eggplant with the breadcrumb mixture and return to the oven until golden brown and bubbly, about 12 minutes. Sprinkle with the basil and pepper flakes.

PARMESAN EGGPLANT FRIES WITH BASIL KETCHUP

Steps:

• For the ketchup: In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic is softened and fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, tomato paste, basil, salt and Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 30 minutes. Remove the garlic, cool to room temperature and refrigerate until ready to use (can be refrigerated for up to 1 week).
• For the fries: Place two racks in the upper and middle thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Insert a wire rack into a large baking sheet.
• Whisk together the flour, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Lightly beat the eggs in a medium bowl. Combine the panko and the Parmesan in another medium bowl.
• Slice off both ends of the eggplant. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise and slice each half into 1/2-to-3/4-inch thick layers, then cut each layer into 1/2-inch sticks. After all of the fries are cut, drop them into the flour and lightly toss them to coat evenly. Working in batches of a few at a time, dip the floured fries into the egg and then into the panko mixture. Place the fries on the wire rack in the baking sheet, leaving an 1/8-inch space between each fry.
• Bake the fries until they are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Season the fries with the remaining salt and serve with Basil Ketchup.

TASTY FRIED EGGPLANT BALLS

Steps:

• In a medium-size pot, place one inch of water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and eggplant. Cover pot and cook 15 minutes, or until eggplant is tender. Drain well.
• Chop the cooked eggplant. In a large bowl, combine eggplant, onion, green pepper, 3/4 cup bread crumbs, 1 egg, cheese, paprika, pepper and remaining salt. Cool and chill 2 to 3 hours or overnight.
• Place flour in a bowl. Beat the remaining egg in a separate small bowl. Drop mixture by heaping teaspoonfuls into the flour and coat completely. Then dip the eggplant balls into the beaten egg; finally, coat the balls with the remaining bread crumbs.
• In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil and fry eggplant balls until they are heated through.