Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich By Sam Zien Food

GRILLED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or grill pan for cooking over medium heat. Stir together the olive oil and garlic in a small bowl.
• Slice the eggplant into eight 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Slice each of the tomatoes into four 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Put the slices on a baking sheet, and brush them on both sides with the garlic oil; continue brushing until all the oil is used, being especially generous with the eggplant. Sprinkle both sides with salt. Let sit 5 minutes to allow the eggplant to fully absorb the oil and salt.
• Mix the Parmesan and chopped basil together in a small bowl.
• Lightly oil the grill grates. Grill the bread slices until they have developed grill marks and some char, about 1 minute per side. Remove from the grill, drizzle with olive oil and set aside.
• Grill the eggplant and tomato rounds, covered, until grill marks appear, about 4 minutes. Flip the eggplant rounds with a spatula, and place 1 tomato round on top of each. Top each stack with some of the Parmesan-basil mixture and the mozzarella. Grill, covered, to finish cooking the eggplant and to melt the mozzarella, about 4 minutes.
• Garnish the eggplant Parmesan stacks with torn basil leaves and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Serve with the grilled bread on the side.

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.

GRILLED EGGPLANT PARM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes, olives, 1/4 cup water and the basil sprig and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and discard the basil sprig. Remove from the heat, add the butter and stir to incorporate.
• Meanwhile, heat a grill or grill pan over medium high. Brush both sides of the eggplant slices with the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Grill, turning once, until well-marked and tender, about 4 minutes per side.
• Spread about a third of the sauce onto the bottom of a small rectangular (8-by-10-inch) baking dish. Top with half of the eggplant and half of the mozzarella, evenly spaced in the dish. Repeat with another third of the sauce and the remaining eggplant and mozzarella. Drizzle with the last of the sauce and sprinkle with the Parmesan.
• Bake until the sauce is thickened and bubbling and the cheese is golden in spots, about 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle with the sliced basil and serve warm.

GRILLED EGGPLANT PARMESAN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Sprinkle eggplant slices with ½ teaspoon of salt. Put slices in colander to drain. Set eggplant aside for 20 minutes. While eggplant is draining, prepare tomato sauce.
• In medium sized pot, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add tomatoes, ¾ teaspoon salt, red pepper flakes and oregano. Bring tomato sauce to boil and then reduce heat and simmer sauce for 30 minutes, stirring frequently
• Pat drained eggplant dry with paper towels. Season slices with pepper. Cook eggplant slices on grill or indoor grill pan over medium heat. Cook eggplant for 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until slices are tender. Remove slices from grill and set aside.
• In small bowl, combine Ricotta, Parmesan cheese and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir to combine. Set cheese mixture aside.
• To assemble sandwiches, spread layer of Ricotta mixture on each slice of bread. Layer 2 slices of eggplant on top of 6 slices of bread. Top eggplant slices with 1 tablespoon tomato sauce. Top sauce with 2 slices of Provolone cheese. Place 2 basil leaves on top of Provolone. Season sandwich stacks with additional salt and pepper, if desired. Close sandwiches with the remaining slices of Ricotta-smeared bread. Gently press down on sandwiches.
• Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in large nonstick skillet. Grill sandwiches on both sides until golden brown. Remove sandwiches from skillet. Slice sandwiches and serve with additional tomato sauce, if desired.

GRILLED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
• Peel the eggplants lengthwise in 1-inch intervals to create stripes (this helps with oiliness) then slice each eggplant crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Add the eggplant to a large bowl with the olive oil. Sprinkle in the oregano and toss to combine. Season well with salt and cracked black pepper.
• Place the seasoned eggplant slices over direct heat and cook until nicely charred and beginning to soften, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Move the slices over indirect heat to finish cooking as you add more pieces to direct heat. Top each piece with a slice of tomato and a slice of mozzarella. Close the grill and allow the cheese to melt and the tomato to warm through.
• Remove the eggplant to a baking sheet and grate Parmesan all over the top. Place the baking sheet back on the grill over direct heat to warm up and melt the Parmesan. Transfer to a platter and top with torn basil leaves and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve!

GRILLED EGGPLANT SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Mix oil and garlic; brush onto cut sides of rolls and both sides of vegetables. Sprinkle vegetables with salt and pepper., Grill eggplant, covered, over medium heat until tender, 4-5 minutes per side. Grill tomato, covered, until lightly browned, 1-2 minutes per side. Grill rolls, cut side down, until toasted, 1-2 minutes., Spread roll bottoms with goat cheese. Top with basil, eggplant and tomato; close sandwiches.

GRILLED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a large bowl. Add 4 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine and let marinade for 20 minutes.
• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Thread shallot and tomatoes onto skewers and brush 1 tablespoon of olive oil over them. Grill for 4 minutes. Flip and grill 4 minutes more.
• Transfer grilled tomatoes and shallot to a blender. Add vinegar, garlic, crushed chili flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Pulse until blended but still chunky. Set aside.
• Grill eggplant slices for 5 minutes. Flip, and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt over them. Top each with a slice of mozzarella and grill until cheese begins to melt, about 2 minutes.
• Spoon tomato mixture on a serving platter. Top with eggplant. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top and garnish with fresh basil.

GRILLED EGGPLANT PARMESAN SANDWICH BY SAM ZIEN

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium.
• Brush both sides of eggplant and tomato with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Grill eggplant on both sides until soft and marked with grill lines, about seven minutes. Add cheese to the top of the eggplant slices, then add the tomatoes to the grill (they shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes each side, max).
• Add the buns to the grill and grill lightly.
• Build it this way: bun, 2 slices eggplant, basil leaves to cover, 2 slices of tomato and the other bun.