Mushroom Aubergine Pizza Pie Food

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) AND MUSHROOM PIZZA

Steps:

• Sprinkle eggplant with salt and let sit in a colander for 30 minutes.
• Rinse and pat dry.
• Arrange eggplant slices in a single layer on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until the eggplant is tender and lightly browned.
• Let cool.
• Divide pizza dough in half to form two pizzas, or just make one large pizza. Follow directions for dough.
• Spread tomato sauce over each pizza round and sprinkle cheese over the top, dividing if necessary for two smaller pizzas.
• Arrange mushrooms and several eggplant slices over the cheese and sprinkle with fresh or dried oregano.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Follow baking directions for pizza dough.

AUBERGINE AND MUSHROOM CURRY

Steps:

• Slash the aubergines on one side, down the length.
• Place aubergines in microwave and cook on high heat for 10 minutes Remove from microwave and allow them to cool.
• In the meanwhile heat the oil in a pot and fry the mustard seeds till they start to pop. Add the onions, garlic mushrooms and chilli, fry for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the chilli powder,cumin, ground coriander, tumeric,tomato and salt fry for 3 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and water, stir.
• Open the aubergines and scrape the flesh out, and cut it into small pieces.
• Add the auberrgine to the spice mix, add the chopped coriander.
• Bring all to a boil and cook for 5 minutes It's made.

FRYING PAN PIZZA WITH AUBERGINE, RICOTTA & MINT

Steps:

• Weigh the ingredients for the dough into a large bowl and add 1/2 tsp salt and 125ml warm water. Mix to form a soft dough, then tip onto your work surface and knead for 5 mins or until the dough feels stretchy. Clean and grease the bowl and return the dough. Cover with cling film and leave somewhere warm to rise for 1 hr, or until the dough has doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan and add the garlic. Sizzle gently for 30 secs, making sure the garlic doesn't brown, then add the passata. Season well and bubble for 8-10 mins until you have a rich sauce - add a pinch of sugar if it tastes a little too tart. Set aside.
• When the dough has risen, knock out the air and roll it into a pizza base the same size as a large frying pan. Oil the surface of the dough, cover with cling film , then leave on the work surface for 15 mins to puff up a little. Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp oil in the frying pan and add the aubergines in a single layer (you may have to cook in batches). Season well and cook for 4-5 mins on each side until really tender and golden. Transfer to a dish and cover with foil to keep warm.
• Heat the remaining 1 tbsp of oil in the pan and carefully lift the dough into it. You may have to reshape it a little to fit. Cook over a low-medium heat until the underside is golden brown and the edges of the dough are starting to look dry and set - this should take about 6 mins, but it's best to go by eye. Flip over, drizzle a little more oil around the edge of the pan so it trickles underneath the pizza base, and cook for another 5-6 mins until golden and cooked through. Reheat the sauce if you need to and spread it over the base. Top with the warm aubergines and dot with spoonfuls of ricotta. Scatter with mint and drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil just before serving.

AUBERGINE, TOMATO & HALLOUMI PIE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp oil in your largest frying pan. Cook the aubergine slices for about 5 mins on each side until golden brown and soft - you'll need to add more oil between batches. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• Fry the onion in the remaining oil until soft, about 8 mins. Add the garlic and cook for another min or 2. Stir in the coriander, chopped tomatoes, molasses and some seasoning. Simmer for 15 mins until you have a thick, rich sauce. Stir in the mint leaves.
• Heat a drizzle more oil in a pan and fry the halloumi slices for 2 mins on each side until golden brown. Set aside with the aubergine. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Roll out the pastry to a rectangle, 50 x 25cm, and cut into two squares (don't worry about all the edges being neat at this stage). Place one on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Layer the tomato sauce, aubergine, halloumi and a scattering of pine nuts (in that order) onto the middle of the pastry, leaving a border around the edge, about 1.5cm. Keep layering until the ingredients have all been used up. Brush the edges with a little egg.
• Roll the second sheet a little larger, then lift over the pie and press down the edges to seal. Neaten the edges with a knife, then brush the whole pie with more egg. Score fine lines over the top with your knife to decorate, making sure you don't pierce the pastry. Cut a small cross in the centre of the pie and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake for 30-35 mins until golden brown.

AUBERGINES FILLED WITH SPINACH & MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the aubergine halves and cook for 4-5 mins. Drain well and pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Place the aubergines on a baking tray, brush with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and cook for 20-25 mins until tender and golden. Scoop out the flesh (leaving about 15mm of flesh attached to the skin), then roughly chop.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a large frying pan, then cook the onion and garlic for 4-5 mins until the onion has softened. Add the aubergine flesh to the pan and fry for a few mins, add the mushrooms, then cook for about 5 mins until browned and tender. Add the spinach and cook for 3-4 mins until wilted, stirring frequently.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese, fromage frais and seasoning to taste.
• In a bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, lemon zest, pine nuts, parsley and seasoning.
• Spoon the spinach mixture into the aubergine halves and sprinkle the top of each with the breadcrumb mixture. Return to the oven and cook for 10-15 mins until the topping is golden.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) MUSHROOM FETA PESTO PIZZA

Steps:

• Place the oven rack on the middle rung; preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• If your pizza crust is unbaked, pre-bake it for 5 minutes.
• Combine the olive oil and pesto, then spread crust with the mixture.
• Place eggplant and mushrooms evenly over the pesto, then sprinkle with the feta cheese.
• Season the pizza with salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste.
• Bake on pizza pan or on pizza stone in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or the eggplant is cooked to preference, the crust edges are golden, and the feta is soft and beginning to brown (make sure to check it occasionally so that pizza doesn't burn).
• Note: those folks who like it a bit spicier can garnish their servings with red pepper flakes; also it's even better if you use prepared eggplant - take a look at my posted recipe "Hopvine's Marinated Roasted Eggplant".