Saucy Eggplant Patty Tower Food

GINORMOUS SAUCY EGGPLANT PATTY TOWER RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Bring a large skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat on the stove. Remove the ends of the eggplant. Cut three 3/4-inch-wide eggplant slices. Pat dry, if needed. Save the rest for another use. Place the eggplant slices and patties in the skillet and cook for 3 to 5 minutes; flip, and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, until fully cooked. Meanwhile, to make the sauce, combine tomatoes with Italian seasoning in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave for about 30 seconds, until hot. Mix well. If you like, add additional Italian seasoning, to taste. Plate one eggplant slice and top with a spoonful of sauce; evenly top with a burger patty. Alternate layering the remaining eggplant slices and burger patty, adding a spoonful of sauce in between each layer. Cover your "tower" with all of the remaining sauce. Garnish with basil. Grab a fork and knife and dig in!

EGGPLANT PARMESAN TOWERS

Steps:

• To make a quick marinara sauce, place a saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more. Pour in the red wine and cook for 1 minute to reduce. Using your hands or a potato masher, crush the tomatoes and add to the saucepot, including any juices from the can. Stir to combine. Add 1 whole stem of fresh basil leaves. Bring the sauce to a simmer and reduce the heat to medium low. Allow the sauce to continuing cooking while the rest of the components are prepared.
• Pour the vegetable oil into a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot and attach a deep-frying thermometer. Heat the oil over medium heat to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and top with a cooling rack.
• Set up 3 low-sided dishes to make a breading station: To the first dish, add the flour, Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and stir to combine. In the second dish, beat the eggs. To the third dish, add the breadcrumbs.
• Dredge both sides of the eggplant slices in the seasoned flour, shaking each piece to remove any excess. Next, dip the eggplant slices into the egg, allowing it to drip before moving onto the third dish. Then, coat the eggplant in the breadcrumbs evenly on both sides.
• Working in batches, carefully place the breaded eggplant into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown and crispy, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer to the cooling rack on the baking sheet. Sprinkle each slice generously with kosher salt. Continue this process until all the eggplant rounds have been fried.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Remove the basil stem from the marinara sauce.
• Remove the paper towels from the baking sheet. Build towers on the cooling rack: Top a slice of eggplant with 1 tablespoon of marinara sauce, 1 tablespoon mozzarella, 1 tablespoon Parmesan and 1 basil leaf. Place a second piece of eggplant on top and repeat this process. Top the tower with a third piece of eggplant and repeat only with sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan (no basil). Repeat this process to create 8 towers on the cooling rack.
• Bake until the cheese is melted and slightly browned on top, about 20 minutes. Transfer the towers to a serving platter. Garnish each eggplant tower with a fresh basil leaf and serve immediately.

SAUCY SALMON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook until soft and golden, about 1 minute. Add diced tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, red peppers, chili peppers, cumin, coriander and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat, and remove chile peppers.
• Place Swiss chard on the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish. Season fish fillets with remaining salt and pepper and place in on top of chard. Cover with sauce and bake, covered, until fish is just cooked and chard is wilted, about 15 minutes. Remove cover and bake an additional 5 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

PORTOBELLO STEAK AND SCALLION POTATO TOWER

Steps:

• Toss portobello mushrooms in olive oil for grilling and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Apply to heat source gill side down until they sweat, about 2 minutes. Turn over and finish cooking. Remove from grill and toss in 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar to marinate. Do not cover: mushrooms will absorb flavor as they cool.
• Cook potatoes in cold, salted water. Bring up to a boil and simmer until tender. Strain and add to a mixing bowl. Mash by hand with 3 to 4 tablespoons of butter.
• Bring 1 cup heavy cream to a boil and slowly stir into mashed potatoes until smooth . Use as only as much of the heavy cream as you need. Add scallions, garlic and salt and pepper to taste.
• In a small saucepan reduce 2 cups balsamic vinegar over low heat until syrupy in consistency. Reserve warm for sauce.
• Brush ears of corn with olive oil and add salt and pepper. Grill approximately 4 to 5 minutes, rotating corn to prevent burning. When cool enough to handle remove kernels with knife and reserve for garnish.
• On a plate lay a small amount of mesclun in center for underliner, place first portobello down and apply small amount of mashed potatoes as second layer. Repeat until third portobello is top layer, with two layers of mashed potatoes in between. Garnish around plate with roasted corn and chive sticks and red onion. Do not overcrowd plates. Using a spoon drizzle balsamic reduction on top of tower and around plate.

EMILY'S SUPER EGGPLANT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook eggplant, bell pepper, onion, and garlic until soft and tender, stirring often.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain, and set aside.
• When done, transfer vegetables to a large stock pot. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, and water. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot over egg noodles.