Seafood Stuffed Eggplant

STUFFED EGGPLANT WITH SHRIMP AND BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Scoop out the flesh of the eggplant, chop, and reserve. Coat shells with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Saute shrimp, basil and garlic until shrimp turns pink, about 1 minute. Stir in the reserved chopped eggplant. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in wine, and cook 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a large bowl, and mix in the bread crumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. If mixture is dry, stir in more olive oil. Stuff mixture into eggplant shells, and sprinkle top with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until eggplant is tender.

MOM'S STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplant in half and scoop out the center, leaving enough meat inside the skin so that it holds its shape when baked. Boil the scooped-out center part until very soft, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saute pan heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Add the seasoned ground beef to the pan and saute until all of its liquid is evaporated and the beef begins to brown slightly. Drain the beef, removing the extra, unnecessary fat. Let cool briefly and chop the cooked beef so that there are no large chunks of meat. In another medium saute pan over medium heat add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and saute the onions, peppers and garlic together.
• In a bowl mix together the cooked eggplant, vegetables, cooked beef, herbs, 1 cup of the cheese, bread crumbs, and the egg.
• Fill the scooped-out eggplant halves with this mixture, dividing it evenly among the 2 halves.
• Top with chopped tomatoes and the remaining 1/4 cup of grated cheese, season with salt and pepper, place on an oiled oven tray or baking dish, and bake for 50 minutes in preheated oven. Let cool briefly, slice widthwise and serve.

EGGPLANT, CRABMEAT AND SHRIMP CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Peel and dice eggplant into 1-inch cubes. Boil in enough water to cover with 1 tablespoon salt until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well and set aside. Saute onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic in olive oil until very tender. Fold vegetable mixture into eggplant. Add lemon juice, Worcestershire, Lea and Perrins, Creole seasoning, hot red pepper sauce, 1 cup cracker crumbs, Parmesan, salt and cayenne, then eggs. Gently fold in seafood. Place in greased casserole. Top with bread crumbs and melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Scoop out the flesh of the eggplant, chop, and reserve. Season shells with salt and pepper, and coat with some olive oil; set aside.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Saute sausage and garlic until sausage is evenly brown. Stir in the reserved chopped eggplant. Season with parsley, salt and pepper. Pour in wine, and cook 5 minutes. Mix in the bread crumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. If mixture is dry, stir in more olive oil. Stuff mixture into eggplant shells, and sprinkle top with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until eggplant is tender.

SEAFOOD-STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Arrange eggplants on large baking sheet. Pierce with fork. Broil 4 minutes per side. Scoop out eggplant pulp, leaving 1/2-inch-thick shell intact. Place eggplant pulp in heavy medium saucepan. Pour 2 cups water over. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes. Uncover and simmer until eggplant is very tender and liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush eggplant shells with 1 tablespoon oil. Bake until shells are tender but still hold shape, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add boiled eggplant, shrimp and cayenne; sauté until shrimp are cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup breadcrumbs and crabmeat. Season with salt and pepper. Fill eggplant shells with seafood mixture. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead; refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Sprinkle stuffing with remaining 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs. Bake stuffed eggplants until heated through, about 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Serve hot.

SHRIMP STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Cut each eggplant it half, cutting through the stem and down its length.
• Cut perpendicular (criss-cross) slices in the flesh of the eggplant to within ¼ inch of the shell.
• Use a spoon to scoop out cubes of eggplant pulp.
• Place shells in an oven preheated to 350 while preparing the filling or in a shallow pan of boiling water. You want the shells a little tender but not fully cooked when you stuff them.
• Saute onion and garlic in a little oil in a skillet until transparent but not brown.
• Add the eggplant pulp and cook until done.
• Add shrimp and cook for about 5 more minutes.
• Add basil and enough breadcrumbs until mix is firm but not dry. Salt and pepper to taste. Cheese can be added if desired at this step and grated on top after cooking as well.
• Stuff shells and put in oven proof dish. Heat in 350 oven until piping hot or freeze.
• Serve with a salad and good French or Italian bread. Fantastic.

EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH CREOLE SHRIMP

Steps:

• Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise. Run a knife around the inside rim of each half, about 1/2 inch from the skin, making a 1-inch deep cut. Scoop out the pulp, dice and place in a large colander. Toss with 1 teaspoon of salt. Set aside to drain for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wrap the eggplant halves in foil and bake until soft, about 20 to 30 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Combine 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion, garlic, cayenne pepper, thyme and bay leaf in a nonstick skillet. Cook over medium heat until aromatic, about 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Add the eggplants and Tabasco. Stir. Cook for 3 minutes.
• Transfer the stuffing to a large bowl. Set aside to cool slightly. Add ham, red pepper, tomato, shrimp, beaten egg and 3/4 cup bread crumbs. Mix well. Season to taste with remaining salt and pepper.
• Use a spoon to mound the filling into the 4 halves. Sprinkle each with the remaining bread crumbs. Brush the bottom of a baking dish with the remaining oil. Put the halves in a baking dish. Bake about 30 minutes.