Sicilian Eggplant Rolls Food

SICILIAN EGGPLANT ROLLS

Steps:

• 1. Wash and slice up eggplants in 1/2 inch slices. Place in large bowl, make layers with eggplant slices and sprinkle each one with coarse salt. place a weight, e.g. pile of plates, on top. Wait 15 mins for bitter water to come out.
• 2. In the meanwhile, prepare basic tomato sauce: fry the onion, thinly sliced in 5 Tsp extra virgin olive oil, until soft and lightly colored but not brown. Add tomatoes, the bay leaf, season with salt and pepper, and cook on low heat for 10 mins. Reserve.
• 3. Prepare bread crumbs mix: in a bowl mix breadcrumbs with Parmigiano,chopped parsley and chopped garlic. Add 4 Tsp olive oil, season with salt and pepper.
• 4. Scrape salt off each slice, brush with olive oil and grill on hot cast-iron griddle for one and a half / two minutes on each side / or until slightly soft and nice grill pattern appears on surface
• 5. Preheat oven on gas mark 6, and prepare rolls: place some ham, a piece of provola and some breadcrumbs mix on each eggplant slice, and form rolls. Secure rolls with toothpick. Keep some breadcrumbs for the garnish.
• 6. Grease a baking tin with some olive oil, place eggplant rolls side by side. Pour tomato sauce and garnish with the remaining breadcrumbs. sprinkle with remaining olive oil. Cook in the oven for about 25 mins. Before serving, remove toothpicks and allow to cool for a couple of mins. Can be eaten hot or at room temperature. Watch a video of how I prepare this dish by clicking on the "video" icon underneath the picture on this page.

EGGPLANT ROLLATINI

Steps:

• Preheat the grill pan and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place a rack over a large baking sheet. Cut the 2 ends off the eggplant. Cut the eggplants lengthwise, into 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange eggplant slices onto rack. Sprinkle with sea salt to help remove excess moisture and any bitterness from the eggplants. Set aside for about 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off the salt from the eggplants and pat dry with a towel. Spray hot grill pan liberally with vegetable spray and then place eggplant slices on the grill until lightly browned on each side and tender, about 4 minutes per side. Remove slices from the grill pan and allow to cool.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs until lightly scrambled. Mix the ricotta in with the egg. Add mozzarella, 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts and gently combine. Fold in basil just to combine. Do not overmix.
• Place a tablespoon of the cheese mixture on 1 end of the eggplant and roll up tightly. Place the eggplant rollatini into a greased (with olive oil) 13 by 9-inch baking dish, seam side down. Continue with remaining eggplant. Evenly distribute the tomato sauce on top of the eggplant rollatini. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining 5 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and bake for 15 minutes. When cooked, drizzle the top with extra-virgin olive oil.
• In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

SICILIAN STYLE SPAGHETTI AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Slice the eggplants into 1/4-inch rounds. Toss them with 1/4 cup olive oil and some salt and pepper. Grill them until marks have formed and they are soft, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place them onto a paper towel lined platter. Scatter over 2 cloves of sliced garlic, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the lemon juice, put on a few torn basil leaves, and season it all with salt and pepper. Set aside while you make the sauce.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and place over medium heat. Cook the onions until they are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the chile, garlic, olives and a few hand-torn basil leaves. Carefully add the tomatoes and a pinch of sugar; cook and stir until the liquid is cooked down and the sauce is thick, about 15 minutes. Add the capers, taste, and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Lower the heat, cover, and keep warm.
• Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add a couple of tablespoons of salt and the spaghetti. Stir to make sure the pasta doesn't stick. Cover and return to a boil. Remove cover and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until the spaghetti is al dente. Drain and add the spaghetti to the tomato sauce. Add the cheese and mix well. Pile onto a platter and top it with the eggplant slices. Garnish with more basil leaves.