Tuna Stuffed Eggplant Food

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.

TUNA STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Wash eggplants, wipe dry, and remove green tip. Cut a lengthwise slice from each. Scoop out inside and reserve, leacving a wall 1/2 inch thick. Invert shells in a shallow baking pan. Pour in 1 inch of water. Bake in 400 oven for 20 minutes (or until half done.).
• Chop pulp and saute with onion in 1/4 cup margarine. Add bread crumbs, tuna, and seasonings. Spoon into eggplant shells and place in a shallow baking dish.
• Mix bread cubes with melted butter. Sprinkle around edge of tops. Bake uncovered in 350 for 20 minutes.

EGGPLANT BOATS WITH TUNA AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Slice each eggplant in half lengthwise. With a spoon remove the flesh from the center of the eggplant halves, leaving a ¼ inch rim around each. Reserve 100 g of the scooped out flesh.
• Place the scooped out eggplant halves on a large baking sheet lined with silicone or parchment paper. Grease them with olive oil (1 tablespoon), inside and outside, season with sea salt. Bake in the oven at 200°C for about 30 minutes until golden. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Chop in a food processor 100 g of the scooped out eggplant flesh and sauté for 5-7 minutes in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, until tender. If necessary, add a little water. Set aside.
• Sauté shallots for 4 -5 minutes in ½ tablespoons of olive oil until soft and golden-brown in color. Stir into the tuna mixture.
• Sauté cherry tomatoes in ½ tablespoon olive oil in another skillet for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
• Mix and combine chopped eggplant flesh, cherry tomatoes, fried shallots, tuna, capers, salt, pepper, basil and tomato puree.
• Stuff evenly the scooped out eggplant halves with the tuna mixture. Top with grated mozzarella, then Grana Padano and finally breadcrumbs. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Return to the oven and bake for 10 minutes until the cheese has melted.