Unstuffed Stuffed Curried Eggplant Food

PAPOUTSAKIA - LITTLE SHOES (STUFFED MINIATURE EGGPLANT)

Steps:

• Brown onions,garlic, meat and cinnamon lightly in butter, stirring constantly.
• Add tomatoes, salt and pepper.
• Cook covered for about 15 minutes, allowing meat mixture to become quite dry.
• Remove from heat.
• Add parsley, egg, 1/2 cup cheese and bread crumbs.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Along what you choose to become the'top' of each eggplant, peel a 1 1/2 inch strip from one end to the other and make an incision along the strip to within an inch of each end, making a little pocket.
• Place in baking dish and bake in moderate oven until soft and light brown, about 30-45 minutes.
• Insert knife blade into incision, make an opening and stuff with teaspoonfuls of meat mixture, making sure each little eggplant gets an equal amount of stuffing.
• Prepare bechamel sauce: Melt butter over low heat; add flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg; stir until well blended.
• Remove from heat.
• Gradually stir in milk and return to heat.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth.
• Remove from heat.
• Add the egg and remaining cheese to the sauce and whisk briskly, to prevent the egg from curdling.
• Pour about one tablespoon on top of each eggplant pocket.
• Sprinkle with additional grated cheese and dot with butter.
• Add tomato sauce to the pan.
• Bake for about 35 minutes longer.

STUFFED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Halve each eggplant lengthwise. Leaving a 1/2-inch border, score the eggplant flesh into 1/2-inch pieces. Scoop out the eggplant cubes with a spoon to create a boat out of the shell. Place the eggplant cubes on a rimmed baking sheet, breaking the large pieces apart with your hands, and toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper and set aside.
• Brush the inside of the eggplant shells with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bake the eggplant shells and cubes, rotating the baking sheet and dish halfway through, until tender, about 20 minutes for the cubes and 30 minutes for the shells.
• Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the red pepper flakes and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until a deep brick red, about 2 minutes. Break up the tomatoes with your hands and add to the skillet along with their juices. Swirl 1/4 cup water around the tomato can and add the liquid to the sauce. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of the dried oregano and the basil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Toss together the panko, parsley, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano in a medium bowl. Season with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and toss to combine. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to broil.
• Combine the cooked eggplant cubes, 2 cups of the sauce, the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan, 1 cup of the mozzarella and 1/2 cup of the panko mixture in a large bowl. Spoon the eggplant mixture into the 4 shells and top with the remaining 1/3 cup mozzarella and the remaining panko mixture. Broil until the top is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, watching carefully. Serve the remaining sauce alongside.

STUFFED BABY EGGPLANTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat, add oil. Add the onions, garlic, and salt. Sweat for 3 minutes or until vegetables are translucent and aromatic. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 8 hours over low heat, stirring occasionally. Check seasoning.
• Cut eggplants in half, scoop out seeds, and sprinkle with salt, cut side up. Place the eggplant halves on a baking sheet and let sit for 1 hour. Place 1 1/2 ounces of sausage in each eggplant half. Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Top each eggplant with some tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella. Place back into oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts.

STUFFED BABY EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Using a paring knife, cut a wedge out of each eggplant, from stem to base, just large enough to stick a spoon inside and scoop out the flesh inside. Discard the flesh you scoop out.
• Coat a large saute pan with the oil and place over medium flame. Lightly fry the eggplants on all sides, until slightly charred and blistered; remove to a platter and set aside.
• Return the pan to the heat and add the shallots and garlic, saute for 5 minutes, until soft and golden brown. Add the ground lamb to the pan and brown the meat well, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Stir in the tomatoes, combine well, and let simmer for 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Toss in a couple of handfuls of the parsley, the mint, and lemon juice; continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the stuffing cool slightly. Using a spoon, stuff the lamb filling into the eggplants until they feel full, but not overly packed.
• Arrange the eggplants in a single layer in a large saucepan, pour the chicken stock over them and lay the lemon slices on top of each eggplant, drizzle with some more olive oil. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until fork tender. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

GREEN CURRY FISH WITH THAI EGGPLANTS

Steps:

• Do not shake the can of coconut milk before opening, so the cream remains on the top. Spoon about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of this thick cream into a medium-size sauce pan and heat over medium to high heat. Reduce until the cream is smooth and bubbly and the oil begins to separate. Add the curry past and fry in the cream until the aromas are released - about 3-5 minutes. Then add the remaining milk.
• Bring to a boikl and add the fish. Bring back up to a boil, reduce heat and simmer about 5 minutes before adding the eggplants. Simmer a few minutes more, then add the peas and kaffir lime leaves. Season to taste with fish sauce (may not be needed with some brands of curry pastes which are already salted). Add palm sugar to balance and enhance the spice and herb flavors. Continue to simmer until the eggplants and peas are tender. Stir in the basil and chillies (if desired) and cook another 1-2 minutes.
• Serve over hot fluffy steamed rice.

STUFFED BABY EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Prepare eggplants by slicing them in half lengthwise.
• Scoop out the inside of the eggplant and cut into cubes.
• Lay cubes on several paper towels and squeeze any moisture out of them by hand.
• Boil shells in a large stockpot for 2 minutes and allow to cool.
• Place a tablespoon of olive oil in a hot skillet. Add eggplant, onion, and garlic and saute.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir the saute mixture into the remaining ingredients and combine well. Add a second tablespoon of water if mixture is too dry. If mixture is too loose, add more bread crumbs.
• Fill the cooled eggplant shells with the mixture.
• Add a tablespoon of olive oil to a hot skillet. Place eggplants top side down in skillet and brown over medium heat.
• Place browned stuffed baby eggplants in a baking dish.
• Drizzle with remaining olive oil and bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

BAKED BABY EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Peel skin off eggplant
• Slice lengthwise 1/4 inch strips.
• Slice up tomato 1/4 inch
• Chop up all herbs discarding stalk.
• Chop up garlic
• In a casserole dish sprinkle some olive oil.
• Place a layer of eggplant, layer of tomato and sprinkle half the herbs & garlic
• Sprinkle some olive oil, salt & pepper on top.
• Sprinkle half the bread crumbs on tops.
• Repeat another full layer of eggplant, tomato, herbs,garlic, oil, salt & pepper and breadcrumbs on top.
• Cover casserole dish and bake at 375 for 45 minutes.
• Remove cover and sprinkle with the parmesan cheese.
• Bake another 5 minutes.
• You can use small amounts of Italian cheese, goat cheese, or monteray cheese inbetween layers as well for variation. Ive made it many ways. All delicious.
• Enjoy.

STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°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. Chop eggplant that has been scooped out of the inside; place in saucepan, cover with water and boil until very soft, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat. Salt and pepper the beef. Add the seasoned ground beef to the pan, and sauté until all of its liquid is evaporated and the beef begins to brown slightly. Let cool briefly, and chop the cooked beef so that there are no large chunks of meat. In another medium sauté pan over medium heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and sauté the onion, pepper and garlic together in the oil.
• In a bowl, mix together the cooked eggplant, vegetables, beef, herbs, 1 cup of the cheese, 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs and the egg. Fill the scooped-out eggplant halves with this mixture, dividing it evenly between the two halves.
• Top with chopped tomatoes, the remaining 1/4 cup cheese, remaining 1/4 cup bread crumbs, and season with salt and pepper. Place on an oiled oven tray or baking dish, and bake for 50 minutes. Let cool briefly; slice widthwise and serve.

CURRIED EGGPLANT IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pot and fry the onion till light golden colour.
• Add the spices, cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste, stir in the coconut milk. Cook to form a gravy.
• Add the aubergine, and tomato, stir into the gravy, reduce heat to medium and cook till aubergine is tender. About 30 minutes.

CURRIED (AUBERGINE) EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Toss eggplant with 1 teaspoon salt in a colander set over a bowl, then let drain 30 minutes; Rinse eggplant, then drain, pressing gently on eggplant to extract any excess liquid.
• While eggplant drains, mash garlic, ginger, and jalapeno to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt, using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a large heavey knife and transfer to a cup), Then stir in mustard seeds, cumin seeds and turmeric.
• Heat oil in a 5-quart heavy pot, over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then saute onion, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add spice paste and cinnamon stick, then reduce heat to moderate and cook, stirring for 1 minute.
• Add eggplant and cook, stirring until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes; Stir in water, brown sugar, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and simmer covered, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is tender, BUT NOT falling apart, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Season eggplant with more salt IF needed, discard cinnamon stick and serve eggplant sprinkled with cilantro and cashews.

NORTH AFRICAN BULGAR STUFFED BABY EGGPLANT

Steps:

• "Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
• Cut each baby eggplant in half, keeping the stem end intact and going straight to the tail tip. Use one tablespoon of oil to brush liberally over the eggplants, both front and back, before laying them cut side up on a baking sheet. Tuck the oiled eggplant halves in the oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until the flesh is soft and easily pierced with a fork but the bodies have not collapsed.
• While the eggplant are baking up, it's a perfect time to toast the pine nuts. Spread the nuts out on an ungreased baking sheet in a single layer. Tuck them in the oven for 3-5 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through. When the pine nuts are mostly golden brown (some may be darker and that is absolutely okay) they are toasted and ready. Shake the nuts off the pan and into a bowl so that they do not continue cooking with the ambient heat.
• Cooking the bulghar is as easy as can be. Put it into a heatproof container and pour the boiling water over top. Sprinkle liberally with salt (about 1/2 tsp) and let it stand for 15 minutes. The grain will start to soak up that hot, salty water and rehydrate, becoming tender and fluffy. You could let the bulghar soak for as long as 30 minutes, but I like to drain it after 15 so that it is still a touch al dente. After all, when the bulgar is added to the tomato mixture and baked it will continue to soak up moisture so it shouldn't be mushy soft.
• The nuts are toasted, the eggplant is baking, and the bulghar is soaking. Life is pretty good.
• Chop the onions into a small, thin mince and finely mince the garlic. Put the aromatics in a large saucepan, along with the remaining two tablespoons of oil, and set it over medium heat. Starting the onions and garlic off in a cold pan will encourage them to deepen and sweeten without as much risk of burning.
• After 5-7 minutes when the onions are a pale gold color add the diced tomatoes, honey and dried spices. Okay, so I totally didn't use diced tomatoes here. I used whole canned tomatoes, because I love to squish them into a pulp in my hands before adding them to the pan. We all have our quirky little habits, and that just happens to be one of mine. Give this a stir and turn the heat down slightly to medium low. You will need to cook the tomato mixture for at least 7-10 minutes, stirring fairly regularly, or until the liquid has reduced significantly in the pan.
• Are the eggplants soft? As soon as they are cool enough to handle, use a small paring knife to score all around the edges of the eggplant, leaving a skin which is about 1/4″ thick. Carefully scoop out the flesh (I like to use a melon-baller to do this) which needs to be given a good chop.
• When the tomato mixture has thickened enough that you can run a spoon through it and still see the bottom of the pan 5 seconds later, add the chopped eggplant flesh and stir it through. Let this cook for a minute or two so that the flavors can combine.
• Finely chop the mint and parsley leaves. There should be slightly more mint than parsley, but be generous with both. Reserve one tablespoon of the chopped herbs to use as garnish.
• Take the pan off the heat before adding the bulgar (which has been drained and squeezed dry) to the tomatoes, along with the pine nuts, mint and parsley. Stir everything together, squeeze in the juice of 1/2 lemon, and season quite generously with salt and pepper. You can't afford to be shy with the seasoning in a bulgar dish.
• Spoon the stuffing into your gutted eggplant halves, pressing it together and really mounding it inches Your cupped palm is the best tool that you could have to keep the mixture in a pseudo-dome shape as you press it into the shells.
• Bake the eggplant for 15-20 minutes, or until they are warmed through and the tops are just starting to brown. Sprinkle the eggplant with your reserved chopped parsley and mint, and serve with a bowl of black olives and some fresh pita bread on the side.
• The sultry cinnamon and allspice, combined with smoky nutmeg and just a mere whiff of heat from the chili are enough to elevate a simple bulgar and tomato stuffing into the realm of the exotic in a non-intimidating way.
• Light, clean, healthy and vegetarian dinners are always easier than I expect. In fact, I'm rather looking forward to putting the chicken breasts aside again a few days from now.".