Wyatts Cafeteria Eggplant Food

WYATT CAFETERIA'S BAKED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Soak the eggplant cubes in salt water in refrigerator overnight or a minimum of six hours.
• Drain and place in medium saucepan.
• Cover with water and simmer until tender.
• Soak the bread crumbs in milk.
• Saute the onions, green peppers, and celery in melted butter for about 15 minutes or until tender.
• Combine the cooked eggplant, bread crumbs and sauteed vegetables.
• Add the eggs, pimiento, and seasonings; mix thoroughly.
• Place the mixture into a 2 quart baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.
• Remove cover, top with grated cheese and return to oven last 5 minutes of cooking.
• The preparation time includes the soaking time for the eggplant.

LUBY'S BAKED EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Bake Mexican cornbread per packet directions. Cut into halves after baking as you will only use 1/2 (approx 8x4x1").
• Note: If you know how to make Mexican cornbread from scratch, it's better than the individual packets, but the packets will do. Slice bacon into small 1/8-1/4" pieces and fry in a deep skillet until almost done (brown but not crispy).
• Dice eggplant, onion, and tomato into 1/4-1/2" pieces.
• Add first onion to skillet and saute about 5 minutes on med-low. Add eggplant, tomato, salt, pepper, garlic powder, corn, margarine and saute another 5-7 minutes. Everything is now becoming transparent and starting to mesh together nicely.
• Add chicken or celery soup, mix in, then add American cheese and stir until cheese has fully melted into mixture.
• Take half the cornbread you baked, crumble it, and stir into the mixture. Pour into 9x3" round casserole dish or comparable square one and cover with foil.
• Bake at 350°F for 40-50 minutes or until internal temperature is 165°F Remove foil and cover with shredded cheddar for final 10 minutes of baking. Do not let cheddar turn dark.

BAKED BREADED EGGPLANTS WITH SALSA AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut off both ends of each eggplant and carefully slice eggplant lengthways into ½" slices. Place the slices into a large dish, sprinkle each slice with coarse sea salt and let them sit for about 15-30 minutes. This will take out the moisture and any bitterness from the eggplant.
• Rinse salt off eggplant and pat dry well with dish towels or paper towels.
• Season pretzel breadcrumbs with nutmeg, oregano, thyme, black pepper and Parmesan cheese.
• Dip each eggplant slice into the whisked eggs, removing any excess egg before dipping into breadcrumbs. Press eggplant slices into breadcrumbs on both sides until well coated.
• Place breaded slices onto a large baking sheet lined with silicone baking mat or parchment paper and sprinkle with olive oil. Bake in the oven at 200°C for about 15 minutes, then flip each slice over and bake for another 10 minutes until eggplant slices are golden brown. Take the baking sheet out of the oven.
• Meanwhile, make the tomato salsa: sauté garlic in olive oil over medium heat for 1 minute, then add tomatoes, cook for 2 minutes until most of liquid has evaporated. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cover each eggplant slice with tomato salsa, pancetta slices torn into smaller pieces and mozzarella. Return to the oven for 5 minutes to melt the cheese.