Alex Patouts Eggplant Dressing Recipes

EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and season with salt and the red pepper flakes; cook until the onions are soft and translucent, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the sugar and tomatoes and break up some of the tomatoes with a wooden spoon. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring from time to time, until the tomatoes are fairly broken down, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Let cool.
• Prepare the eggplant: Put the eggplant rounds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt on both sides and let sit, about 1 hour. Rinse the eggplant with cold water and dry thoroughly with a kitchen towel. (Salting the eggplant draws out the liquid and bitter flavor, but it's optional: Skip this step if you don't have time.)
• Put the flour in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. In another bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk and season with salt and pepper. In a third bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, oregano and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Dredge each eggplant slice in the flour and shake off any excess. Dip in the egg mixture and finally in the breadcrumbs, coating both sides. Lay the eggplant slices on baking sheets in a single layer.
• Heat about 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke lightly (between 380 degrees F and 400 degrees F). Using tongs, add a single layer of eggplant to the skillet and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and season lightly with salt. Repeat until all of the eggplant is fried.
• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spoon about one-quarter of the tomato sauce into a 9-by-13-inch flameproof baking dish. Top with a layer of the fried eggplant, overlapping the slices slightly. Top with about one-quarter of the mozzarella, then sprinkle with about one-third each of the parmesan, provolone and basil. Repeat the layering 2 more times (sauce, eggplant, cheese, basil), then finish with the remaining sauce and mozzarella. Press the layers firmly into the dish. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, 35 to 40 minutes. For an extra-brown top, put the dish under the broiler for a minute or two just before serving.

EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA 2

Steps:

• For the sauce: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and onions and season with salt and the red pepper flakes. Cook until the onions become translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the sugar and the canned tomatoes. Use a wooden spoon to break up some of the whole tomatoes and cook 10 to 15 minutes over medium heat, stirring from time to time. Taste for seasoning. The tomatoes should be fairly broken down and the flavors coming together. Cook for another few minutes if the tomatoes still taste like they need a little more time to break down. Add 2 to 3 cups water to the sauce as it cooks if it looks like it's getting too thick. Set aside to cool.
• For the eggplant: Arrange the eggplant rounds in a single layer on 2 baking sheets. Sprinkle with salt, on both sides of each slice, and allow it to sit for about an hour. (Salting it draws out the liquid and bitter flavor.) After an hour, rinse with cold water and dry them thoroughly with a kitchen towel.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Put the flour in a medium bowl. In another, whisk together the eggs and milk. In a third bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with the oregano and fresh thyme leaves. Dip each eggplant slice in the flour and shake off any excess. Then, dip in the egg mixture and finally in the breadcrumbs. Make sure to coat both sides of each slice. Arrange them in single layers back on the baking sheets.
• In a large skillet, pour enough oil to accumulate about 1/2-inch in the bottom. Heat the oil until it begins to smoke lightly (alternatively, test with a thermometer and wait until it registers between 380 and 400 degrees F). Use a pair of kitchen tongs to add a single layer of the eggplant to the oil. Cook them until they are golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from the oil and transfer to a baking sheet fitted with a kitchen towel so the eggplant can drain as the others cook. Season lightly with salt. Take care to reheat the oil back up to temperature before adding another batch of slices to the pan.
• To assemble: In a 17- by 11-inch baking dish, spoon about one-quarter of the tomato sauce on the bottom. Top with a layer of the fried eggplant. The eggplant slices can overlap slightly. Top with about one of the mozzarella slices. Sprinkle with about one-quarter of the Parmesan and provolone cheeses. Spoon more sauce and repeat two more times to make 3 layers. Top with the remaining mozzarella. Place the dish in the top part of the oven and cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly, 30 to 45 minutes. I always nibble on a bit of that before sharing it with my friends! Serve in a bowl so that you don't miss anything!

ALEX PATOUT'S EGGPLANT DRESSING

Steps:

• Peel shrimp; set aside. Cover shells with 2 cups water; boil to reduce to 1 cup. Strain; set stock aside.
• Heat butter in large skillet; add onion, peppers and celery. Cook slowly, 15 minutes, until mixture is very soft.
• Peel and cut two eggplants into 3/4-inch cubes; place in saucepan with water to cover half way up eggplant. Cook until eggplant is tender, about 7 minutes; drain to remove as much water as possible; puree.
• Add eggplant, stock and seasonings to sauteed vegetables; cook over medium-low heat about 20 minutes.
• Add shrimp; cook 7 to 10 minutes over moderately high heat until shrimp are pink. Add crab meat; heat through.
• Stir in green onion and parsley.
• Peel and slice remaining eggplant into 12 1/2-inch-thick slices. Brown in hot oil. Repeat until all slices are done. Drain.
• Serve dressing over slices of fried eggplant.

EGGPLANT DRESSING

Steps:

• 1. Cook ground hamburger meat-use a 92/8 mixture drain any fat, add garlic powder, S & P, and chopped bell pepper, and onion cook on low till onion wilted.
• 2. Peel eggplant, slice and cut each slice into 1" cubes.
• 3. Add eggplant to meat mixture, turn up heat, put lid on so eggplant will steam. Each time you check mash down eggplant with back of spoon. Continue until eggplant is tender and mixes in with meat mixture. This takes about 45 minutes.
• 4. Cook rice according to package directions.
• 5. Stir in cooked rice to mixture and heat so its hot through and through.
• * Cooking time for recipe maybe a little bit more.

EGGPLANT DRESSING

Steps:

• Cook eggplant in boiling salted water 6-8 minutes or until tender; drain well. Combine eggplant, milk, soup, egg, onion, 3/4 cup stuffing mix, and salt, stirring well. Spoon into a lightly greased 1 quart casserole. Combine remaining 1/2 cup stuffing mix and butter; sprinkle over eggplant mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

PAN-SEARED EGGPLANT WITH BUTTERMILK DRESSING RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Add half of shallot and cook, stirring often, until tender and slightly charred and crisp around the edges, about 5 minutes; season with salt. Remove skillet from heat.
• Whisk buttermilk, vinegar, mustard, honey, and several grinds of pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Scrape in charred shallot; reserve skillet. Add 3 Tbsp. oil and 2 Tbsp. chives and mix well. Season dressing with salt.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in reserved skillet over medium-high. Add half of eggplant slices and arrange in a single layer; season lightly with salt. Cook, without moving, until browned underneath, about 3 minutes. Turn; cook on second side until browned and tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add remaining 2 Tbsp. oil to skillet and repeat with remaining eggplant slices.
• Let eggplant cool slightly, then add cucumbers, parsley, lemon juice, half of lemon zest, and 1 Tbsp. chives to bowl. Toss well; season with salt and pepper. Gently fold in avocado.
• Transfer to a platter and drizzle with several spoonfuls of dressing (you don't need to use all of it). Top with remaining lemon zest, shallot, and 1 Tbsp. chives.