Bigfatgreekeggplantauberginesalad Recipes

LOW-CARB EGGPLANT LASAGNA RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Cut off the ends of the eggplant, then slice lengthwise about ⅛-inch (3-mm) thick.
• Sprinkle the eggplant slices with sea salt on both sides and let sit for 10 minutes to draw out moisture. Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess liquid.
• Lightly grease a griddle pan with olive oil and heat over medium heat. Grill the eggplant slices for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until grill marks are visible. Remove from the pan and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-low heat, then add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 3 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned. Add the crushed tomatoes and 1 teaspoon of salt, stirring well to incorporate the garlic and red pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, reducing the heat if the sauce begins to bubble too much. Add the basil and stir to combine. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, beat the egg, then add the ricotta, 1½ cups (150 g) of mozzarella, ¾ cup (80 g) of Parmesan, and the Italian seasoning. Mix well to combine.
• Assemble the lasagna. In a 9x13-inch (23x33-cm) baking dish, add enough sauce to cover the bottom of the dish and spread in an even layer. Add a layer of eggplant slices, covering the bottom of the dish completely. It's okay if the eggplant slices overlap slightly. Add a layer of the ricotta mixture and spread in a thin, even layer. Repeat with the remaining ingredients, finishing with a layer of sauce. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
• Bake for 45 minutes, until cheese is fully melted.
• Turn the broiler on high and broil for 5 minutes, or until the cheese on top is browned and bubbly.
• Remove the lasagna from the oven and let rest for 15-20 minutes before serving to give the lasagna time to set.
• Serve garnished with fresh basil.
• Enjoy!

MY BIG FAT GREEK SALAD

Steps:

• Peel off a few strips of cucumber skin using a channel knife, creating a striped pattern. Cut cucumbers in half crosswise. Cut each half into quarters before cutting into 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices. Place into a colander; toss with some kosher salt and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut cherry tomatoes in half. Rinse cucumbers; drain thoroughly for 10 to 15 minutes more.
• While cucumbers are draining, slice onion thinly. Cut bell pepper into strips. Turn knife diagonally and cut strips into diamond-shaped pieces. Slice Kalamata and green olives.
• Combine cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, olives, and 2 tablespoons oregano in a bowl. Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Sprinkle in vinegar and toss thoroughly. Drizzle in olive oil. Add about 2/3 of the feta cheese and toss again. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes.
• Give the salad another mix. Taste and season as desired. Scatter remaining feta cheese on top and garnish with remaining oregano.

BIG FAT GREEK EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SALAD

Steps:

• Roast the eggplant over a gas grill for 25 minutes at 450 degrees.
• Place in a colander and allow it to cool. Puree the scallions, parsley, garlic and oregano in a food processor.
• In a separate bowl, combine lemon juice, red wine vinegar, some capers, tomato, chopped parsley and the herb mixture.
• Next peel away the skin of the eggplant revealing charred flesh on the inside; leave the seeds; in a lot of recipes they're called "the poor man's caviar.".
• Roughly cut up the eggplant, and combine it with the remaining ingredients.
• Lastly, add salt, pepper, lemon to taste. Serve the eggplant salad (hot or cold) on grilled bread.

REDUCED-FAT EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Spray baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Cut eggplant into 1/2 inch thick slices; season with salt and pepper.
• Place eggplant on baking sheet; spray tops lightly with olive-oil spray.
• Bake at 400 degrees F. for 20 minutes, or until tender.
• In the meantime, simmer tomato sauce with basil, garlic, and oregano until heated through.
• Spread tomato sauce on eggplant; top with some chopped fresh herb, if you desire.
• Sprinkle with fat-free mozzarella; then cover with reduced-fat mozzarella.
• Bake 5-7 minutes more at 400 degrees F. or until cheese is melted (you may bake longer, or place under broiler if you like the cheese to brown).
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

MY BIG FAT GREEK EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• PREPARE EGGPLANT: Cut off the stem sections of 2 large fresh eggplants. Peel eggplant using a sharp vegetable peeler. Cut eggplants lengthwise in even 1/8" thick slices. Pour 1/4-1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil into a large microwave-safe bowl. Mash 2 garlic cloves using a garlic press and add to oil. Add 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper. Stir. Heat mixture in microwave about 30-45 seconds on high. Rub or brush the sliced eggplant with the oil mixture until lightly coated. Wipe the bowl clean with a paper towel and set aside. Arrange seasoned eggplant single-layer onto a flat-ridged or press-type grill on medium-high heat. When the eggplant has dark grill marks, turn and grill other side the same (skip turning eggplant if using a press-type grill). Allow eggplant to "sweat" until needed. Sprinkle, then pat, finished eggplant slices liberally using 1/2 cup powdered parmesan cheese.
• IN a large food processor, chop 1 large onion, 1 medium bell pepper, one handful pitted kalamata olives, 1 handful flat leaf parsley leaves, and 8-12 garlic cloves.
• HEAT 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; ADD the above chopped vegetables, 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt and 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper; SAUTE until meat is browned and vegetables have softened.
• ADD 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes, 3/4 cup dry greek red wine, 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons greek honey, 1 1/4 teaspoons crushed dried oregano, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, 1/2 tablespoon ouzo or 1/4 teaspoon pure anise extract, 1/4 teaspoon fresh grated lemon zest, 1/4 teaspoon crushed dried mint, 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper, 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes, and 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese; STIR well; COVER; REDUCE heat; SIMMER for 45 minutes or longer (sauce will be thick); RE-SEASON sauce to taste with fine sea salt if needed (leave sauce just slightly under-salted since sauce will concentrate while baking).
• INTO the previously wiped large bowl, separate 4 large eggs, retaining the yolks in bowl (refrigerate egg whites sealed, for another use while fresh);.
• WHISK in 4 cups whole milk until smooth; ADD 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, 1 level teaspoon fine sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground white pepper, 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 pinch cayenne pepper; WHISK again until blended; SET aside.
• MELT 1/2 cup salted butter over medium heat; ADD 1/2 cup all-purpose flour and cook for just one minute; POUR milk and egg mixture all at once into roux while whisking constantly; CONTINUE whisking often until sauce thickens up and begins to bubble; REMOVE from heat; WHISK in 3/4 cup powdered parmesan cheese until smooth and glossy; COVER loosely with plastic wrap; BLEND 1/2 cup of the BECHAMEL into the fully-simmered SAUCE.
• PREHEAT oven to 350 F; OIL a 2-3 quart casserole dish with olive oil; SPREAD 1/2 (one half) of the EGGPLANT single-layer in bottom of baking dish; POUR the entire SAUCE mixture over top then smooth; ADD the remaining EGGPLANT over the SAUCE; POUR all of the BECHAMEL sauce over the eggplant; SMOOTH bechamel sauce. NOTE: YOU CAN SPRINKLE THE TOP OF CASSEROLE NOW LIGHTLY WITH GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE (PLUS MINCED FRESH PARSLEY IF DESIRED) OR YOU CAN GARNISH WHILE STILL HOT, JUST AFTER BAKING.
• BAKE for 1 hour; ALLOW to rest 20 minutes before slicing.
• SERVE and enjoy!

LOW FAT EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Peel and slice eggplant into 1/2 slices.
• Spray both sides with cooking spray and place on a sprayed baking sheet.
• sprinkle with half of the salt and garlic powder.
• Bake 20 minutes, turning the eggplant halfway through cooking time.
• In a sauce pan, saute minced garlic in cooking spray until lightly browned.
• Add tomato sauce, italian seasoning, oregano, and bouillon granules.
• Reduce heat under pan to very low and cover.
• Remove eggplant from baking sheet.
• In a small baking dish, spread a thin layer of sauce. Add one layer of eggplant, another of sauce and so on until all eggplant is used.
• Finish with a layer of sauce. Top with cheeses and bake until cheese is melted.