Breaded Eggplant With Fontina Cheese And Anchovies Recipes

BAKED 'FRIED' BREADED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; coat with about 1 teaspoon olive oil.
• Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish.
• Combine eggs with a splash of water in a separate shallow dish. Coat both sides of an eggplant slice with the egg mixture. Dip eggplant slice in the bread crumb mixture to coat. Place slice onto the baking sheet. Repeat coating the remaining eggplant slices. Drizzle remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil over the breaded slices.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.

EGGPLANT, RED PEPPER, AND FONTINA PANINI WITH SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• Brush panini press, panini pan, or grill rack with oil; heat press, pan, or barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush eggplant rounds and pepper strips with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill eggplant until tender, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Working in batches, grill bell peppers until tender, turning occasionally and flattening with back of spatula for even cooking, about 6 minutes. Place 8 eggplant rounds and 8 bell pepper strips on rimmed baking sheet. Place remaining eggplant and peppers on work surface and slice thinly; reserve for salad.
• Place 4 bread slices on work surface. Divide half of Fontina cheese among bread slices; top each with 2 eggplant rounds, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon basil, and 1 teaspoon oregano. Top each with 2 bell pepper strips. Arrange remaining Fontina cheese atop peppers, then top with remaining bread slices, pressing to compact. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover with plastic and let stand at room temperature.
• Heat panini press, panini pan, or barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush press or pan with oil (if using barbecue, lightly brush bread slices with oil). Place sandwiches in press or pan or on grill; cover and cook until bread is golden and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, whisk 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and vinegar in large bowl; season to taste with salt and pepper. Add spinach, thinly sliced eggplant, and thinly sliced peppers; toss to coat. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cut sandwiches in half. Serve with spinach salad.

BREADED EGGPLANT WITH FONTINA CHEESE AND ANCHOVIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• If desired, trim off and discard the skin of each eggplant round. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Dip each round in flour and shake off excess. Beat the egg with water and dredge each round, bottom and sides, in the mixture. Dredge each, bottom and sides, in the bread crumbs. Shake off excess.
• Fill a heavy skillet with oil to a depth of about half an inch. Heat until the temperature on a fat thermometer is about 375 degrees. Add the eggplant rounds in one layer and cook, turning occasionally, about three minutes or until each round is golden brown and cooked through. Drain on absorbent paper towels.
• Arrange the rounds on a baking sheet or tin. Top each with a round of Fontina cheese. Split each anchovy fillet in half. Arrange two pieces of anchovy in the shape of a cross in the center of each piece of cheese. Place in the oven and bake five minutes or until the cheese is thoroughly melted. Serve, if desired, with tomato sauce or garlic, oil and anchovy sauce.

EGGPLANT ROLLATINI WITH ANCHOVY BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F.
• Arrange the eggplant in an even layer on two sheet pans. Brush both sides with 6 tablespoons of the oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until lightly golden brown and very tender, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. (The eggplant can be cooked up to 1 day in advance, cooled and stored, covered, in the refrigerator.) Reduce the oven temperature to 375˚ F.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. Add the tomatoes with their juices and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook until the tomatoes begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Crush the tomatoes with a potato masher. Add the chile paste and basil and cook the sauce until it thickens, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make the filling: Mix together the ricotta, egg, diced mozzarella and 1/4 cup of the Pecorino in a medium bowl until combined. Season with salt and pepper and fold in the parsley and oregano.
• Ladle 1 cup of the sauce into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spread 2 tablespoons of the cheese filling over each eggplant slice. Carefully roll up and place them, seam-side down, in the baking dish. Once all the eggplant rolls are in the dish, ladle another cup of the sauce evenly over them and sprinkle the grated mozzarella and remaining 1/2 cup Pecorino over the top.
• Bake until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese has melted and turned lightly golden brown, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the top and garnish with torn basil, if desired.
• Heat the oil in a medium skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add the anchovies and cook until dissolved, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
• Add the panko and spread into an even layer. Cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Flip the crumbs, press them into an even layer again and cook until the bottom is golden brown, about 3 minutes longer. Add the lemon zest and season with pepper and more salt, if desired.
• Spread on a large plate or sheet pan and let cool. Store, tightly covered, in a cool, dry place for 1 day, or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Re-crisp in a dry skillet over low heat before using.

ZITI, EGGPLANT AND FONTINA GRATIN

Steps:

• *Before sauteeing the eggplant dice it and salt it and then let it drain. (It can be done in colander or on paper towels).This is to get rid of the bitter flavor!
• In a large nonstick frying pan, heat 4 tablespoons of the oil & a couple of pinches of red pepper flakes, over moderately high heat.
• Add the eggplant and 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the eggplant is soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic, parsley, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper and cook 3 minutes longer.
• Heat the broiler. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until just done, about 10 to 15 minutes; then drain.
• Toss the pasta with the eggplant, the remaining 3 tablespoons oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Add the cheese and toss again.
• Transfer the pasta to a shallow baking dish or gratin dish.
• Broil until the cheese melts and starts to brown, 2 to 3 minutes.

EGGPLANT SANDWICHES WITH FONTINA CHEESE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• If desired, trim off and discard the skin of each eggplant round. Place each round on a flat surface and hold a knife parallel to the surface. Cut each round in half, splitting each sandwichlike almost but not through to the end. Leave a small hinge at one end of each round. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Fill each sandwich with a round of Fontina cheese and top each piece of cheese with a sun-dried tomato. Close each sandwich.
• Dip each sandwich in flour and shake off excess. Beat the egg with water and dredge each sandwich, bottom and sides, in the mixture. Dredge each sandwich, bottom and sides, in bread crumbs to coat thoroughly. Shake off excess.
• Fill a heavy skillet with oil to a depth of about half an inch. Heat until the temperature on a fat thermometer is about 375 degrees. Add the sandwiches in one layer and cook, turning occasionally, about three minutes or until each round is golden brown and cooked through. Drain on absorbent paper towels. Serve, if desired, with tomato sauce or garlic, oil and anchovy sauce.

ALMOND-BREADED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Peel eggplant. Cut into 1 1/2-inch wide by 1/4-inch thick slices. Sprinkle slices with sea salt, transfer to a colander, and let sweat for at least 30 minutes. Pat slices dry.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Set out 2 baking sheets.
• Beat eggs in a wide bowl. Mix ground almonds, flaxseed meal, oats, Italian seasoning, and salt together in a bowl until well combined, then transfer 1/2 of the mixture to a large plate.
• Dip eggplant slices in egg wash until completely covered. Allow excess to drain off, then dip in ground almond mixture until coated on both sides, adding more almond mixture to the plate as needed. Place on the baking sheets in a single layer.
• Bake one sheet at a time in the preheated oven for 14 to 16 minutes, flipping slices halfway through.
• Mix spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, onion, bell peppers, and zucchini together in a large bowl. Spread some sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan. Place a single layer of eggplant on top of the sauce, then sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat layering with sauce, eggplant, and cheeses. Sprinkle basil and Italian seasoning on top.
• Return to the oven and bake until cheese is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

PAN-FRIED EGGPLANT WITH BUFFALO MOZZARELLA, WHITE ANCHOVIES, AND RAISIN-PINENUT RELISH

Steps:

• Distribute the eggplant on a sheet pan in one layer and generously salt on both sides. Lay another sheet pan on top of the eggplant and place a heavy object on top to add pressure. Set aside for 1 hour. Remove the weight and transfer the eggplant to paper towels and pat dry.
• Add the oil to a large hot skillet, making sure to cover the entire bottom of the pan with about 1/8 inch of oil. Add the eggplant just before the oil starts to smoke-it should sizzle as the eggplant is dropped in and the eggplant should brown pretty quickly. Once the eggplant is golden on both sides, about 3 to 5 minutes, remove from the oil and transfer to paper towels. Allow the eggplant to come to room temperature or to cool completely.
• Grill the bread slices on one side only. Rub the grilled side of 4 of the slices with the garlic. Top with the eggplant, followed by the mozzarella, the anchovies, and the relish. Top with the remaining 4 slices, cut into halves, and serve.

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.