Cajun Eggplant Casserole Recipes

EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Sauté onions, celery, and bell pepper in margarine until wilted.
• Add eggplants and cook for a few more minutes. Add cream of mushroom, shrimp (if desired) and cook for about 10 minutes.
• Add cooked rice. Put into a 2 quart casserole dish, cover and bake for about 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.

EGGPLANT CASSEROLE WITH RED PEPPER PESTO AND CAJUN BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• For the casserole: Heat a charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Brush the eggplant with canola oil on both sides and season with salt and pepper. Grill until lightly golden brown and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.
• Combine the peppers, pine nuts, garlic, and thyme in a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, slowly the cup olive oil and process until emulsified. Add 1/4 cup Parmesan and some salt and pepper and pulse a few times to incorporate.
• Spoon about 1/2 cup of the pesto over the bottom of a baking dish. Line the dish with the some eggplant slices and then the mozzarella slices. Season with salt and pepper and scatter the oregano leaves over the top. Dollop another 1/2 cup or so of the pesto over, then more eggplant, a bit more pesto and finally the remaining Parmesan. Put on the grill, cover and bake until the cheese is melted and the casserole is hot, about 20 minutes.
• For the breadcrumbs: Heat the oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the paprika and cayenne and cook for 30 seconds. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring occasionally, until the crumbs are lightly golden brown. Add the parsley and thyme and season with salt and pepper.
• While the casserole cooks, make the breadcrumbs: Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet over hot coals or over medium heat. Stir in the breadcrumbs (about 2 cups) and the spice rub and toast, stirring, until the crumbs are golden brown and crisp. Remove from the heat, stir in the parsley, and scatter over the casserole. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

DONALD LINK'S EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• For the béchamel: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk until pale golden, about 5 minutes. Add milk, salt, white pepper and nutmeg, and whisk to combine thoroughly. Cook, whisking frequently, until thickened and smooth, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• For the casserole: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread eggplant slices in a single layer on a baking sheet, and thoroughly coat both sides with olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and black pepper. Roast until fully cooked, 12 to 15 minutes, then remove from heat but do not turn off oven. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet over medium-low heat, sauté merguez until browned and fully cooked. Remove from heat and slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds.
• Oil an 8-by-11, 2-inch-deep baking dish. Spread one-third of béchamel in baking dish. Top with half the eggplant, then half the fontina and half the merguez. Coat with half of the remaining béchamel. Top with remaining eggplant, fontina and merguez. Spread with remaining béchamel and the Parmesan.
• Bake until hot, bubbling and lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to rest for a minute or two, then serve.

RAGIN' CAJUN EGGPLANT AND SHRIMP SKILLET

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a large saucepan; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until tender, 3-4 minutes. Drain., Preheat oven to 350°. In an ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add celery, onion and green pepper; saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; stir in tomatoes and eggplant. Saute 5 minutes. Stir in seasonings. Add shrimp and bread crumbs; saute 5 minutes longer, stirring well., Bake 30 minutes. Remove skillet from oven; top with cheese. Bake 5 minutes more.

CREOLE EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Peel the eggplants and cut them into large cubes. Place the cubes in a large saucepan and sprinkle them with 1 teaspoon of the salt. Add 2 cups water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let cook until the eggplant is soft, about 45 minutes. Drain off the water and mash the eggplant well with a potato masher, or puree in a food processor or blender.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F Brown the ground beef in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Pour off the excess fat. Add the onions, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Stir well, cover, and let cook until the vegetables are transparent, about 20 minutes. Stir in the thyme, the rest of the salt and the peppers, and cook for 5-7 minutes more. Mix in the pureed eggplant, cook 2 minutes more, and remove from heat. Stir in 1 3/4 cups of the bread crumbs.
• Butter a casserole dish and sprinkle with the remaining bread crumbs. Pour in the eggplant mixture and bake in the oven until bubbling and just beginning to brown, about 20 minutes.

EGGPLANT RICE DRESSING- CAJUN

Steps:

• Brown ground meat and drain well. Rinse with water if desired. Reduce heat and add eggplant, onions, bell peppers, garlic and green onions. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add the broth and just a little water if needed so that it almost covers the mixture. Stir in seasoning and bring mixture to a boil. Simmer stirring occasionally for about 30 minutes or until it has reached a desirable consistency. I like to have some liquid left in the bottom when I add the rice.
• Stir in cooked rice until well mixed and the remaining liquid has absorbed into the rice as much as you want. Serve hot as a side dish or a main dish.
• Note: For those who like lots of heat this is great served with tabasco or other hot sauce or even a sauce piquant! Ces' si bon!