Eggplant Crepes Recipe 45

EGGPLANT CREPES RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425. Arrange eggplant slices on nonstick baking sheets in single layer. Spray both sides of eggplant slices w/ cooking spray. Bake eggplant 10 mins.; turn and bake 5-10 mins. or till tender. Cool. Reduce oven temp. to 350. Combine spinach, ricotta and parm. cheese; mix well. Spray 13 x 9 baking pan w/ cooking spray. Spread spinach mixture evenly on eggplant slices; roll up slices. Place rolls, seam-side down, in prepared pan. Cover dish w/ foil; bake 25 mins. Remove foil; sprinkle rolls w/ Gruyere cheese. Bake, uncovered, 5 mins. or till cheese is melted. Serve w/ tomato sauce.

ITALIAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CREPES

Steps:

• Cut eggplant lengthwise into thin slices.
• Sprinkle each side lightly with salt.
• Place in a colander weighted with a heavy plate and let stand one hour.
• Dip each slice on both sides in seasoned flour.
• Sauté lightly on both sides until golden.
• Add oil as needed.
• Keep warm.
• Mean while grate parmesan or romano cheese in food processor with steel blade.
• Combine with ricotta, eggs, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Add spinach and blend.
• Place several tablespoons of spinach mixture in center of crepe.
• Roll up and place seam sides down in a 13x9 inch baking pan.
• Top with tomato sauce.
• Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 15 minutes or until hot and bubbling.
• To prepare tomato sauce for eggplant crepes: Place vegetables in a food processor with steel blade.
• Process until finely chopped.
• In large saucepan, sauté vegetables in olive oil with garlic, basil, oregano and thyme until tender.
• Add remaining ingredients and simmer 20 minutes.
• Transfer to food processor or blender and process until smooth.
• Pour over eggplant crepes before heating in oven.
• Makes 2+1/2 cups sauce.
• Notes: When I'm in a hurry I will use one of the good home style Italian sauces with peppers and vegetables on the grocery shelf like Aunt Millie's or Classico, instead of making this sauce.

FESTIVALS EGGPLANT-N-RICE STACKS

Steps:

• For eggplant: Peel eggplant and slice into 8 (1/4-inch thick) medallions. Place sliced eggplant into a small bowl, add cold water and salt and soak for 10 minutes. Drain and dry on a paper towel. Combine egg and milk to make an egg wash. Combine flour and Creole seasoning in a shallow bowl. Dip eggplant in egg wash and then dredge in seasoned flour. In a large skillet, add olive oil and heat. Cook eggplant until golden brown and tender. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
• For Rice Patties: In a medium bowl add 2 cups of cooked rice, egg, garlic salt, red pepper, onion tops, and cheese. Mix well. Divide rice mixture into 4 portions and form patties. In a large skillet, add olive oil and heat. Cook rice patties until browned on each side and cheese begins to melt. Drain and set aside.
• For sauce: In a large skillet, melt 1/4 cup of butter, add onions, and cook until tender. Whisk in flour, Creole seasoning, garlic, and pepper, and cook for 2 minutes. Add water, half-and-half, and whisk to mix well. Simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in grated cheese. Set aside.
• Season shrimp with salt and pepper. In another large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter, and then saute shrimp until no longer pink. Pour in the cream sauce, fold in crab meat, and heat thoroughly.
• To serve, make a bed of rice using 1/4 cup of remaining rice, for each serving. Place an eggplant medallion on top of the rice bed, drizzle with sauce, top with a rice patty, drizzle with a little more sauce, and then top with another eggplant medallion. You should have 4 stacks; each will have 2 eggplant medallions and 1 rice patty. Pour remaining sauce over stacks and sprinkle with chopped onion tops.

EASIEST EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Place the bread crumbs in a shallow dish. Coat each slice of eggplant on both sides with mayonnaise. Press into the bread crumbs to coat. Place coated eggplant slices on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Flip slices over, and cook for an additional 20 to 25 minutes to brown the other side.

EASY EGGPLANT GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Preheat a grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Grill eggplant slices until cooked through and evenly browned on both sides, about 5 minutes.
• Mix half-and-half, egg, ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper together in a bowl.
• Arrange a layer of eggplant slices in each of 2 individual gratin dishes. Sprinkle each with 1/8 cup Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. Spoon half the marinara sauce into each dish. Top each with a second layer of eggplant slices, more salt and pepper, half the ricotta mixture, and 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese. Place the dishes on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the custard sets and the top is browned, 25 to 30 minutes.

CHICKPEA CRêPE "TACOS" WITH EGGPLANT AND LAMB

Steps:

• Whisk flour, 1/4 cup yogurt, 1 1/4 tsp. salt, and 2 cups plus 1 Tbsp. water in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add lamb, cumin, red pepper, and 1/4 tsp. salt and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon and stirring often, until browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving fat in skillet.
• Add 2 Tbsp. oil to skillet, then add eggplant and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until lightly browned and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add raisins and wine and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes and their juices, pine nuts, lamb mixture, and 1/4 cup water. Reduce heat to medium and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the juices have evaporated, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, swirl remaining 1 tsp. oil in an 8" nonstick skillet, then wipe it out with paper towels so there's just a sheen of oil coating skillet, then heat over medium-high. Whisk flour mixture to loosen, then pour about 1/3 cup into skillet. Immediately swirl to coat pan with batter, as if you're making a crepe, and cook until bottom is browned, about 1 minute. Flip and cook until browned, 30 seconds more. Transfer to a clean plate and cover with a towel to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter, using greased paper towels to prepare pan before each, until you have at least 8 pancakes. (The batter can yield 11-12 pancakes, but you might have a few you'll need to discard-or nibble as a snack as you cook.)
• Spoon lamb filling onto pancakes. Top with yogurt and greens and serve with lemon wedges alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Pancake batter can be made 2 days ahead; cover and chill. Pancakes can be made 3 days ahead; transfer to resealable plastic bags and chill, or freeze up to 1 month. Reheat in skillet before serving.