Gabriella Marriottis Egg And Eggplant Appetizer Recipes

GABRIELLA MARRIOTTI'S EGG AND EGGPLANT APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat a charcoal grill or a kitchen broiler.
• Cut off the ends of the eggplant. Cut the eggplant into slices about one-quarter-inch thick. There should be about 18 slices.
• Remove the yolks from the eggs and put them through a fine sieve. Finely chop the whites. Combine the two. Put in a mixing bowl.
• Place the eggplant slices, a few at a time, over the charcoal or under the broiler and cook, turning once, about 45 seconds on each side. The partly cooked slices will be slightly limp.
• Remove the slices and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Add the capers, garlic, anchovies and parsley to the eggs and toss to blend well.
• Line a six-cup loaf pan lengthwise with one layer of eggplant slices. Sprinkle with one tablespoon oil and one-half teaspoon vinegar. Cover with one-quarter cup of the egg mixture. Add another layer of eggplant slices and sprinkle as before with the same amount of oil and vinegar. Add another layer of the egg mixture and cover with a layer of eggplant slices. Sprinkle with the same amount of oil and vinegar.
• Continue making layers until all the eggplant slices and the egg mixture are used, ending with the egg mixture. Sprinkle that final layer with one tablespoon of vinegar and 10 tablespoons of olive oil. Press down with the fingers. Cover closely with clear plastic wrap and let stand 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• When ready, the dish may be cut into crosswise slices, but ideally the eggplant slices should be rolled individually, with the egg filling in the center. Serve one or two rolled slices as an appetizer.

EGGPLANT APPETIZER

Steps:

• Slice the eggplant on the diagonal into 1/4-inch thick slices. Add to a hot grill pan and grill until slices are marked on both sides and the eggplant is tender, about 7 minutes on each side. Season with salt and pepper, remove from grill pan and set aside.
• In a bowl, combine the ginger, garlic, olives, tomatoes, scallions, sesame seeds, zest and rice vinegar.
• Arrange the eggplant on two plates, top with the vegetable mixture, sprinkle more sesame seeds on top

EGGPLANT SANDWICHES WITH GORGONZOLA CHEESE AND SPINACH

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 each with salt and pepper.
• Drop the spinach into a small quantity of boiling water. Stir and let return to the boil. Drain quickly and run under cold water. Drain thoroughly, pressing to extract excess moisture. Chop the spinach.
• Fill each sandwich with a thin slice of cheese and top each piece of cheese with a portion of the chopped spinach. Close each sandwich.
• Dip each sandwich in flour and shake off excess. Beat the egg with the 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 let 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.

ITALIAN GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH BASIL AND PARSLEY (MELANZANE GRIGLIATE AL BASILICO E PREZZEMOLO)

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Brush eggplant lightly with olive oil on both sides. Stir together remaining olive oil, garlic, and salt in a small bowl.
• Arrange eggplant slices on the preheated grill and cook, turning occasionally, until tender and browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Arrange grilled eggplant on a platter. Brush with the olive oil and garlic mixture until eggplant has absorbed the oil. Sprinkle with the chopped basil and parsley and serve.