Grilled Eggplant Involtini Il Forno Recipes

EGGPLANT INVOLTINI WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Fresh Tomato Sauce: Heat oil in a medium straight-sided skillet over medium. Add garlic; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up tomato pieces with a wooden spoon, until tomatoes are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Pass through the medium disk of a food mill. Sauce can be allowed to cool completely, then refrigerated in an airtight container up to 5 days. (Makes about 2 1/2 cups.)
• Involtini: Trim and cut eggplants length-wise into 1/4-to-1/2-inch-thick slices. Place on a rimmed baking sheet fitted with a wire rack; season both sides with salt. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F. Place currants in a small heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand 10 minutes, then drain. Finely chop half of mozzarella and place in a bowl with currants, ricotta, feta, pine nuts, cinnamon, oregano, parsley, breadcrumbs, and egg. Season with salt and pepper; stir to combine.
• Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Pat eggplant slices dry with paper towels and brush both sides of each evenly with olive oil. Brush grates with vegetable oil and grill eggplant slices, turning occasionally, until charred in places and tender, about 3 minutes a side.
• Transfer to a plate, piling slices on top of one another so that they continue to steam and soften. Let cool 15 minutes. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons filling at one short end of an eggplant slice. Roll up tightly to secure in a cigar shape. Repeat with remaining filling and eggplant slices.
• Spread tomato sauce evenly in the bottom of a 9-by-12-inch gratin dish or 9-inch square baking dish. Arrange eggplant rolls snugly in an even layer, seam-sides down. Thinly slice remaining mozzarella and arrange over top.
• Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with pepper. Bake until cheese has melted and eggplant is bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly, then garnish with basil and serve with bread.

GRILLED EGGPLANT (INVOLTINI IL FORNO)

Steps:

• In a saucepan, sweat the garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil over low heat for a few minutes. Do no allow to brown.
• Add red pepper flakes, oregano and half the basil. Cook and stir for 1 minute then add crushed tomatoes.
• Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
• Heat a grill to high (counter top style grills should work well).
• Brush eggplant slices with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Grill slices 3 minutes on each side.
• Remove slices from grill and place on a foil lined baking sheet.
• Allow to cool to room temperature.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Spoon about 1 ounce of cheese on one end of each eggplant slice and roll up. Let rest on seam.
• Brush the bottom of baking dish with remaining olive oil.
• Place eggplant rolls (involtini) in dish. Ladle tomato sauce over top and sprinkle with the remaining basil and any remaining cheese.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• Let rest 10 minues before serving.

GRILLED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt on both sides. Place in a colander set over a bowl; let stand 1 hour to drain. Discard liquid; rinse eggplant slices under cold running water. Place on several layers of paper towels, and press out water.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Generously brush both sides of eggplant slices with oil; sprinkle with pepper. Place on grill, and cook until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Flip eggplant slices, and cook until browned on bottom. Serve hot, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper.