Le Cirques Perciatelli With Peppers And Eggplant Recipes

EGGPLANT AND MANCHEGO FILLED CHILE RELLENO WITH RED PEPPER-BALSAMIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss the eggplant with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper and place onto a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet into the oven and roast for 10 minutes.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and toss with the garlic and oregano and place back into the oven for another 10 minutes, until the eggplant is lightly golden brown and soft. Remove from the oven, add the parsley and gently toss to combine. Let cool slightly.
• Place the eggplant into a bowl and toss with the cheeses. Set aside.
• Combine the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.
• Bring the vinegar to a boil in a small nonreactive saucepan and cook until thickened and reduced to about 3/4 cup. Stir in the honey and set aside.
• Whisk all ingredients together in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Divide the eggplant filling among the peppers, compressing it into the shape of the pepper (the roasted pepper is very delicate and may begin to tear, but it will be fine).
• Place the flour onto a plate and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the pepper completely in the flour and tap off any excess. Dip the peppers into the beer batter and allow excess to drain off. Place the cornmeal on a plate and season with salt and pepper and dredge the pepper in the cornmeal.
• In a large frying pan, heat the oil to 370 degrees F.
• Fry the peppers in batches, turning until lightly brown, about 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Spoon some of the sauce in the middle of the plate. Place a relleno on top of the sauce and drizzle the relleno with some of the balsamic reduction. Garnish with parsley.

SPICY RED-PEPPER AND EGGPLANT CONFIT

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cut peppers into 1-inch pieces. Toss together all ingredients in a large roasting pan, then spread evenly. Roast, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very tender, about 1 hour. Cool before serving.

EGGPLANT AND PEPPERS WITH FETA

Steps:

• Place the eggplant slices on a wire rack and sprinkle them lightly with salt on both sides. Set the rack aside until the eggplant begins to "sweat," usually 15 to 20 minutes. Blot the eggplant dry with clean paper towels.
• Arrange the eggplant and all the bell pepper slices on a large baking sheet, and brush both sides of all the pieces with the olive oil. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Transfer the eggplant and peppers to the grill, in batches if necessary, and cook, turning them occasionally to promote even browning, until they are softened and nicely marked, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer the grilled eggplant slices to a large platter, and top them with the pepper strips. Garnish with the crumbled feta and minced marjoram. Drizzle with the olive oil and lemon juice, and serve either warm or at room temperature.

PERCIATELLI WITH ROASTED TOMATOES AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine eggplant, 1 tablespoon oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; toss to combine. Transfer to a baking pan in a single layer. Place all tomatoes and garlic cloves in a second pan. Transfer both pans to oven. Roast eggplant until brown and tender, about 40 minutes; roast garlic and tomatoes until garlic is soft and tomatoes are shriveled, about 30 minutes. When cool enough to handle, squeeze soft garlic from cloves.
• Meanwhile, place peppers over a gas burner with a high flame; roast until charred on all sides, turning as needed, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a metal bowl; cover with plastic wrap for 20 minutes. Using a paper towel, rub charred skin off peppers. Remove and discard seeds and stems. Place 1 red and 1 yellow pepper, and any liquid collected in bowl, in the bowl of a food processor. Add roasted garlic, plum tomatoes, vinegar, cayenne, remaining tablespoon olive oil, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 3/8 teaspoon pepper; process until smooth. Cut remaining peppers into 1/4-inch-thick strips; set aside
• Fill a large stockpot with salted water; bring to a boil. Place pasta in water; boil until pasta is al dente, about 11 minutes. Drain in a colander; transfer to a serving bowl. Pour puree over pasta; toss to combine. Add basil, roasted eggplant, cherry tomatoes, and reserved pepper strips; toss. Serve garnished with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

EGGPLANT AND BELL PEPPER STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Mix water and bouillon together in a small bowl until dissolved; set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a deep, nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add eggplant, bell peppers, and 3 tablespoon hoisin sauce; mix together ensuring all vegetables are thinly coated by the hoisin. If not, add more. Stir-fry until vegetables are tender, about 3 minutes. Add broth and simmer for 5 minutes.

RIGATONI WITH EGGPLANT, PEPPERS, AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the diced eggplant in the hot oil, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in the red pepper and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, and bring to a simmer; season with fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the tomatoes have reduced slightly, about 15 minutes.
• bring a large pot of lightly-salted water to a boil; stir in the rigatoni and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender but still firm to the bite, about 13 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
• Stir the eggplant mixture into the pasta along with the basil and olives. Spoon the tomato sauce overtop to serve.

SPICED PEPPERS AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, coriander, cumin, and saffron, if using; cook, stirring often, until garlic is softened, about 4 minutes. Add sweet peppers and eggplants; season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and add vinegar. Just before serving, add basil and toss to combine.
• DO AHEAD: Vegetables can be cooked 4 days ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before adding basil and serving.

LE CIRQUE'S SPAGHETTI PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Trim broccoli and break into small florets (reserve stems for another use).
• Trim the ends of the zucchini but do not peel.
• Cut each zucchini into quarters lengthwise and then cut each quarter into 1" pieces--you should have 1 and 1/2 cups of zucchini, not more.
• Cut each asparagus spear into thirds.
• Cook each of the green vegetables separately in boiling salted water to cover, just long so that each vegetable remains crisp but tender (Broccoli, zucchini, asparagus and green beans about 5 minutes, peas and pea pods about one minute if fresh, 30 seconds if frozen).
• Drain well then rinse in cold water, drain again, and combine the vegetables in a mixing bowl.
• Heat the canola oil in a skillet and add the mushrooms, season to taste with salt and pepper and cook about two minutes.
• Add mushrooms to the bowl of mixed vegetables.
• Add the chopped chiles and the parsley to the mixed vegetables.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan and add half the garlic, all the tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook for about 4 minutes, stirring gently so as not to break up the tomatoes.
• Add the basil, stir and remove from heat, keeping it covered.
• Cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente; drain and return to the pot.
• Heat the other 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet and add the remaining garlic and all the vegetable mixture.
• Cook stirring gently, just to heat through.
• In a pan large enough to hold the pasta and the vegetables, melt the butter.
• Once melted, add the chicken broth, the cream, and the parmesan, cooking gently on and off heat till smooth.
• Add the spaghetti and toss quickly to blend.
• Add half the vegetable mixture and the reserved liquid from the tomatoes, tossing over very low heat.
• Add the remaining vegetables, and, if the suace seems too dry, about 1/4 cup more cream--but the sauce should not be soupy.
• Add the pine nuts and give the mixture a final toss.
• Place equal amounts of the pasta mixture in 4 or 8 shallow soup bowls, depending on whether this is to be an appetizer or a main dish.
• Spoon equal amounts of the tomato mixture over each portion.
• Serve immediately.

CHARRED EGGPLANT WITH BURRATA AND FRIED CAPERS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan or skillet, heat ¼ cup olive oil over medium-high until it shimmers, about 1 minute. Meanwhile, dry the capers very well by wrapping them in paper towels or a clean dish towel and wringing out the moisture. (If there is too much moisture, the oil will sputter aggressively.) Line a plate or tray with paper towels or a clean dish towel.
• When the oil is ready, carefully drop the capers in and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden. (Watch closely, as smaller capers will cook more quickly.) Remove the capers from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on the lined plate. They will crisp up further as they cool.
• Transfer the caper-infused oil to a large heatproof bowl and set aside to cool for a few minutes.
• Lay the disks of eggplant on a large cutting board or sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil, flip over and drizzle the other side. Heat a large (12-inch) grill pan or cast-iron skillet on medium-high. (See Tip for grilling instructions.) When hot, working in batches, add the eggplant disks in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes, pressing the eggplant into the pan to encourage browning. Flip, reduce heat to medium and cook on the other side for another 2 to 3 minutes, until completely tender. (The eggplant continues to soften as it soaks up the marinade in the next step, so don't be tempted to overcook.) Remove the eggplant from the pan and place them back on the cutting board or plate. Continue cooking the remaining eggplant.
• Meanwhile, to the bowl with the cooled caper-infused oil, add the herbs, garlic, red-pepper flakes, lemon zest and juice, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt and a few pinches of black pepper. Toss to combine and taste, making sure it has enough salt. Add the warm eggplant slices to the oil and gently toss to coat. Allow to marinate for at least 5 minutes (see Tip).
• Serve this on one large platter or as four separate servings. Place the burrata (for single servings, halve each ball of burrata) on the plate along with the eggplant and top with any remaining marinade and the fried capers, and scatter with fresh herbs.

LE CIRQUE'S SPA'TTI PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Trim broccoli and break it into bite-size florets. Set aside.
• Trim off and discard the ends of zucchini. Do not peel the zucchini. Cut zucchini into quarters. Cut each quarter into 1-inch lengths. There should be about 1 1/2 cups, no more. Set aside.
• Cut each asparagus spear into thirds. Set aside.
• Cook each of the green vegetables separately in boiling salted water to cover. It is essential to cook each vegetable so that it remains crisp but tender. Cook broccoli, zucchini, asparagus and green beans about 5 minutes. Drain well, run under cold water to chill and drain. Combine in a mixing bowl.
• Cook peas and pea pods 1 minute if fresh, 30 seconds if frozen. Drain, chill and drain again. Combine all vegetables in mixing bowl.
• Heat oil in a skillet and add mushrooms. Add salt and pepper to taste, shaking the skillet and stirring. Cook about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms to the vegetables. Add chopped chilies and parsley.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan and add half the garlic, all the tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste. Cook about 4 minutes, stirring gently so as not to break up the tomatoes more than necessary. Add basil, stir and set aside.
• Heat remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in large skillet and add remaining garlic along with vegetable mixture. Cook, stirring gently, just to heat through.
• Drop the spaghetti into boiling salted water. Cook until al dente. Drain well. Return spaghetti to pot.
• Select utensil large enough to hold drained spaghetti and vegetables. To this, add butter. When it melts, add chicken broth, 1/2 cup cream and cheese, stirring constantly. Cook gently on and off heat until smooth. Add spaghetti and toss quickly to blend. Add half the vegetables and pour in liquid from the tomatoes, tossing over very low heat.
• Add remaining vegetables and, if sauce seems too dry, add about 1/4 cup more cream. Sauce should not be soupy. Add pine nuts and give mixture final tossing
• Serve equal portions of the spaghetti mixture in 4-to-8 soup or spaghetti bowls, depending on whether spaghetti is being served as main course or appetizer. Spoon equal amounts of tomatoes over each serving. Serve immediately.