Melitzana Recipes

BAKED MELITZANES (EGGPLANTS) SAGANAKI

Steps:

• Wash the eggplants and drain well.
• Heat a couple tablespoons olive oil in a non-stick frying pan.
• Cut the first eggplant into 1 cm round slices and fry them on both sides until golden. (Do not cut all of them all at once as they will oxidize (brown).
• Remove on kitchen paper.
• Repeat with the second and third, adding more olive oil.
• Heat the remaining olive oil and sauté the onion until translucent.
• Add the garlic and sauté for a few seconds.
• Add the tomato, fresh basil, salt and pepper and herbs.
• Cook for 6 - 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid evaporates.
• Season the eggplants with salt and pepper and layer them in six ovenproof ceramic pots of 13 cm diametre.
• Add 1/6 of the sauce and spread it on top of the eggplants.
• Add any leftover slices of eggplants on top.
• Crumble feta.
• Add 1/6 of the feta (25 grams) on top of the sauce and finally add the grated kasseri, to cover the surface.
• At this stage you can wrap them in cling film and freeze to cook whenever you like.
• Preheat oven to 180oC and bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden on top.

MELITZANOSALATA RECIPE

Steps:

• Keep the eggplant whole and pierce with a fork in a few places.
• Smoke the eggplant. Place the eggplant over a gas flame, grill or under a broiler, and cook, turning around using a pair of tongs, until the skin is fully charred, and the eggplant is quite tender.
• Cool and drain eggplant. Place the eggplant in a bowl and set aside until cool enough to handle (a bowl is helpful because the eggplant will release some juices). Peel the charred skins off and discard. Cut the eggplant into chunks and place in a colander to get rid of any remaining excess juices (about 10 more minutes).
• Transfer the eggplant to a mixing bowl. Add the garlic, onion, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil. Add salt and pepper and spices (if using). Mix to combine and use your fork to break up the eggplant into smaller chunks.
• At this point, if you have the time, it's a good idea to cover and chill the eggplant dip in the fridge for a few brief minutes.
• Transfer the eggplant dip to a serving plate and spread. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil. Arrange Garnish with lemon zest, parsley, red onions, olives, a sprinkle of feta. Serve with crusty bread or pita bread.

MELITZANOSALATA

Steps:

• To prepare yogurt: Line a colander or strainer with cheese cloth and set over a bowl. Bowl should support strainer without touching the bottom of the bowl. Put yogurt in the strainer and let drain overnight. Discard liquid and use strained yogurt according to recipe.
• Prepare a grill or broiler or heat an oven to 375 degrees F.
• Pierce eggplant with a fork. In an oven broiler or on a hot grill, cook eggplant, turning frequently to prevent burning, until skin becomes black and eggplant is soft, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove eggplant from heat and cool on a wire rack over a baking sheet to catch juices. Eggplants may be baked for 45 minutes for similar results. When eggplant is cooled, peel off skin and coarsely chop. With paddle attachment in an electric mixer, add eggplant, tomatoes, onion and garlic, and mix on medium speed about 1 minute. Stop machine and add yogurt. Continue to mix at medium speed for another minute. With mixer running, slowly add vinegar and lemon juice. Continue mixing while slowly adding olive oil. Thin mixture with seltzer as needed until eggplant salad is the consistency of a loose paste. Add parsley, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate overnight and serve.
• *method below.

MELANZANA ALLA PARMIGIANA (PERFECT EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA)

Steps:

• Heat about 1 inch extra-virgin olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Pat eggplant slices dry with a paper towel and fry eggplant in batches in the hot oil until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer eggplant to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon; season with salt.
• Combine tomato puree (passata), 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic, salt, and 4 basil leaves in a saucepan; simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes. Remove garlic from sauce.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking dish.
• Place a layer of fried eggplant in the baking dish and cover with a layer of tomato sauce. Top with a layer of mozzarella cheese, oregano, Parmesan cheese, and chopped basil leaves, in that order. Continue layering in the same order with remaining ingredients, ending with a layer of mozzarella cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and cheeses are melted, about 40 minutes. Let stand a few minutes before slicing.

MELITZANA RECIPE

Steps:

• Using large fork or tongs, hold eggplants over gas flame until blistered and black all over, about 10 minutes. Transfer eggplants to large roasting pan and finish cooking in 400 degree oven until flesh is very tender, about 30 minutes. Remove eggplants from oven and cool. When cool enough to handle, peel eggplants and discard charred skin (don't worry if a few pieces remain). Place eggplant flesh in fine sieve lined with cheesecloth over work bowl. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight to drain. When eggplant has drained, bring 4 corners of cheesecloth together and gently squeeze out any remaining moisture from eggplant. In food processor, puree eggplant flesh with garlic until very smooth, scraping down sides of bowls as necessary. With motor running, add olive oil in thin, steady stream, then add yogurt. Stir in salt, pepper, vinegar, dill and shallots. Store, covered, in refrigerator until ready to serve (can be prepared up to 2 days in advance). This dip can be served with bread, crackers or crudites. This recipe yields 1 quart. Each tablespoon: 10 calories; 19 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 1 gram fat; 1 gram carbohydrates; 0 protein; 0.07 gram fiber