Moms Stuffed Eggplant By Michael Chiarello Recipes

MAMA CHIARELLO'S STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplant in half and scoop out the center, leaving enough meat inside the skin so that it holds its shape when baked. Chop eggplant that has been scooped out of the inside; place in saucepan, cover with water and boil until very soft, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat. Salt and pepper the beef. Add the seasoned ground beef to the pan, and saute until all of its liquid is evaporated and the beef begins to brown slightly. Let cool briefly, and chop the cooked beef so that there are no large chunks of meat. In another medium saute pan over medium heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and saute the onion, pepper and garlic together in the oil.
• In a bowl, mix together the cooked eggplant, vegetables, beef, herbs, 1 cup of the cheese, 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs and the egg. Fill the scooped-out eggplant halves with this mixture, dividing it evenly between the two halves.
• Top with chopped tomatoes, the remaining 1/4 cup cheese, remaining 1/4 cup bread crumbs, and season with salt and pepper. Place on an oiled oven tray or baking dish, and bake for 50 minutes. Let cool briefly; slice widthwise and serve.

MOM'S STUFFED EGGPLANT (BY MICHAEL CHIARELLO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplant in half and scoop out the center, leaving enough meat inside the skin so that it holds its shape when baked.
• Boil the scooped-out center part until very soft, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saute pan heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat.
• Season the beef with salt and pepper.
• Add the seasoned ground beef to the pan and saute until all of its liquid is evaporated and the beef begins to brown slightly.
• Drain the beef, removing the extra, unnecessary fat.
• Let cool briefly and chop the cooked beef so that there are no large chunks of meat.
• In another medium saute pan over medium heat add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and saute the onions, peppers and garlic together.
• In a bowl mix together the cooked eggplant, vegetables, cooked beef, herbs, 1 cup of the cheese, bread crumbs, and the egg.
• Fill the scooped-out eggplant halves with this mixture, dividing it evenly among the 2 halves.
• Top with chopped tomatoes and the remaining 1/4 cup of grated cheese, season with salt and pepper, place on an oiled oven tray or baking dish, and bake for 50 minutes in preheated oven.
• Let cool briefly, slice widthwise and serve.

PICKLED GRILLED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Remove the stem end from the eggplants. Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise, and slice into half-inch thick moon slices. In a large mixing bowl, toss the eggplant with the kosher salt and let stand for about 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse and dry the eggplant well, and toss with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and a pinch of pepper. Heat a grill pan over high heat. When the grill pan is hot, cook the eggplant slices until nicely marked on both sides.
• Meanwhile in a small mixing bowl whisk the sugar, and garlic into the vinegar, whisk in the chili paste and remaining olive oil. Add the herbs and check for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• When the eggplant is marked nicely on both sides remove it from the pan and add it immediately to the marinade (a shallow baking dish works nicely to ensure that all of the eggplant is coated in marinade). Let the eggplant cool to room temperature and serve, or refrigerate in a sealed container.

STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Scoop out the flesh of the eggplant, chop, and reserve. Season shells with salt and pepper, and coat with some olive oil; set aside.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Saute sausage and garlic until sausage is evenly brown. Stir in the reserved chopped eggplant. Season with parsley, salt and pepper. Pour in wine, and cook 5 minutes. Mix in the bread crumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. If mixture is dry, stir in more olive oil. Stuff mixture into eggplant shells, and sprinkle top with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until eggplant is tender.

OLIVE HARVEST RIBOLITA (MICHAEL CHIARELLO)

Steps:

• Drain beans and gently rinse with cold water.
• With 3 T. of oil, saute ham hocks, when brown turn over and add 1 garlic clove, add 3 cups cold water, beans, bring to boil, then simmer 30 min.; add thyme and rosemary.
• In a soup pot; add 1/4 Celsius oil, remaining chopped garlic, cook until light brown; add leek, onion,, carrot, celery and bay leaf; saute for 8 minutes over medium heat, add cabbages and saue for 5 minutes; add remaining 3 Celsius water and tomato puree; cook for 20 min., add to beans and continue to cook for 20 minute more; remove ham hock, when cool chop the meat, set aside.
• Place bread slices in 375 degree oven, cook until lightly browned, remove from oven and rub with a clove of garlic, brush with olive oil.
• When read to eat, bring soup back to a simmer.
• In individual bowls, place toasted bread, chopped ham from ham bone then Soup, Drizzle 1-2 T. of "The best olive oil in the house" on top of soup and sprinkle with fresh grated parmesan cheese.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) AND GOAT CHEESE LASAGNETTE

Steps:

• Directions for the Thick tomato sauce:.
• Heat 3 tblspns olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until hot.
• Add the bell pepper and sauté until brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, if necessary, and the garlic, and cook briefly until light brown.
• Add the onion and cook until brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and stir to mix well.
• Add the tomatoes and their juice, the stock, and bay leaf.
• Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer the sauce until thick, about 25 minutes, be sure to stir often to prevent scorching.
• Add the butter, oregano, parsley, and basil and stir well. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Use immediately, or let cool, cover, and refrigerate for several days, or freeze for up to 1 month.
• Directions for the lasgnette:.
• Cut the eggplant lengthwise into 1/8 to 1/4-inch-thick slices. Salt for 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and pat dry.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Pour the olive oil into a large skillet to a depth of 1 inch and place over medium-high heat until hot, about 350°F Meanwhile, season the flour with the pepper.
• Dredge the slices in the flour, then dip in eggwhites, and then coat with dry breadcrumbs.
• Fry, turning once, until browned, about 2 minutes total. Drain on paper towels. Note: The oil should be hot enough to bubble while the eggplant is cooking but be careful not to let them burn.
• Add more oil as necessary to maintain the oil at a depth of about 1 inch.
• Spread a thin layer of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a 2-1/2-quart baking dish. Arrange a layer of eggplant in the dish to cover the bottom completely.
• Spoon on another layer of sauce, and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan, 1 tablespoon of the parsley and basil, and dot with one-third of the chevre.
• Repeat the layering twice, beginning with eggplant and ending with chevre.
• Do not press down on the layers.
• Top with the remaining eggplant and then another thin layer of sauce.
• Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan (about 3 tablespoons), parsley (about 2 tablespoons), and the breadcrumbs.
• Bake until browned and bubbling, about 20-30 minutes. Do not over-brown.
• Let rest a few minutes before cutting into squares to serve. Serve hot or warm, drizzled with the garlic or basil oil if desired.