Planked Stuffed Eggplant Aubergine Recipes

STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Cut eggplant in half length-wise.
• Carefully scoop out flesh leaving ½-inch on bottom and sides.
• Chop up flesh and place into a colander in sink; toss with ¼ C salt.
• Top with a heavy bowl or pot and let stand for 30 minutes.
• After ½ hour, rinse the chopped eggplant thoroughly with cold water; drain well.
• Heat large skillet or pot; add oil.
• Over medium heat, saute turnip, onion, and shallot for 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Add peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and mushrooms.
• Cook 5-10 minutes over medium heat.
• Drain mixture.
• Add bread crumbs and cheesel mix thoroughly.
• Fill each eggplant half with mixture.
• OPTIONAL: Top with additional grated cheese.
• Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.

VEGETARIAN STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Wash the eggplant well--do not peel.
• Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise.
• Scoop out centers, leaving a 1-inch shell.
• Dice eggplant pulp and reserve.
• Fill a large skillet with ½ inch of water and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Place the eggplant shells in the water, skin side up, and bring to a boil over a high flame.
• Lower the flame, cover and let simmer for 10 minutes.
• Drain the shells and put them on a baking sheet, skin side down.
• Heat oil in a large skillet and sauté the onion, green pepper, zucchini, garlic and the reserved eggplant until tender.
• Add tomato paste, sugar, seasonings, and the cooked kidney beans.
• Simmer uncovered 10 minutes longer.
• Fill shells with vegetable mixture and top with grated cheese.
• Bake for 10 minutes.

PLANKED STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Scrape out the centers of the eggplant halves, leaving 1/2 inch shells.
• Sprinkle shells with salt and invert them.
• Cook eggplant pulp until very tender in a small amount water, drain and mash.
• Melt butter, blend in flour and add milk gradually, stirring constantly until thick and smooth.
• Add mashed eggplant, cheese, crumbs, onion, ketchup and egg yolks; season to taste.
• Beat egg whites and fold into mixture; fill rinsed shells.
• Bake at 350F 1 1/4 hours until firm.
• Place hot filled shells on a large plank, surround with onions and tomatoes.
• Pipe hot seasoned mashed potatoes through a pastry bag for decorative border around rim.
• Replace in oven for ten minutes.
• Place broiled tomatoes and cooked onions decoratively around the eggplant and sprinkle with parsley.

GREEK-STYLE STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Halve two of the eggplants lengthwise, score there pulp deeply with a sharp knife (careful not to pierce the skins).
• With a grapefruit knife, scoop out the pulp, reserving it, and leaving 1/2-inch thick shells.
• Sprinkle the shells with salt and pepper; invert (turn over) on paper towels to drain for 30 minutes.
• Cut the reserved pulp, and the remaining whole eggplant into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Transfer to a colander; toss with salt, and let them drain for 30 minutes.
• Pat the shells dry with paper towels, brush them with 1 Tbsp oil.
• Broil them on a rack of a broiler pan under a preheated broiler, about 4 inches from the heat for 5 minutes, or until they are tender.
• In a skillet, heat the remaining 3 Tbsp olive oil over moderately high heat until it is hot, but not smoking.
• Saute the eggplant pieces (that have been patted dry), stirring until they are golden.
• Stir in the chopped onion and the garlic; cook over medium heat until onion is softened.
• Remove the skillet from the heat; stir in the parsley, mint, tomatoes and feta cheese, adding salt and pepper to taste; stir to combine.
• Divide the filling among the shells mounding/heaping it.
• Broil the stuffed eggplants in a large flameproof baking dish for 5 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and golden-- delicious!

MOUSSAKA-STYLE STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Halve the eggplants lengthwise and score the interior of each half, leaving about a third of an inch thickness on the perimeter.
• Use a paring knife and a spoon to scoop out the interior of the eggplant, leaving a 'boat.'.
• Using a fork, pierce the skin in several places, liberally salt the halves and place them upside down on paper towels to drain for about 30 minutes.
• Chop the eggplant flesh into 1/2" cubes and set aside 4 cups of the cubes (reserve any excess for another recipe).
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Wipe the eggplant shells out with paper towels, brush the skin lightly with a little olive oil, and place them on a baking sheet.
• Bake them until they are just tender (about ten minutes) then remove from the oven and set aside in a baking dish.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
• Add the lamb and cook, breaking up the pieces, until lightly browned--about 5 minutes.
• Add the onion, garlic, 4 cups of eggplant and cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is soft--about five more minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, bell pepper, cloves, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne and cook until the mixture is fairly dry.
• Remove from the heat and stir in 1/2 cup of the ricotta.
• Season to taste and spoon into the 4 eggplant halves.
• Place the remaining 1 and 1/3 cups of ricotta in a small bowl and stir in the nutmeg and enough milk until the consistency of the cheese mixture is spreadable.
• Spread it over the filled eggplant halves and sprinkle the tops with parmesan.
• Bake until the tops are very brown--25 to 35 minutes.
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

ROLLED STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Saute garlic in 1 Tbls.
• of oil in large saucepan until golden brown, about 4 minutes.
• (Do Not Burn).
• Working in batches, combine crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, basil, oregano, and parsley in blender.
• Whirl until smooth.
• Pour into saucepan.
• Add bay leaf.
• Bring to boiling.
• Lower heat; simmer, partially covered, 30 minutes.
• Reserve.
• Combine crumbs and flour in large shallow pan.
• Beat eggs and milk in large bowl.
• Peel eggplants; cut lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices.
• Dip into egg mixture; dredge with flour mixture, shaking off excess.
• Set on wax paper.
• Working in batches and using about 3 Tbls.
• of oil per batch, saute eggplant in large skillet until golden, 1 minute per side.
• Drain on paper toweling.
• Combine ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan and parsley in bowl; mix well.
• Spread 2 to 3 Tbls.
• on one side of each slice of eggplant.
• Roll up jelly-roll fashion.
• Spread 1 cup tomato sauce over bottom of each of two 11 3/4"x7 1/2"x1 3/4" baking dishes.
• Arrange rolls seam-side down in single layer in dishes.
• Spoon sauce over rolls; save remaining sauce to pass.
• Bake, covered in preheated 450 degree oven for 30 minutes or until sauce is bubbly.
• Garnish with chopped parsley, if you wish.
• To make ahead: Prepare rolls early in day; bake just before serving.
• Or freeze.
• Defrost in refrigerator overnight; bake as above.
• NOTE: I ALWAYS DOUBLE THE SAUCE RECIPE BECAUSE WE LIKE ALOT OF SAUCE.
• IT'S UP TO YOU!