Sarasotas Crockpot Eggplant Mediterranean Recipes

EGGPLANT CAPONATA (SICILIAN VERSION)

Steps:

• Toss eggplant with salt and place in a colander set over a bowl. Let sit, about 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until onion is soft and lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to a bowl using a slotted spoon.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in the skillet. Add eggplant and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in celery mixture, tomatoes, olives, capers, tomato paste, and oregano. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered until caponata is thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Season caponata with vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with parsley.

SARASOTA'S CROCKPOT EGGPLANT MEDITERRANEAN

Steps:

• Crockpot -- Add the eggplant, onion, celery, olive oil, tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, oregano, salt and pepper in the slow cooker and mix well. Top with the olives and squash but don't stir.Cover and cook on low for approximately 4 hours.
• Finish -- After 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours, when the eggplant is tender, stir to incorporate the squash and the olives into the mix. To finish, mix the sugar with the vinegar and add to the crockpot along with the capers and basil. Stir well and test for any additional seasoning, salt and pepper. Pepper is the only thing I find I need to add. Cook another 10-15 minutes, just to blend all the flavors. Perfect time to make your couscous, or maybe some grilled bread or rice. Any side dish you want.
• Serve -- As I mentioned, I prefer to serve this over couscous and garnish with feta cheese. ENJOY!

"THE EGGPLANT" - A MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EASTERN INSPIRED DISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet.
• Remove the tough stem end of the eggplants and slice the eggplants in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds. Spray the cut sides with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt, then place cut-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Spray the skins with more cooking spray. Bake until the skins and insides are very tender, 25 to 35 minutes.
• While the eggplant is baking, toast the pine nuts in a large cast-iron or stainless steel skillet over medium heat until evenly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• In the same skillet without washing, add the grapeseed oil and saute the onions over medium heat until almost tender and caramelized, about 9 minutes; do not overcrowd the skillet or the onions will not caramelize properly. Sprinkle in the nutmeg and salt to taste during the cooking time. Add the anisette and increase the heat to medium high for 30 to 40 seconds, allowing it to flambe if you can do so safely (see Cook's Note). Reduce the heat back to medium and continue to cook until the onions are tender and caramelized, another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Salt the chopped tomatoes generously.
• To serve: On a large platter, arrange the eggplants cut-side up, then cover each half evenly and generously with the onion mixture, followed by the chopped tomatoes, mint, pine nuts, oregano and pomegranate seeds. Drizzle evenly with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and white pepper to taste. Serve warm with crusty bread and olive oil with crushed red pepper for dipping. Pair with a full-bodied red or white wine.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN IN EGGPLANT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Add chicken; toss to coat. In a large skillet, brown chicken in oil in batches. Transfer to a 4-qt. slow cooker., Add wine to the skillet, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Stir in the eggplant, red peppers, onion, jalapeno, tomato paste, brown sugar and garlic. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Cool slightly. Transfer to a blender; cover and process until pureed. Pour over chicken., Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until chicken is tender, adding olives and parsley during the last 30 minutes. Just before serving, sprinkle with feta cheese. Serve with naan.

LISA'S HERBED EGGPLANT MEDLEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place the eggplant in a shallow, oven-safe dish, and bake for 1 hour until tender, turning every 15 minutes to ensure even cooking. Once done, remove, and allow the eggplant to cool until cool enough to handle.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Once the eggplant is cool enough to handle, cut it into 1/2 inch pieces, and combine with the tomatoes, onion, artichokes, garlic, parsley, chives, and basil. Pour into a baking dish
• Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until the onions have softened, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. To serve, spoon the eggplant mixture over the quinoa.

STUFFED EGGPLANT MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Halve the egplant lengthwise. Hollow out the halves leaving 1/2 inch thick shells. Chop the eggplant pulp.
• In a medium skillet, cook mushrooms, onion, and eggplant pulp in hot oil for 5 minutes. Add tomato and cook 2 minutes more. Remove from heat, and stir in cooked rice, salt, and pepper.
• Lightly grease a square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place eggplant halves, cut side up, in dish. Spoon half of filling into each eggplant half.
• Bake, uncovered, in a 350º oven for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and bake 10 to 15 minutes more until heated through and eggplant shells are tender.