Savory Eggplant Pie Recipes

SUMAC-SCENTED EGGPLANT AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• In a deep, wide skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high until shimmering. Add half the eggplant, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned all over, about 8 minutes. Transfer the eggplant to a large baking sheet to cool and repeat with the remaining olive oil and eggplant. Transfer to the baking sheet.
• Add the tomatoes, sumac, garlic and 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper and simmer over medium-low until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in the eggplant, chickpeas, half the scallions, half the mint and 1/4 cup water. Let simmer until flavors meld, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more pomegranate molasses if you like. The eggplant mixture should be a little textural, chunky even, with an assertive, tangy finish.
• Divide the rice and eggplant mixture among wide, shallow bowls. Dollop with yogurt, sprinkle with the remaining scallions and mint, and serve with pita, if using.

MAMA'S OH-SO-SAVORY LAMB AND EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a colander set in a bowl or the sink; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and toss to coat. Let eggplant stand for at least 1 hour. Rinse off the bitter liquid and excess salt and drain well.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and celery; cook and stir until onion has softened and turned translucent and celery is fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• While vegetables are cooking, combine ground cumin, oregano, rosemary, paprika, mint, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or mortar and pestle and mix well; this is the lamb seasoning (see Cook's Note). Set seasoning aside.
• Stir eggplant cubes and garlic into the vegetables in the skillet, mixing well, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and sprinkle with half of the lamb seasoning mixture. Reserve remaining seasoning. Stir gently and cook for 5 minutes more.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
• Pour chicken broth and half the can of tomato sauce into the skillet and simmer for 10 minutes; add a little water if the sauce starts to get dry. Transfer the sauce to the prepared casserole dish.
• Return the skillet to the stove over medium-high heat and heat the reserved tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Place ground lamb into skillet and sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture. Brown lamb in the hot oil, stirring frequently, until the meat is evenly browned; it should look like imperfect meatballs.
• Gently transfer the lamb to the casserole dish, pushing it down into the vegetable mixture so that it is at least partially submerged. Stir fresh lemon juice into the remaining tomato sauce and pour the sauce over the casserole.
• Bake uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending upon how tender you like your vegetables.

EGGPLANT TOMATO PIE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 500 degrees.
• Line baking sheet with foil and lightly grease.
• In large skillet, place 1 tablespoon olive oil, balsamic vinegar and eggplant and stir to coat thoroughly (no heat).
• Place eggplant cubes onto baking sheet, place in hot oven for 15 minutes, stirring once, until tender and lightly carmelized.
• Set aside skillet with reserved oil/vinegar
• Remove cooked eggplant to bowl and mash.
• Lower oven to 375 degrees.
• Saute onion in oil/vinegar mixture until caramelized, adding more oil if necessary.
• Turn off heat on skillet and stir in garlic letting it sit 5 minutes.
• Fold eggs, butter, pesto, and breadcrumbs into eggplant.
• Grease a pie pan and place a layer of sliced tomato to cover bottom.
• Combine cheeses and sprinkle 1/2 over tomatoes.
• Cover with eggplant mixture.
• Add layer of remaining cheese.
• Sprinkle finely sliced basil over cheese and top with layer of tomatoes.
• Bake 30 minutes until set, remove from oven and cool 10 - 15 minutes.

SAVORY EGGPLANT PIE

Steps:

• To make pastry:.
• Mix sifted flour, salt on a flat surface. Make a well in the center of the flour. Put butter and water in the well and mix with fingers until center ingredients make a paste. Work butter paste into the flour and knead the dough lightly.
• Form into a ball and wrap with plastic wrap. Chill in refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• After chilling, roll dough out to 1/8 inch thick or press dough right into a deep dish pie plate with fingers.
• To make the pie:.
• Saute the eggplant slices in the vegetable oil until softened and drain on paper towel.
• To peel tomatos, drop them into boiling water for boililng water for 15 seconds and remove them immediately, dunk into cold water and the skins should slip right off. Slice when cool enough to handle.
• Sprinkle the bottom of the pie shell with 2 Tbs of parmesan cheese.
• Layer the pie in this order: 1/2 of eggplant slices , 1/2 of tomato slices, 1/2 of onion slices, 1/2 of green pepper rings, 1/4 tsp crushed garlic, 1 Tbs olive oil, salt, pepper, 1 Tbs chopped basil, and1 Tbs parmesan cheese .
• Repeat the ingredient layers for a second layer.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes. or until vegetables are tender and the crust's edge is golden brown.
• Serve the pie in wedges with parmesan cheese for topping.

BEEF 'N' EGGPLANT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Refrigerate while preparing filling. , In a small skillet, melt butter. Add eggplant; saute until tender, about 5 minutes. In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion, celery and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the eggplant, tomato sauce, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat. , Spoon beef mixture into pie crust. Bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake until cheese is melted, 5-10 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

SAVORY STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
• Bring water and butter to a boil in a saucepan; add stuffing mix and cover saucepan. Remove saucepan from heat and let stand for 5 minutes; fluff stuffing with a fork.
• Scoop the flesh from eggplant and dice, reserving shells. Mix eggplant pulp, stuffing, Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, and egg together in a bowl. Fill each eggplant shell with stuffing mixture and top with paprika.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling is cooked through and crisp on the top, 30 to 35 minutes.