Sicilian Egg Patties Recipes

SICILIAN EGGS

Steps:

• Hard boil the eggs for 10 minutes. Cool them in cold running water. Shell them, rinse clean, slice thickly and arrange in a greased, heat-proof dish.
• Peel and slice the onion, and fry it in the butter in a small saucepan over a moderate heat, until soft (about 5 minutes). Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, sugar and herbs, and cook gently for a further 5 minutes. Heat the grill.
• Pour the tomato mixture over the eggs, top with the de-rinded bacon rashers and place under the hot grill until the bacon is cooked.
• If you do not have a grill, fry the bacon in the pan with the onions, remove it and keep it hot while the tomatoes are cooking, then top the tomato mixture with the hot, cooked bacon.

SICILIAN EGG PATTIES

Steps:

• Sauce: Saute onion in oil in a heavy sauce pan until soft.
• Add tomatoes, garlic, and tomato paste.
• Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, adding water if sauce gets too thick.
• Season with salt, add basil, stir and remove from heat.
• Patties: Mix together all ingredients except oil.
• Heat oil in a 12 inch skillet.
• Working in batches, drop rounded tbls of egg mixture into skillet and cook patties until golden and puffed, about 2 minutes per side.
• Drain on paper towels and adding more oil to skillet as needed.
• To Finish: Add tomato sauce and patties to skillet and simmer turning once for 5 minutes total.

SICILIAN POTATO-AND-EGG CAKE

Steps:

• Set a rimmed baking sheet on the top oven rack; preheat to 475 degrees F. Put the potatoes and 1 tablespoon water in a large microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and pierce a few times with a knife to vent. Microwave until very tender, 10 to 13 minutes. Meanwhile, generously butter an 8-inch-round cake pan; sprinkle in 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs and shake to coat, then tap out the excess.
• Add 4 tablespoons butter and the parmesan to the potatoes; season with salt and pepper and mash. Gradually mash in the beaten eggs. Spread half of the mixture in the prepared pan; top with the provolone, peppers and parsley, leaving a 1-inch border. Top with the remaining potato mixture and smooth evenly. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs. Dot with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
• Set the pan on the hot baking sheet and bake until puffed and golden, about 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge to loosen, then unmold. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing. Meanwhile, toss the salad greens, olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Serve with the potato cake.

SICILIAN STYLE SPAGHETTI AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Slice the eggplants into 1/4-inch rounds. Toss them with 1/4 cup olive oil and some salt and pepper. Grill them until marks have formed and they are soft, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place them onto a paper towel lined platter. Scatter over 2 cloves of sliced garlic, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the lemon juice, put on a few torn basil leaves, and season it all with salt and pepper. Set aside while you make the sauce.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and place over medium heat. Cook the onions until they are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the chile, garlic, olives and a few hand-torn basil leaves. Carefully add the tomatoes and a pinch of sugar; cook and stir until the liquid is cooked down and the sauce is thick, about 15 minutes. Add the capers, taste, and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Lower the heat, cover, and keep warm.
• Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add a couple of tablespoons of salt and the spaghetti. Stir to make sure the pasta doesn't stick. Cover and return to a boil. Remove cover and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until the spaghetti is al dente. Drain and add the spaghetti to the tomato sauce. Add the cheese and mix well. Pile onto a platter and top it with the eggplant slices. Garnish with more basil leaves.

ITALIAN PATTY MELTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the egg, 1/4 cup spaghetti sauce, bread crumbs and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into four oval patties; set aside., Combine butter and seasonings; brush over both sides of bread. In a large skillet, toast bread until lightly browned; set aside., In the same skillet, cook patties over medium heat for 4-6 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. , Spoon remaining sauce over patties; sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook for 1 minute or until cheese is melted. Place burgers on four slices of toast; top with remaining toast.

SICILIAN BURGERS

Steps:

• In a skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Remove from the heat; stir in the ketchup, relish, salt, basil and pepper. Stir in cheese. , Spread meat mixture onto buns. Wrap sandwiches individually in foil and place in a baking pan. Bake at 325° for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

SICILIAN POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Boil the potatoes whole, in their skins, in gently simmering water until tender - about 30-40 mins depending on size. Meanwhile, fry the pancetta cubes until golden.
• Drain the potatoes and set aside. Put the milk and most of the butter in the potato pan to warm. Peel the potatoes, cut into big chunks, then tip back into the pan with the milk. Mash them (as long as you've used a floury potato you will get a light and fluffy mash by using an electric hand whisk, or a masher). Mix in the pancetta, eggs, garlic and all of the other ingredients except the breadcrumbs and thyme.
• Use the remaining butter to butter the bottom and sides of a 23cm springform tin. Coat the inside of the tin with about ¾ of the breadcrumbs and fill with the potato mixture. Smooth down the surface and sprinkle with the remaining breadcrumbs, pressing them gently into the potato.
• Bake for about 1hr 10 mins until the potato cake is set, with a slight wobble in the middle. Let it rest for 5 mins then loosen from the sides with a knife before releasing the tin. Slide onto a plate and sprinkle with the thyme leaves. Serve hot or warm. Can be prepared up to the end of step 3 the night before and kept covered in the fridge.