Blanche Franciss Eggplant Casserole Recipes

OLD FASHIONED EGGPLANT CASSEROLE - A SOUTHERN EGGPLANT CASSEROLE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 2 quart baking dish (or 8x8 inch) with nonstick cooking spray.
• Cook peeled, diced eggplant in boiling water until fork tender; drain well.
• In a large bowl, combine cooked eggplant, beaten eggs, crushed crackers, milk, shredded cheese, melted butter and salt and pepper.
• Pour into prepared baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

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.

CHEESY EGGPLANT PARMESAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Brush about 2 tablespoons olive oil onto eggplant slices; arrange in a single layer in a shallow baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until eggplant is tender and browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove eggplant from oven and reduce temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat; cook and stir onion, mushrooms, and garlic until onion is softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomato sauce, basil, and oregano; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce is slightly reduced, about 10 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange about 1/2 the eggplant slices in a 2-quart casserole dish; top with 1/2 the sauce, 1/2 the mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 the Parmesan cheese. Repeat layering with the remaining ingredients.
• Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbling, about 25 minutes. Cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

BEST EVER EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Soak peeled & cubed eggplant in salt water overnight.
• Steam eggplant for 30 minutes.
• Soak bread crumbs in milk and mix with eggplant.
• Add eggs & seasonings.
• Mix well by hand.
• Put in a casserole dish and top with grated cheese.
• Bake at 350°F for 1 hour. Enjoy!

BLANCHE FRANCIS'S EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Boil eggplants until soft, 10 minutes or less depending on size. Cut in half lengthwise, place flat side down and scrape the skins off with a knife. Chop the meat into 1-inch chunks and drain in a colander.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in a pan and saute peppers, onions, celery and garlic together in oil until limp. Add eggplants. Cook over medium heat until most of the moisture is gone. Add shrimps, cook another 10 minutes and remove to a large bowl.
• Fold in crab meat and parsley, cool briefly and fold in 2/3 cup bread crumbs, salt and pepper.
• Spread the mixture in an 8-by-14 dish and cover with the remaining bread crumbs and the paprika. Dot with butter cubes. Bake 80 minutes, or until brown. Serve hot or at room temperature.