Eggplant From Jons Garden Recipes

EASY GREEK-STYLE EGGPLANT RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place eggplant cubes in a colander over a large bowl or directly over your sink, and sprinkle with salt. Set aside for 20 minutes or so to allow eggplant to "sweat out" any bitterness. Rinse with water and pat dry.
• In a large braiser, heat 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil over medium-high until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions, peppers, and chopped carrot. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring regularly, then add garlic, bay leaf, spices, and a dash of salt. Cook another minute, stirring until fragrant.
• Now add eggplant, chopped tomato, chickpeas, and reserved chickpea liquid. Stir to combine.
• Bring to a rolling boil for 10 minutes or so. Stir often. Remove from stove top, cover and transfer to oven.
• Cook in oven for 45 minutes until eggplant is fully cooked through to very tender. (While eggplant is braising, be sure to check once or twice to see if more liquid is needed. If so, remove from oven briefly and stir in about 1/2 cup of water at a time.)
• When eggplant is ready, remove from oven and add a generous drizzle of Private Reserve EVOO, garnish with fresh herbs (parsley or mint). Serve hot or at room temperature with a side of Greek yogurt or even Tzatziki sauce and pita bread.

EGGPLANT FROM JON'S GARDEN

Steps:

• 1. Saute the eggplant in olive oil until golden brown, remove and keep warm in a bowl; add butter to pan and saute the onion and garlic. Return the eggplant to the pan, and add the tomatoes along with the juice,parsley, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Simmer about fifteen minutes,uncovered.

EGGPLANT RECIPES: BAKED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium-sized shallow dish, whisk the eggs and almond milk.
• In another medium-sized shallow dish, combine the panko, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and several grinds of pepper.
• Dip the eggplant slices into the egg mixture and then into the panko mixture. Place onto the baking sheets, drizzle with olive oil, and bake for 18 minutes or until tender and golden brown.
• In an 8x12 or 9x13-inch baking dish, spread ½ cup marinara, layer half the eggplant, and top with 1 cup of marinara and half the mozzarella. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, the remaining marinara, and the remaining mozzarella. Sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with a few more pinches of sea salt. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is nicely melted. Turn the oven to broil and broil for 2 to 4 or until the cheese is browned and bubbling.
• Remove from the oven and top with fresh basil.

CHEF JOHN'S EGGPLANT ESCABECHE

Steps:

• Trim ends of eggplant; peel, leaving stripes of skin intact. Cut eggplant in half lengthwise and slice crosswise into 1/4-inch slices. Transfer to a large bowl. Add sliced zucchini to bowl. Toss eggplant and zucchini with 2 tablespoons kosher salt and let sit until water begins to release, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk olive oil, garlic, chili flakes, and dried oregano together in a bowl.
• Rinse salt from veggies in a colander with fresh water. Set aside to drain well.
• Place vinegar and water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Place drained vegetables into pan. Cook covered until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes, turning after the first minute. Remove from heat; transfer to a strainer reserving the cooking liquid.
• Place cooked eggplant and zucchini into large bowl. Add chopped roasted peppers, 1/4 cup of the vinegar cooking liquid, freshly chopped Italian parsley and fresh oregano. Pour in garlic oil mixture. Stir gently but thoroughly with a spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
• Before serving, drizzle vegetable oil over the mixture.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Layer half each of the eggplant and mushrooms in 13x9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray; cover with layers of 1/3 each of the Parmesan and mozzarella. Repeat layers.
• Top with pasta sauce; cover.
• Bake 35 min. or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses; bake, uncovered, 5 min. or until mozzarella is melted.