Elsies Eggplant Dirty Rice Recipes

EGGPLANT AND VEGETABLE RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Lightly coat the bottom of a large ovenproof pot with olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the eggplant and onions, season with salt, cover and cook, stirring or shaking the pot often, until the vegetables are tender, 6 to 7 minutes. If the vegetables stick to the pot, drizzle in more olive oil, as needed to loosen.
• Add the garlic, oregano, smoked paprika and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the rice and frozen vegetables and cook, stirring often, until the rice is lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes until well combined. Stir in the frozen vegetables and season with salt. Ladle in enough stock to cover, then add about another 3/4 inch on top (amount will vary, depending on the size of your pot). Stir just to combine and bring the mixture to a boil. Taste and add more salt, if necessary.
• Cover the pot and bake until all the liquid is absorbed into the rice, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and fluff the rice using a long fork (such as one used to hold a roast while carving). Be gentle so as not to mush the eggplant.
• Place the pot back in the oven until the vegetables are warmed through, 4 to 5 minutes. Taste and add more salt, if needed. Garnish with chopped basil and drizzle olive oil over the top. Serve immediately.

EGGPLANT DIRTY RICE DRESSING

Steps:

• 1. Soak cut eggplant in salt water for 10 minutes (this will keep eggplant from turning dark).
• 2. Put oil in bottom of heavy bottomed pot. Saute onions, bell pepper, celery and garlic in oil until the vegetables are tender. Season with salt and pepper. Add Ground Round and cook until meat begins to brown.
• 3. Drain eggplant, and add to meat mixture. Smother down covered until eggplant is well cooked. (Eggplant will be completely mashed up when done). Stir often and scrape the bottom of pot with your spoon to lift off any that may be starting to stick. Add 1 teaspoon of Louisiana Hot sauce Taste, adjust seasoning to your taste. Stir in Chopped green onions and parsley. Cook for only a few minutes longer. Remove from heat.
• 4. Add the cooked rice, stir to mix completely. Serve hot. Note: at anytime if the mixture becomes to dry to finish cooking the eggplant down, then add a small amount of water.

ELSIE'S EGGPLANT DIRTY RICE

Steps:

• 1. Start rice cooking in a small sauce pan.
• 2. While the rice is cooking, on medium to medium high temperature, in a medium sized (10-12") cast iron skillet place oil. When the oil is heated (not smoking), add chopped onion and saute. After the onions are slightly cooked, reduce heat to medium and add ground beef (or turkey) to cook. Do not over-stir.
• 3. ** Peeling the eggplant is optional. Since posting this recipe, I often leave the peeling on the eggplant for extra fiber/nutrition. Chop the eggplant into approximately 1/2" size pieces and add to meat when it is about three-fourths of the way cooked. Cover mixture and let it continue cooking on medium heat until the eggplant is tender. Again, do not over-stir.
• 4. When the rice is cooked, stir in approximately 2 cups of the cooked rice to the eggplant and meat mixture. Add chopped/crushed garlic, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cover and continue cooking on LOW heat for approximately 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to blend.