Mediterranean Aubergine Eggplant Pot Pie Recipes

MELITZANOPITA (GREEK PIE USING EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) )

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté eggplant and onion, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is soft and has become almost a puree, about 20 minutes.
• Add bacon or ham, tomato paste and salt and pepper (careful with the salt - it may not seem like a lot but the bacon and the cheese, that will be added later will add a lot more), and cook another 5 minutes. You may have a dark brown film on the bottom of your skillet (I do not use non-stick surfaces - only stainless steel). You will find that this scrapes up easily once you turn off the heat and the eggplant puree starts to cool. Do scrape it back into the puree with a spoon as this is highly-flavoured and helps the overall taste (if it doesn't scrape easily in the beginning, just wait a couple of minutes longer). Allow to cool.
• Note: The eggplant puree can be made up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before continuing with recipe.
• In a large bowl, combine well eggplant puree, feta, eggs, parsley and mint. Taste a small amount of the filling to decide if you would like it a bit saltier.
• Preheat oven to 390°F.
• Butter bottom and sides of a 15 X 11 inch baking pan. Stagger sheets of phyllo in pan, brushing each sheet with olive oil as you position it in the pan.
• When you have used half the sheets of phyllo pastry, empty the filling into the pan and spread it out evenly.
• Continue staggering the remaining sheets of phyllo over top, brushing each one with olive oil as you position it in the pan. Tuck in any overhang you have and give a last generous brushing of olive oil to the whole pie.
• With a sharp knife, score the pie lengthwise into 4 strips, and then score into 4 strips crosswise (resulting in 16 pieces of pie). DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH PHYLLO - JUST THE TOP LAYERS.
• Generously sprinkle the pie with some tap water using your fingertips (run your hand under the tap and sprinkle the water over the pie - do about 5 of these sprinkles - this results in a crisper, crunchier crust).
• Brush pie with egg wash and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Bake for 1 hour, or until pie is a golden-brown. You may need to reverse pan back to front midway through baking.
• Allow to cool 15-20 minutes before cutting into. Personally, I like this pie just warm or at room temperature.
• Enjoy.

MEDITERRANEAN AUBERGINE (EGGPLANT) POT PIE

Steps:

• Toss eggplant slices with olive oil. Arrange in a pie crust style shape in round cake or casserole pan (heck, it could even be square) about eight inches across. Reserve a few of the thinnest slices.
• Toss olives, garlic, onion, half the hummus, and half the alcoholic beverage/water.
• Layer bell pepper strips and reserved eggplant slices over top.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese (if you want it), and reserved hummus (diluted to pourable consistency with anything).
• Lay a sheet of loose aluminum foil across top and bake at 375 degrees for 40-50 minutes.
• For Vegan omit the cheese.

GREEK EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PIE

Steps:

• Bake pie crust according to direction on pkg.
• To make the filling, heat 3 tbsp of the oil in a frying pan and gently fry the aubergine slices for 6-8 minutes on each side until golden. You may need to add a little more olive oil at first, but this will be released as the flesh softens. Lift out the aubergine slices and drain on a plate covered with a few layers of kitchen paper.
• Add the onion and garlic to the oil remaining in the pan and fry over a gentle heat for 4-5 minutes until soft, adding a little extra oil if necessary.
• Chop the spinach finely, by hand or in a food processor. Beat the egg in a large mixing bowl.
• Add the spinach, crumbled feta, Parmesan, yogurt, milk and the onion mixture to the eggs. Season well with salt and pepper and stir thoroughly.
• Spread the cooked rice in an even layer over the base of the pastry case. Reserve about 8 aubergine slices - save the best ones as these will be placed over the top - and arrange the rest in an even layer over the rice.
• Spoon the spinach and feta mixture over the aubergines and place the reserved slices of aubergine on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until lightly browned. Serve warm or cold, with a mixed salad.

MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Prepare onion, celery, green bell pepper, fresh tomato & black olives in stated quantity as directed & set aside.
• Slice unpeeled eggplant into 1/4" thick slices. Put olive oil in a saute pan & cook eggplant slices (in batches) till just slightly tender. Remove from pan & set aside.
• In the same pan, add onion, celery & bell pepper. Saute till crisp-tender.
• Remove from heat & stir in chopped tomato, black olives, herbs & spices.
• Place 1/3 of eggplant slices in a 9x13" baking dish. Top with 1/3 of veggie/spice mixture & repeat layering 2 more times. Bake 15 minutes.
• While casserole is baking, beat eggs & set aside. In a separate bowl, combine breadcrumbs, 2 tbsp olive oil & Parmesan cheese. Mix well & set aside.
• At 15 minutes, remove casserole from oven. Drizzle beaten eggs over surface, let them seep into the veggie mixture & move veggies around gently using a fork to aid this process as required.
• Sprinkle breadcrumb, olive oil & Parmesan cheese mixture evenly over surface & return to oven for 15 min or till breadcrumbs are golden brown. Serve immediately.
• NOTE: While the recipe did not suggest this, IMO this dish is capable of being expanded to a 1-dish meal w/the addition of your cooked grd meat of choice &/or crumbled feta cheese as another option.

SHEPHERD'S PIE WITH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cook the potatoes (in their skins) in boiling water, until soft. Drain, and mash the first 5 ingredients. Set aside.
• In a large, heavy skillet, saute the onions and garlic in 1 1/2 Tbsp of butter, with salt and pepper, until the onions are soft (5-8 minutes). Add the celery, mushrooms, and eggplant. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally.
• When the eggplant is cooked through (and this will happen more quickly if you cover the skillet between stirrings), add green pepper, herbs, and peas. Continue cooking about 5 minutes longer.
• Remove from heat; toss with cheese, wheat germ, and vinegar. Spread this mixture into your buttered deep-dish casserole. Spread the mashed potatoes on top, as a crust.
• OPTIONAL (and OPTIMAL): Sprinkle extra cheese plus some paprika on top.
• Bake, uncovered, 35 minutes.

MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE PIE

Steps:

• Place eggplant slices between several thickness of paper toweling; sprinkle with 1 teaspoons salt.
• Weigh down with something flat and heavy; let stand 30 minutes.
• Cut into 1/4 inch cubes.
• Heat 1/4 Cup oil in a large skillet.
• Add eggplant all at once.
• Quickly toss to coat.
• Cook, stirring constantly until tender (about 5 minutes); remove to large bowl.
• Pour remaining oil into skillet, add onion, green pepper, zucchini, and garlic.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until tender (about 5 minutes).
• Set aside.
• Combine oregano, basil, remaining salt, and pepper in measuring cup.
• Set aside.
• Prepare crust according to directions for a 2 crust pie.
• Divide dough into 2 balls, 1 slightly larger than the other.
• roll out larger into 12 inch circle; fit into 10 inch pie plate.
• Trim overhang to 1/2 inch.
• Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of Parmesan.
• Spoon half eggplant into pie plate; then half vegetables; sprinkle with half of herbs mixture, 1 tablespoons parmesan and half mozzarella.
• Repeat, reserving 1 tablespoons parmesan.
• Roll out remaining pastry; cut into 1/2 inch strips; arrange lattice fashion over pie; trim to within 1/2 inch of plate; turn edges under; flute.
• Brush lattice strips with water; sprinkle with remaining parmesan.
• Bake at 425 degrees F.
• for 25 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and pie just begins to bubble.
• Let stand 15 minutes before serving.