Open Faced Eggplant And Gorgonzola Grilled Cheese Recipes

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH MOZZARELLA CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut the stems off the eggplants. Slice each eggplant lengthwise into four even pieces. Rub some of the olive oil over the slices and season well with salt and pepper.
• Lay tomato slices over six of the eggplant slices. Place basil leaves over the tomatoes. Lay mozzarella slices over the basil leaves. Coat with remaining olive oil and make sandwiches with the remaining eggplant slices. Wrap well in heavy-duty aluminum foil.
• Place the eggplants over the grill and cook for about 30 minutes, turning occasionally, or until the eggplants are cooked thoroughly and the cheese is melted.

EGGPLANT AND SMOKED-GOUDA OPEN-FACED GRILLED SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Prepare grill for cooking over direct heat with medium-hot charcoal (moderate heat for gas); see Grilling Procedureepi:recipelink.
• While grill is heating, stir together tomatoes, parsley, 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar, pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
• With a cheese plane or vegetable peeler, shave half of cheese into thin slices (if using mozzarella, thinly slice half of it with a knife) and cover slices with plastic wrap, reserving remaining piece for another use.
• Brush bread on both sides with 1 tablespoon oil per slice.
• Trim off top and bottom of each eggplant, then cut 2 (1-inch-thick) slices lengthwise from center of each eggplant, discarding remainder. Brush cut sides with 3 tablespoons oil (total) and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Lightly oil grill rack, then grill eggplant slices (covered only if using a gas grill), loosening with a metal spatula and turning occasionally to avoid overbrowning, until very tender, 8 to 10 minutes. While eggplant is grilling, grill bread, turning over once, until grill marks form, 1 to 2 minutes total, and transfer to a large platter.
• Transfer eggplant to platter, then top evenly with sliced cheese and return to grill and cook, covered for charcoal or gas, without turning, until cheese begins to melt, about 1 minute. Transfer eggplant with spatula to platter.
• Transfer grilled bread to 4 plates and spoon tomato mixture on top. Drizzle evenly with remaining tablespoon oil and top with eggplant. Season with pepper to taste.

PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS STUFFED WITH EGGPLANT AND GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange mushrooms, rounded side down, on large baking sheet. Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes and garlic. Sauté until eggplant is soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in red wine and simmer until liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; stir in Gorgonzola cheese and 1 tablespoon basil. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon mixture evenly into mushroom caps. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover mushrooms with aluminum foil. Bake mushrooms for 15 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until cheese melts, filling bubbles and mushrooms are tender when pierced with sharp knife, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle mushrooms with remaining 1 tablespoon basil and serve warm.

OPEN-FACED TOMATO AND CHEDDAR GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Arrange tomatoes in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons oil, and season with salt and pepper. Broil until tomatoes are soft, about 5 minutes.
• Melt butter with remaining tablespoon oil. Brush over cut sides of bread. Broil until top edges are just golden.
• Arrange tomatoes over bread, slightly overlapping. Top with cheese. Place on baking sheet; broil until cheese has melted and is bubbling, 1 to 2 minutes.