Overnight Marinated Eggplant Recipes

EASY MARINATED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Brush the slices of eggplant with olive oil then grill in a hot grill pan until softened and caramelized on both sides.
• Place the slices of eggplant into a large jar or sealable container.
• Mix all the marinade ingredients together, adjust seasoning as necessary and pour over the eggplant.
• Seal the jar or container and allow to marinade for at least 6 hours but up to 1-2 weeks in the fridge.

MARINATED EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Peel eggplant and cut into 3 x 1/2-inch rectangular sticks.
• To sweat the eggplants, toss the sticks with salt and place them in a colander over a bowl or sink. Let sit to drain for at least 4 hours, up to overnight. (If overnight, cover and keep the colander and bowl in the fridge.)
• Squeeze out as much of the remaining liquid from the eggplant sticks as possible by placing them in a clean kitchen towel and pressing vigorously over a bowl.
• In a medium saucepan, bring water and vinegar to a boil. Add eggplant and cook until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Drain eggplant in a colander, set a plate on top to weigh it down, and let drain for at least 4 hours, up to overnight. (Again, if overnight, cover and chill like you did when sweating the eggplant sticks.)
• Vigorously squeeze small handfuls of the eggplant with the help of a clean kitchen towel and remove as much liquid as possible.
• In a large bowl, toss eggplant with garlic, chile flakes, any herbs, if using, and 3/4 cup of the olive oil.
• Transfer eggplant to a 1-quart jar, add enough olive oil to cover the eggplant, cover with a lid, and chill overnight before serving. When ready to serve, bring to room temperature before serving; any leftover marinated eggplant will last up to one week refrigerated.

OVERNIGHT MARINATED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Halve the eggplants lengthwise. Slice into 1/4-inch slices.
• Arrange eggplants in a single layer on baking sheet (you will probably need 2-3 sheets). Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with a tiny bit of salt.
• Bake eggplant at 450'F for 20-30 minutes. Or, until soft.
• In a large bowl, whisk remaining ingredients together. Toss marinade with eggplant. Let refrigerate overnight.

GRILLED MARINATED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Finely chop the parsley with the capers and garlic. Add the oregano and peperoncini and chop everything together. Put the mixture in a bowl, stir in the oil, season with salt and pepper, and reserve.
• Preheat an outdoor charcoal or gas grill or a grill pan until smoking hot.
• Put enough eggplant slices on the grill to cover it without crowding. Cook the eggplant until well marked, 3 to 6 minutes, then turn the slices over. Cook until tender, about 3 minutes more. Remove the eggplant from the grill.
• Pour the vinegar into a shallow bowl. While still hot, dip each eggplant slice into the vinegar and set it aside on a plate. Continue grilling and dipping the eggplant until all the slices are cooked and seasoned.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons of the parsley mixture onto a platter and spread it evenly with the back of a spoon. Arrange half of the grilled eggplant on the parsley in a single layer. Smear each slice of eggplant with more parsley. Place a second layer of eggplant on top and spread the remaining parsley on it. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and set aside to marinate at room temperature for about 2 hours (or refrigerate for longer). Serve at room temperature.
• Chef's notes:
• You could make the parsley mixture in a food processor, but I don't. I find hand chopping gives me the somewhat drier texture I prefer.
• For this recipe, I don't salt or oil the eggplant; I grill it dry. This way, it has a nice chewy texture. I marinate the eggplant as soon as it comes off the grill so the flavor of the marinade penetrates.

MELENZANA ALI OLIO

Steps:

• On the evening before you intend to make the dish, prepare the eggplant. Cut the ends off the eggplants, and peel. Cut the peeled eggplant into long strips about as big around as shoestring french fries. Place the strips into a large bowl, and stir in 1/2 cup of coarse salt.
• Place a sturdy dinner plate upside down in a clean sink, making sure that the drain is not blocked. Place a generous handful of the eggplant strips onto the center of the plate, and cover with another upside down dinner plate to create an eggplant sandwich. Layer more eggplant and plates until all of the eggplant is sandwiched. Cap it off with one additional plate, and press down firmly. Set a sturdy stock pot on top, and fill with enough water to create some pressure on the eggplant layers. Not so much pressure that you break your dishes though. Let this pressing process stand overnight.
• The next day, fill a large bowl with ice water. Begin dismantling your stack of plates. One layer (handful) at a time, briefly swish the eggplant around in the ice water, then squeeze dry and place into a clean bowl. If your hand starts to hurt, you are swishing too long. Once all of the eggplant is rinsed and squeezed and in the bowl, mix in the vinegar. Let rest for about 15 minutes.
• Heat a splash of the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano and sea salt. Cook and stir just until fragrant. You do not want to cook the garlic. Set aside to cool.
• Your eggplants should be well rested now. Give them one last sqeeze. Make it a good one, or your melenzana is going to taste like pickles. ''Don't worry, this is the last time, I promise...'' (This is to be said to the poor little melenzana - they've been through so much!)
• Place the squeezed eggplants into a large bowl, and stir in the contents of the skillet and remaining olive oil until well blended. Transfer to sterile 1 pint or 1/2 pint jars. Make sure to fill the jars to the top, and top off with any olive oil that may be left in the bowl. Wipe the rims with a clean dry cloth, and seal tightly with new lids. Refrigerate for at least a month before opening.

GRILLED EGGPLANT TERIYAKI

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat.
• Slice eggplant into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Sprinkle with salt and let stand in a colander set over a bowl or the sink for 20 minutes. Rinse briefly and pat dry.
• Pour marinade over eggplant and let stand for at least 10 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator. Remove from marinade, reserving leftover marinade. Place eggplant on grill, cook until eggplant is cooked through and lightly browned on all sides, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from grill. Serve with reserved marinade and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl. Let stand for 10 minutes.

MARINATED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Wash and pare the eggplant. Slice 1/2" thick, then cut the slices into 1/2" strips. Drop strips into a pan of boiling water. When the water returns to a boil, remove the pan from the heat and let stand for 15 minutes. Drain into a colandar and and place a small plate on top of the eggplant, adding a heavy weight, such as a gallon jug of water. Let it drain for at least an hour.
• Put the eggplant in a bowl and add garlic, red pepper, salt, oregano, vinegar and olive oil. Stir gently but, well.
• Pack into small Ball canning jars and process in a hot water bath for 5 minutes.

MARINATED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Toss eggplant with 1/4 cup salt and drain in a colander set over a bowl, covered, at room temperature 4 hours. (Eggplant will turn brown.) Discard liquid in bowl.
• Gently squeeze handfuls of eggplant. Bring water and vinegar to a boil in a medium pot. Add eggplant and boil, stirring occasionally, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain in colander, then set colander over a bowl and cover eggplant with a plate and a weight (such as a large heavy can). Continue to drain, covered and chilled, 8 to 12 hours. Discard liquid in bowl. Gently squeeze handfuls of eggplant to remove excess liquid, then pat dry.
• Stir together eggplant, garlic, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 cup oil in a bowl.
• Transfer to a 1-quart jar or other container with a tight-fitting lid and add just enough olive oil to cover eggplant. Marinate eggplant, covered and chilled, at least 4 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving.