Roasted Eggplant With Pecan Breadcrumbs Recipes

ROASTED EGGPLANT WITH PECAN BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Trim the ends from the eggplants and slice them in half lengthwise. Sprinkle with salt and brush with the oil. Place the eggplants on the prepared baking sheets and roast for 35 minutes, or until soft and completely tender.
• While the eggplants roast, heat a large dry sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the cumin and toast, stirring, for 3 minutes, or until its aromatics are released. Stir in the butter and add the mushrooms. Sprinkle with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms soften and release some liquid, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, for an additional 3 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and gently fold in the millet, mint, cilantro, and lemon zest and set aside.
• Remove the roasted eggplant from the oven and let it cool down enough to handle. Take 4 halves of the eggplant and dice into medium cubes, including the skin. Scoop out the flesh of the other 4 halves and dice it (reserve the skins). Combine the chopped eggplant with the mushroom and tomato mixture.
• Place the 4 scooped-out eggplant shells back on the baking sheet and stuff with the filling. Top with the breadcrumbs and return to the oven. Roast for 5 to 10 minutes, until the breadcrumbs brown slightly. Grind pepper over the eggplant. Drizzle with chile oil, if desired. Serve.
• Melt the butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the panko, lower the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the breadcrumbs begin to turn golden brown , about 3 minutes. Add the pecans and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture has a nutty fragrance, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and remove from the heat. Makes 3/4 cup.

ROASTED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and arrange three racks evenly spaced.
• Lay the eggplant in one layer on three sheet pans and brush both sides with olive oil, using all the oil. Sprinkle with the oregano, crushing it lightly in your hands, then sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn the slices and rotate the pans in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes, until tender. Leave the oven at 400 degrees F.
• In a 10 by 14 by 2-inch ceramic baking dish, spread a third of the marinara sauce. Arrange a third of the eggplant on top in one layer. Scatter a third of the basil, a third of the mozzarella, a third of the goat cheese, and a third of the Parmesan on top. Repeat twice, starting with the marinara and ending with the Parmesan, making sure each layer is evenly distributed.
• For the topping, place the bread crumbs, garlic, and basil in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt and pulse to moisten the crumbs. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the dish.
• Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until bubbling and golden brown. Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.

BAKED 'FRIED' BREADED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; coat with about 1 teaspoon olive oil.
• Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish.
• Combine eggs with a splash of water in a separate shallow dish. Coat both sides of an eggplant slice with the egg mixture. Dip eggplant slice in the bread crumb mixture to coat. Place slice onto the baking sheet. Repeat coating the remaining eggplant slices. Drizzle remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil over the breaded slices.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.

EGGPLANT CASSEROLE WITH RED PEPPER PESTO AND CAJUN BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• For the casserole: Heat a charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Brush the eggplant with canola oil on both sides and season with salt and pepper. Grill until lightly golden brown and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.
• Combine the peppers, pine nuts, garlic, and thyme in a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, slowly the cup olive oil and process until emulsified. Add 1/4 cup Parmesan and some salt and pepper and pulse a few times to incorporate.
• Spoon about 1/2 cup of the pesto over the bottom of a baking dish. Line the dish with the some eggplant slices and then the mozzarella slices. Season with salt and pepper and scatter the oregano leaves over the top. Dollop another 1/2 cup or so of the pesto over, then more eggplant, a bit more pesto and finally the remaining Parmesan. Put on the grill, cover and bake until the cheese is melted and the casserole is hot, about 20 minutes.
• For the breadcrumbs: Heat the oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the paprika and cayenne and cook for 30 seconds. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring occasionally, until the crumbs are lightly golden brown. Add the parsley and thyme and season with salt and pepper.
• While the casserole cooks, make the breadcrumbs: Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet over hot coals or over medium heat. Stir in the breadcrumbs (about 2 cups) and the spice rub and toast, stirring, until the crumbs are golden brown and crisp. Remove from the heat, stir in the parsley, and scatter over the casserole. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.