Aubergine Eggplant And Spinach Terrine Recipes

AUBERGINES FILLED WITH SPINACH & MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the aubergine halves and cook for 4-5 mins. Drain well and pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Place the aubergines on a baking tray, brush with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and cook for 20-25 mins until tender and golden. Scoop out the flesh (leaving about 15mm of flesh attached to the skin), then roughly chop.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a large frying pan, then cook the onion and garlic for 4-5 mins until the onion has softened. Add the aubergine flesh to the pan and fry for a few mins, add the mushrooms, then cook for about 5 mins until browned and tender. Add the spinach and cook for 3-4 mins until wilted, stirring frequently.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese, fromage frais and seasoning to taste.
• In a bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, lemon zest, pine nuts, parsley and seasoning.
• Spoon the spinach mixture into the aubergine halves and sprinkle the top of each with the breadcrumb mixture. Return to the oven and cook for 10-15 mins until the topping is golden.

EGGPLANT, ROASTED PEPPER, AND GOAT CHEESE TERRINE WITH PARSLEY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Arrange the eggplant slices in one layer on baking sheets, brush both sides of the eggplant with the oil, and sprinkle them with salt to taste. Broil the eggplant in batches about 4 inches from the heat for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until it is golden and tender, and transfer it with a metal spatula to paper towels to drain.
• Line a loaf pan, 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches, with plastic wrap, leaving a 3-inch overhang, and in it arrange the eggplant, the olive paste, the bell peppers, and the goat cheese in several layers, beginning and ending with the eggplant. Cover the eggplant with the plastic overhang, weight the terrine with a 3-to-4-pound weight (such as a loaf pan filled with canned goods), and chill it for 24 hours. (The terrine may be made 3 days in advance).
• Remove the weight, invert the terrine onto a cutting board, and discard the plastic wrap. Cut four 3/4-inch-thick slices from the terrine, pour about 2 tablespoons of the parsley sauce onto the center of each of 4 plates, tilting the plates to spread the sauce, and arrange a slice of the terrine on each plate. Garnish each serving with a parsley spring.
• To roast peppers:
• Using a long-handled fork char the peppers over an open flame, turning them, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the skins are blackened. (Or broil the peppers on the rack of a broiler pan under a preheated broiler about 2 inches from the heat, turning them every 5 minutes, for 15 to 25 minutes, or until the skins are blistered and charred.) Transfer the peppers to a bowl and let them steam, covered until they are cool enough to handle. Keeping the peppers whole, peel them starting at the blossom end, cut off the tops, and discard the seeds and ribs. (Wear rubber gloves when handling chilies.)
• Parsley sauce:
• In a blender purée the parsley and the garlic with the vinegar, the water, the oil, and salt and pepper to taste until the sauce is smooth and strain it through a fine sieve set over a small bowl, pressing hard on the solids. Makes about 1/2 cup.

EGGPLANT AND RED PEPPER TERRINE

Steps:

• Blacken and peel the red peppers: Arrange the red peppers on a broiling pan and place them under a hot broiler so that their upper surfaces are about 1/2 inch from the heat. Broil for 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the peppers are blistered and black on all sides. (You can alternatively blacken the peppers directly over the open flame of a gas cook-top, holding them and turning them with tongs.) Place them in a bowl and cover the bowl with a plate. Let the peppers steam in their own residual heat inside the bowl for 10 minutes. Then peel them (the skin will slide off) and remove the seeds. Note that Trader Joe's makes an excellent bottled cooked red pepper that can be used as a shortcut to the above step.
• Grill the eggplants: Heat a grill or grill pan until very hot. Cut the eggplants into 1/2-inch slices and lay out flat on a large flat surface such as a baking pan. Brush the slices on both sides with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. Cook the eggplant slices on the grill, covered, for 4 minutes on each side, until they are nicely browned and softened. If your grill does not have a lid, make a tent-like lid of aluminum foil and place it over the eggplant as it cooks.
• Blanch the parsley: While the eggplant is grilling, soften the parsley by blanching it in boiling water for 5 to 10 seconds. Remove, cool under cold water, drain.
• Build the terrine: Line a terrine mold (loaf pan) with plastic wrap. Arrange a layer of eggplant in the bottom of the mold and top it with about a third each of the red pepper pieces, parsley, and cheese. Repeat, beginning and ending with a layer of eggplant, until all the ingredients are used. Cover with plastic wrap and press down on the wrap to compact the mixture. Refrigerate. At this point you can make the terrine in advance and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve it.
• Prepare the sauce: Place the garlic and tomatoes in a blender and blend until smooth. Push the mixture through a food mill (fitted with a fine screen) over a bowl. Add the remainder of the sauce ingredients. Mix well.
• Serve: To serve, pour some of the sauce on a large platter and un-mold the terrine in the center. Cut it into slices and serve with the remainder of the sauce. Adapted from Jacques Pepin's Today's Gourmet II: Light and Healthy Cooking for the '90s .

AUBERGINE (EGGPLANT) AND SPINACH TERRINE

Steps:

• Vegan: use water or broth or oil.
• Preheat oven to 375F Cover one end of 4 2 1/2 inch metal muffin rings with plastic wrap to seal.
• Slice the eggplant into four equal rounds. Heat half the oil in in a fry pan and cook the eggplant on both sides until brown. Place themn on a cooking sheet and cook in oven for 10 minutes. Transfer to plate lined with paper towels.
• Heat half the remaining oil and cook the zucchini for two minutes then drain on paper towel. Season with salt,pepper and thyme.
• In the rest of the oil in a heavy frying pan put the tomatoes and basil and cook for 5 to 8 minutes.
• Cook the spinach, garlic and butter in a pan allowing water to evaporate. Drain and add nutmeg then season with salt and pepper. Note if making it Vegan you can simply use a bit of water or broth in place of the butter. You want them wilted not "mushed".
• Line the base and sides of muffin tins with spinach leaves leaving no gaps. Place the zucchini around the edges of each ring and overlap them slightly. Divide and place tomato mixture in center. Press it down well. Place eggplant on top, trim edges to fit.
• Seal top with clear plastic and pierce the base to allow liquid to escape. Chill overnight Remove the rings and serve with roastged pepper and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

AUBERGINE ROLLS WITH SPINACH & RICOTTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Brush both sides of the aubergine slices with oil, then lay on a large baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 mins until tender, turning once.
• Meanwhile, put the spinach in a large colander and pour over a kettle of boiling water to wilt. Cool, then squeeze out the excess water, so that it is dry. Mix with the ricotta, nutmeg and plenty of seasoning.
• Dollop a spoonful of the cheesy spinach mix in the centre of each aubergine slice, fold over to make a parcel and lay, sealed-side down, in an ovenproof dish. Pour over tomato sauce, sprinkle with breadcrumbs and cheese, and bake for 20-25 mins until golden and piping hot.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PATTIES OR EGGPLANT FRITTERS

Steps:

• Cut ends off of eggplants, cut in half length-wise and then into five pieces, length-wise.
• Cut across into 3/4" chunks.
• Steam eggplant chunks for 10 minutes and cool slightly.
• Heat oil in a large frying pan - you may mix vegetable and olive oil instead of using just olive oil.
• Squeeze liquid out of steamed pieces with your hands, keeping pieces from getting too mashed.
• Place bread crumbs (seasoned or unseasoned), parmesan cheese and seasonings into a large bowl and mix.
• You could use a clove or two of fresh garlic, sauteed in place of the garlic salt.
• Beat eggs in a small bowl and add to bread crumb mix along with eggplant pieces.
• Stir to mix well.
• Form patties of any size, but not exceeding an inch in thickness and place in frying pan.
• Cook for five minutes on each side.
• Remove to a towel-lined plate to drain.
• Place in a warm oven if you are not ready to serve them immediately.

SALMON AND SPINACH TERRINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F
• Blanch the spinach in boiling salted water until the leaves are limp, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and plunge into cold water; drain again and squeeze spinach dry.
• Transfer the spinach to a blender or food processor and add the cod, bread crumbs, eggs, and cream or half-and half and process until smooth.
• Line an 8 by 3-3/4 by 2-1/2 inch glass loaf pan with aluminum foil and brush lightly with cooking oil.
• Spoon half the spinach mixture into the pan. Cut the salmon into 1/2 inch thick crosswise slices.
• Lay the slices of salmon on top of the spinach mixture and sprinkle with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
• Spoon the remaining spinach mixture over the top.
• Cover with another piece of greased foil, place the loaf pan in a baking dish, and add hot water to come two thirds up the sides of the loaf pan.
• Bake for 1-1/4 hours.
• Remove both pans from the oven and let the terrine cool in the water bath for 2 to 3 hours.
• Remove from the water bath and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours.
• To serve, loosen the sides of the terrine with a warm knife and unmold onto a serving plate.
• Cut into 8 slices and serve over a bed of mixed greens garnished with cherry tomatoes.