Donald Links Eggplant Casserole Recipes

MARK BITTMAN'S EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Put 1/8 inch of oil in your largest skillet (the bigger the skillet, the faster you can get through sautéing the eggplant) and turn the heat to medium. Start trimming and slicing eggplant: 1/2-inch slices, or maybe 3/8-inch, but not as thin as 1/4 inch. When the oil shimmers, add the eggplant; you can crowd them as long as they don't overlap. Season with salt and pepper and cook, turning as necessary, until nicely tender and browned on both sides; drain on paper towels. Add more oil when necessary.
• Cook the onion in the remaining oil; when it's tender, add the tomatoes and some salt and pepper and cook at a lively simmer until saucy, 10 or 15 minutes. Heat the oven to 400.
• Eyeball your eggplant and your baking dishes and pick a nice dish that will work. I like a big oval gratin dish for this. Add a layer of eggplant, then tomato sauce, then cheese, then eggplant, tomato sauce, cheese. That will probably do, but you can make more layers if you like. Bake until the cheese is melted and the whole thing is bubbly, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve hot or at room temperature.

DONALD LINK'S EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• For the béchamel: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk until pale golden, about 5 minutes. Add milk, salt, white pepper and nutmeg, and whisk to combine thoroughly. Cook, whisking frequently, until thickened and smooth, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• For the casserole: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread eggplant slices in a single layer on a baking sheet, and thoroughly coat both sides with olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and black pepper. Roast until fully cooked, 12 to 15 minutes, then remove from heat but do not turn off oven. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet over medium-low heat, sauté merguez until browned and fully cooked. Remove from heat and slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds.
• Oil an 8-by-11, 2-inch-deep baking dish. Spread one-third of béchamel in baking dish. Top with half the eggplant, then half the fontina and half the merguez. Coat with half of the remaining béchamel. Top with remaining eggplant, fontina and merguez. Spread with remaining béchamel and the Parmesan.
• Bake until hot, bubbling and lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to rest for a minute or two, then serve.

EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil; add eggplant. Boil for 5-8 minutes or until tender;drain and set aside. , In a skillet, cook beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until tomato is tender. Remove from the heat. Stir in milk, egg and eggplant; mix well., Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Toss bread crumbs and butter; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 30 minutes or until heated through.

EGGPLANT AND HERB CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and lightly grease a baking dish or gratin dish (14-by-9 1/2 oblong or 10-by-6 rectangular).
• If using fresh plum tomatoes, plunge them into a pot of boiling water for 10 seconds, lift out with a slotted spoon and remove the skins. Core and cube them to yield 4 cups.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a saucepan, and saute the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the plum tomatoes (or canned tomatoes), then the tomato paste. Add the oregano, basil and thyme.
• Stir well, and bring the sauce to a simmer. Cook, covered, over low heat for 30 minutes, adding salt and freshly ground pepper if necessary.
• Meanwhile, place the flour in a bowl. Dredge the eggplant slices in the flour. Use the rest of the olive oil, little by little, to saute the eggplant slices over medium heat -- about 2 minutes per side, or until lightly browned.
• Pour a layer of tomato sauce over the bottom of the baking dish, and layer some cooked eggplant over that. Alternate the rest of the sauce and eggplant in layers. Arrange eggplant slices over the top. Cover with sliced mozzarella. Bake for 1 hour or until the surface is golden brown.