Eggplant Cannelloni Robert Irvine Recipes

THREE CHEESE STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• For stuffed eggplant:
• Slice the eggplant lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices, using a mandoline or sharp knife. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil.
• Add the flour to a shallow dish and season with salt and pepper, to taste. In another shallow dish, combine the eggs and the milk and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Dip the eggplant slices into flour, and then into the egg mixture.
• Fry the eggplant, in batches, in the hot oil until golden brown on both sides. Remove the eggplant to paper towels to drain. Repeat until all the eggplant has been fried.
• For the stuffing:
• In a large bowl combine the 3 cheeses, parsley and the 2 beaten eggs. Mix well and season with salt and pepper, to taste. The mixture should be a little wet, so add enough bread crumbs to make a dry mixture that will not stick to your hands.
• Lay the eggplant slices on a flat surface and divide the filling between the slices. Roll up and arrange in a lightly greased ovenproof dish. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For quick tomato sauce:
• Add the canola oil to a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add the garlic and onions and saute until golden brown.
• Stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste and vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Cook for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat and continue to cook at a simmer for another 15 minutes. Add the basil and the butter and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste.
• To finish the dish:
• Remove the eggplant from the refrigerator, top with the fresh tomato sauce and bake until the eggplant is cooked through and the sauce is bubbling, about 20 minutes.

EGGPLANT CANNELLONI WITH PINE NUT ROMESCO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil a nonstick baking pan. Arrange eggplant in a single layer in the pan. Bake about 20 minutes or until eggplant is flexible enough to roll up easily. Set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons water in a large pan, add the bell pepper, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic and sauté until just tender, adding more water if needed. Add the spinach and VegiZest or other no-salt seasoning blend, and cook until spinach is wilted. Add the cooked quinoa.
• Transfer to a mixing bowl. Mix in 2-3 tablespoons of the pasta sauce and all of the shredded cheese. Spread about 1/4 cup of the pasta sauce in a baking pan. Put some of the vegetable mixture on each eggplant slice, roll up, and place in the pan. Pour remaining sauce over the eggplant rolls. Bake for 20 minutes, until heated through.
• To make romesco sauce, sauté the onions, garlic, and tomatoes in a little water or white wine until the onions are translucent, add chili powder, and sauté an extra minute. Put onion mixture in a high-powered blender with the remaining ingredients and puree until smooth. Serve eggplant with a drizzle of romesco sauce.

EGGPLANT CANNELLONI

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook shallots and garlic until soft, about 1 minute. Reduce heat. Cook until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Add peppers and juice; bring to a boil. Lower heat; simmer until peppers are soft, about 5 minutes. Cool. Puree in a blender. Pour into a 9" x 13" baking dish. Coat eggplants with cooking spray and broil on a baking sheet until golden on both sides, about 15 minutes. Heat oven to 400°F. Mash cheese, olives, capers and 1 tablespoon of the parsley in a bowl. Place 1 tablespoon of filling at the end of each eggplant slice; roll up. Lay seam side down in dish. Bake 10 to 15 minutes. Top with remaining 1 tablespoon parsley.

EGGPLANT CANNELLONI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the cannelloni: Fill a large pasta pot with an insert with water. Bring to a boil. Season with salt and cook the lasagna sheets for about 1 to 2 minutes. Fill a large bowl with water and ice. Drain the lasagna sheets and place them in the ice bath. When cool, drain the pasta again, spray the sheets with nonstick spray to keep from sticking and lay them on a sheet pan. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Add the eggplant and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the oregano and smash the eggplant mixture with a potato masher. Stir in the panko, 1/2 cup of the Parmigiano and the egg. Set aside.
• For the tomato sauce: Heat the oil in a deep medium skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato puree and basil and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, adjust heat, and simmer 10 minutes.
• For the anchovy breadcrumbs: Heat the oil and butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Once bubbling, add the anchovies. Cook, stirring, until the anchovies melt, about 1 minute. Add the panko and toss until coated. Cook until the panko is golden, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Ladle 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce into an 8-inch-square baking dish, creating a bed for the pasta.
• Put about 1/4 cup of eggplant filling on a lasagna sheet. Starting with the shortest end, roll it up like a cigar away from you. Continue until all the pasta and filling is used. Lay each cannelloni into the baking dish. Top with more tomato sauce and remaining 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano. Bake until brown and bubbly, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with more Parmigiano and with the anchovy breadcrumbs.