Eggplant Goat Cheese Dream Recipes

GRILLED EGGPLANT AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Drizzle the olive oil over the slices of eggplant and toss to coat. Grill the eggplants until tender and grill marks appear, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Place the eggplants side-by-side on a serving platter. Sprinkle with the pine nuts, goat cheese, basil, and mint. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
• Cook's note: Plating the eggplant salad this way allowed the cheese to stay bright white. The salt and pepper showed up on it. The herbs remained green and fluffy. The grill marks on the eggplant were distinct.

GOAT CHEESE, EGGPLANT, AND ROASTED PEPPER TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Grease a fluted pan, pie tin, or shallow springform pan. Roll out the puff pastry to the width of the baking pan. Dust the rolling pin with flour and carefully roll the pastry back onto the rolling pin, then unroll it over the pan. Press the dough into place and crimp the edges. Brush the pastry with the softened butter.
• Place the bell peppers over an open flame or under the broiler and completely blacken them on all sides. Put the blackened peppers in a plastic bag, seal it, and allow them to steam for 20 minutes. Remove the peppers from the bag and peel away and discard all black skin. Cut the peppers in half and remove all seeds and veins. Cut into 1/2--inch thick strips.
• Cut the eggplant crosswise on the bias into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Brush the eggplant lightly with the clarified butter and season with salt and pepper. Roast the eggplant in the oven for 15 minutes, or until done but not mushy.
• Place the crumbled goat cheese on top of the pastry. Top the goat cheese with the eggplant and peppers in a spiral fashion, overlapping each. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the eggplant and peppers.
• Bake the tart for about 20 minutes, or until it is golden brown and the edges are puffy. Garnish with the fresh basil leaves.
• Whisk together the vinegar, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Slowly add the olive oil while whisking. Toss with the greens and any remaining eggplant or peppers and serve on top of the tart.

BAKED EGGPLANT WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the grill. Place the eggplants in a grill pan, then grill them, turning regularly until the skin is charred and blistered.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, peel them and chop the flesh.
• Transfer to a bowl, then add the mint, tomatoes, garlic and pepper and mix together.
• Spoon the mixture into a baking dish and crumble the goat cheese over the top.
• Bake for about 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.

EGGPLANT WITH LENTILS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 475°. Remove pulp from eggplants; cut pulp from one eggplant into 1/4-inch cubes and discard the rest. Coat eggplant shells with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, place eggplant shells open side down. In a bowl, coat eggplant cubes with cooking spray and toss with 1/4 teaspoon salt; place in one layer on a second baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake eggplant shells and cubes until tender, 10 minutes. Remove eggplant; reduce oven to 350°. In a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Cook onion, celery and carrot until soft, 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook, 1 minute. Add lentils, eggplant cubes, broth, vinegar, pepper and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; reduce heat to simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Stir in chopped mint. Flip shells on baking sheet and stuff with lentil-eggplant mixture; cover with aluminum foil and bake until warm; 10 minutes. Top with cheese and mint leaves.