Eggplant Stuffed With Ricotta And Ham Recipes

EGGPLANT ROLLS WITH RICOTTA, WALNUTS AND MINT

Steps:

• Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet. Lay the eggplant slices on the rack, generously salting each slice (about 1/4 teaspoon per slice). Place another baking sheet on top of the eggplant and weigh it down with a few cans. Let them sit 30 minutes. Flip the eggplant slices, sprinkle with more salt, weigh down again and let them sit for another 30 minutes. (This draws out the bitter juices.) Meanwhile, toast the walnuts.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the walnuts on a small baking sheet and pop into the oven until the walnuts give off their nutty aroma and deepen in color, about 5 minutes. When they are cool enough to touch, chop them finely.
• Make the ricotta filling: Push the ricotta through a sieve into a medium bowl. This gives the cheese a light, airy texture. Add the toasted walnuts, garlic, mint, date, half the lemon juice, a pinch of salt and a swirl of olive oil. Stir together, taste for seasoning and then set aside.
• Rinse the eggplant slices well and pat them dry. Warm a grill pan over moderately-high heat. Brush the eggplant slices with olive oil on one side; place the oiled-side down on the hot griddle and brush the other side. Cook until browned, about 2 minutes, then flip and cook another 2 minutes.
• To assemble the rolls, place a couple of tablespoons of filling at one of end of a slice of eggplant. Roll and place on a plate seam-side down. Top the eggplant rolls with the remaining lemon juice, a swirl of extra-virgin olive oil and the reserved mint leaves, torn over the dish. Serve hot or at warm temperature.

EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH RICOTTA AND HAM

Steps:

• Set the oven at 400 degrees. Have on hand a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Halve the eggplant lengthwise. Place them in the baking dish, cut sides up. Sprinkle generously with oil and salt. Bake for 20 minutes. Leave to cool.
• With a teaspoon, scoop out the eggplant flesh. Chop it coarsely; transfer to a bowl.
• In a skillet, heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. When it is hot, add the shallot, coriander, and thyme. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring often, for 4 minutes.
• Stir in the eggplant flesh. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes or until the mixture is pulpy and well flavored. Discard the bay leaf and thyme. Leave to cool slightly.
• Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees.
• Stir the ricotta, pecorino, cilantro, ham, egg, salt, and pepper into the eggplant mixture. Fill the eggplant shells with the stuffing.
• Return the shells to the baking dish. Sprinkle with olive oil and add the water to the dish. Bake the eggplant for 45 minutes or until the shells are tender when pierced with a skewer.

EGGPLANT ROLLATINI

Steps:

• In a large skillet, fry eggplant slices in olive oil until eggplant is flexible for rolling, about 3 minutes per side. (Eggplant can also be roasted in the oven: Brush slices with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Roast in 400-degree oven for 20 minutes, flipping eggplant halfway through cooking.)
• While eggplant is frying/baking, make filling: In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of fresh ricotta, 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of fresh shredded mozzarella, 1 egg white, salt and pepper, and mix well.
• Drain eggplant on paper towel if fried. When eggplant has cooled about 10 minutes, begin the rolling process. On each slice, put about 2 tablespoons of ricotta cheese mixture. Spread it on the eggplant. Next, place a slice of ham/prosciutto on top of the cheese, if using, and then roll. Repeat with all eggplant slices.
• Coat the bottom of a deep baking dish with tomato sauce. Start placing the rolled eggplants at the bottom of the pan. When pan is filled, put some sauce on the top of the eggplant. Sprinkle some more grated cheese on top. Finally, cut slices of fresh mozzarella cheese to place on top of each rollatini.
• Bake in a 400-degree oven for about 20 minutes. (If the eggplant was baked, 30 minutes is better.) The cheese should be melted and a little bubbling should be going on. Serve.

RICOTTA-STUFFED ROLLED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Set oven to 350°F.
• Spray three baking sheets, and one 13 x 9-inch baking dish with non stick cooking spray.
• Place flour in a shallow dish.
• In another dish place the slightly beaten eggs.
• In another dish mix together breadcrumbs with 1 cup Parmesan cheese (you should have three separate dishes).
• Season eggplant slices with salt and pepper.
• Coat each slice with flour, then in eggs, then in the breadcrumb mixture.
• Arrange the eggplant slices in a single layer on baking sheets.
• Bake the eggplant slices in three batches until the coating is golden, about 30 minutes (turning after 15 minutes) cool on the sheets.
• In a bowl combine ricotta cheese, 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese, 1-1/4 cups Parmesan cheese, 1 egg yolk and 1 teaspoon dried basil; mix well to combine then season with salt and black pepper to taste (if you are a garlic-lover then you may add in 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder if desired).
• Spread about 3-4 tablespoons ricotta filling evenly on the eggplant slices.
• Starting at the short end, roll up the slices with the filling inside.
• Arrange the eggplant slices seam-side down into prepared baking dish.
• At this point you can cover and refrigerate the eggplant slices for up to 24 hours.
• Set oven to 350°F.
• Spoon the tomato sauce over the rolled slices, and sprinkle with about 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
• Bake uncovered until the rolls are heated through and the mozzarella cheese inside the eggplant rolls melts (about 20-22 minutes).

RICOTTA EGGPLANT ROLLS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook until fragrant and lightly browned. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, sugar, and pepper. Simmer covered over medium-low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a large shallow dish, stir together the bread crumbs and flour. In a separate dish, whisk together the eggs and cream with a fork.
• Heat the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dip each eggplant slice into the egg mixture, then coat with breadcrumbs. Fry each slice until golden brown in the hot oil, turning once. Drain on paper towels.
• Spread a thin layer of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and parsley. Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons of the cheese mixture onto one side of each slice of eggplant. Roll up, and place in the baking dish seam side down. Spoon the remaining tomato sauce over the rolls. Cover the baking dish with a lid or aluminum foil.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Garnish with additional chopped parsley before serving if desired.