Grilled Eggplant Rounds With Sweet Chile Sauce Recipes

GRILLED EGGPLANT ROUNDS WITH SWEET CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the sauce: In a medium saucepan, heat the sesame oil over medium heat until hot, but not smoking. Add the garlic and ginger and saute stirring occasionally for 3 minutes. Add the lime juice, ketchup, brown sugar, and chile peppers and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring once in a while, for 20 minutes or until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Put the eggplant rounds into a medium bowl along with the vegetable oil and salt and pepper to taste, and toss to coat. Cook the eggplant on the grill over medium-high heat and cook until browned and soft, about 4 minutes per side. To check for doneness: Cut into the eggplant and check to be sure the interior looks moist. Brush the eggplant on both sides with the chile sauce, leave it on the grill for about 10 seconds and then remove it from the grill. Sprinkle with the scallions, coriander and red pepper flakes. Serve warm.

SUMMER PASTA WITH GRILLED EGGPLANT SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for high heat.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lemon juice to the boiling water and cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, drain the pasta and return it to the pot; set aside.
• Pierce the eggplant a few times with a fork or knife. Place on the grill, cover and cook, turning every 8 to 10 minutes, until completely charred all over and the flesh is soft when pressed, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool slightly for 10 minutes.
• While the eggplant cooks, prepare 2 sheets of foil, each 12-by-12-inches, and stack them together. Place the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in the center of the foil. Fold over 2 opposite sides of the foil then fold in the remaining sides to create a tight seal. When 15 minutes of cooking time remain for the eggplant, add the foil pack to the grill and cook until juices start to bubble out of the top (this means the tomatoes and garlic are sufficiently cooked without having to open the pack), 13 to 15 minutes.
• Remove the eggplant to a cutting board (keeping any juices that accumulated in the bowl) and squeeze gently to crack the skin and expose the flesh. Use a spoon to remove the flesh, transfer to the large bowl and mash lightly with the spoon or a potato masher (you should have about 1 cup of flesh); discard the skin. Stir in the ricotta and Pecorino Romano until smooth then pour into the pot with the pasta and mix until combined. Fold in the contents of the foil pack (including any juices that accumulated), the basil, parsley, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper; stir until combined, adding the reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to thin out the sauce if needed. Serve with more basil, parsley, Pecorino Romano and crushed red pepper flakes if using.