Mock Oysterseggplant Casserole Recipes

MOCK OYSTERS/EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Soak the eggplant about 8 hours in salted water.
• Remove eggplant pieces from the water in which they have soaked.
• In cooking pot, cover eggplant with fresh, slightly salted water and cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes or until eggplant is tender.
• Drain in colander.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line bottom of 2-quart casserole with 1/3 of the saltine cracker crumbs.
• Cover with 2 cups of eggplant.
• Season with half the salt and pepper.
• Cut half the butter into small pieces and sprinkle on top.
• Cover this with half of the remaining saltine cracker crumbs.
• Add remaining 2 cups of eggplant.
• Season with remaining salt and pepper.
• Cover top with remaining saltine cracker crumbs.
• Cut remaining butter into small pieces and sprinkle on top.
• Pour in enough half & half to cover (may not take entire pint).
• Bake for 1 hour or until top layer is brown.

CHINESE FRIED MOCK OYSTER

Steps:

• Soak the bean curd sheet to soften. In another bowl soak dried mushrooms in warm water for 25 minutes [or so] Drain the curd. Squeeze the mushrooms. Cut off mushrooms stems and dice. Save the strained soaking liquid to use then steam the mushroom pieces and bean curd for 8 minutes.
• Take each sheet of seaweed and cut into shreds. Combine in a bowl with the steamed mushroom pieces.
• Using a fork mix and mash steamed bean curd in a bowl and add the salt, sugar, cornstarch, sesame oil, pepper and MSG [if using].
• Now wipe bean curd sheet with damp cloth then trim the edges and cut into 10 pieces.
• Mix the batter ingredients until smooth and lump free. The mushroom water is the soaking liquid.
• Mix together the flour and water mixture until a glue type paste. If you can glue a picture in a book with it? You got it.
• Assemble:
• Lay bean curds so they form diamonds then place about a teaspoon of the mashed bean curd in the middle.
• Add a bit of the seaweed mixture then topping with another teaspoon of bean curd. You want bean curd, seaweed, bean curd.
• Fold the bottom over the filling so that it forms a triangle.
• Fold over the top.
• Brush generously with the glue mixture.
• Fold over the left and right sides, brushing with more of the glue and pressing down on the edges to seal.
• To hot wok add oil.
• Coat about 4 or 5 of the wrapped bean curds in the batter and add to the wok, carefully sliding them in so the oil doesn't splatter.
• It hurts if it splatters. If needed use a splatter shield. Done right you shouldn't but stranger things have happened.
• Turn as needed until you deep-fry until golden brown (about 5 minutes]. Drain.
• Serve with Vegetarian Worcestershire sauce or seasoned salt. Or other dipping sauce.
• Time is a guess for the frying. Move at your own speed and the woks speed. You want results not to beat a clock.

MOCK LOBSTER CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cut up and steam broccoli over medium-high heat.
• Melt 4 tablespoons butter or margarine in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion, cook until translucent (about 3 minutes).
• Stir in flour, curry powder, salt, and then slowly stir in the milk, stirring continuously until thickened.
• stir lemon juice and crabmeat into skillet, let simmer.
• Spray a medium sized glass baking dish with non-stick spray before spreading the cooked broccoli over the entire bottom of the dish. Sprinkle with cheddar.
• Pour sauce over broccoli.
• Microwave the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter (in a microwave safe dish) until just melted and mix in dried bread crumbs (I like to food process the dried bread).
• Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the sauce.
• Bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.