Polpettone Stuffed With Eggplant And Provolone Recipes

POLPETTONE WITH SPINACH AND PROVOLONE

Steps:

• Put bread cubes in a small bowl, cover with cream and set aside to soak until softened, about 10 minutes.
• Put beef, pork and veal in a mixing bowl. Season with salt, pepper, cayenne, nutmeg, rosemary, thyme, sage and parsley. Add Parmesan and, using hands, knead seasoning into meat. Combine soaked bread (and any remaining cream) with beaten eggs, then pour mixture over seasoned meat and knead until well combined.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-by-18-inch baking sheet with parchment or foil. Press ground meat mixture evenly over parchment to make a flat rectangle slightly smaller than the baking sheet. Top with slices of mortadella. Scatter cooked spinach evenly over mortadella. Break provolone slices into rough pieces and distribute over surface. Finish with hard-cooked egg chopped into chunks.
• Using parchment to help, roll the meat into a long cylinder with filling on the inside. With the long side facing you, first lift parchment and use it to roll meat to the center, pressing down to keep it in place. Then lift parchment on the opposite long side, bringing meat just past the center to overlap itself slightly. Pinch the "seam" of the meat together to keep filling in place. Sprinkle with half the dry crumbs. You will now have a cylinder approximately 15 inches long. Twist ends of parchment to firm the mixture, then transfer to a deep-sided baking dish or roasting pan, and place it seam-side down. Carefully remove and discard parchment. With hands, press firmly to form cylinder into a long loaf with rounded ends. Dust top and sides with remaining bread crumbs. (The polpettone may be prepared to this point several hours, or up to 24 hours, in advance; keep refrigerated and bring to room temperature before baking.)
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until internal temperature is 140 degrees. Let rest for 10 minutes and cut into 1-inch-thick slices and serve. (Alternatively, cool to room temperature and refrigerate for up to 3 days. If serving cold, cut thinner slices.)

POLPETTONE - ITALIAN MEATLOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix all the ingredients together besides the provolone cheese and olive oil. The mixture should be soft, perfectly blended together, and should not stick to the sides of the bowl. Add a little more breadcrumbs or milk if necessary.
• Place the mixture on a sheet of kitchen paper and form a rectangle. Arrange the cubed cheese onto the center.
• Roll the meat with the help of the parchment paper to form a log. Make sure it's well sealed on all sides. Roll it in the parchment paper and twist the ends to form a large candy.
• Transfer the meatloaf in the fridge and let it rest for 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and arrange the oven tray onto the middle shelf.
• Transfer the meatloaf onto a baking sheet and bake it in the oven for 30 minutes. After this cooking time, the meatloaf will have released some liquid, but it's totally ok.
• Remove the parchment paper, drizzle the top of the polpettone with olive oil, then place it back in the oven for a further 10 minutes.
• Check if the meat is done with a meat thermometer, if it reaches 155°F/68°F you can safely remove it from the oven. Let the polpettone rest for about 15 minutes, then slice it and serve with your favourite sides.

BROILED EGGPLANT WITH PROVOLONE

Steps:

• Lightly oil heavy large baking sheet. Brush both sides of 12 eggplant rounds generously with dressing; arrange on prepared sheet. Sprinkle rosemary and oregano over. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Preheat broiler. Broil eggplant on baking sheet until brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. (Can be prepared 1 hour ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Top each eggplant slice with 1 rounded tablespoon sauce. Place 1 provolone slice atop each eggplant round and trim to fit. Sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Bake until cheeses melt and eggplant is heated through, about 5 minutes.