Stuffed Eggplant With Walnuts Recipes

WALNUT-STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• 1. Halve eggplants lengthwise, and scoop out flesh and seeds, leaving 1/2-inch-thick edges on eggplants' shells. Cut scooped-out flesh into 1/2-inch pieces, and set in colander. Sprinkle eggplant pieces and inside of eggplant shells with salt. Let stand 25 to 30 minutes, or until beaded with moisture. Rinse eggplant shells and pieces in cold water, and pat dry. 2. Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Drop eggplant shells in water, and simmer 5 to 8 minutes, or until barely tender when pierced with fork. Drain in colander, cool, and pat dry. 3. Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbs. olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onions 3 minutes, or until translucent. Add eggplant pieces, tomatoes, walnuts, cinnamon, oregano, and 1/4 cup water. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Cook 8 minutes, or until vegetables are softened and browned, stirring occasionally. 4. Preheat oven to broil. Toss breadcrumbs with 4 tsp. olive oil in bowl. Brush each eggplant shell with 1/2 tsp. oil, and place cut-side up on baking sheet. Broil 5 minutes, or until tender and starting to brown. Reduce oven heat to 375°F. 5. Divide filling among eggplant shells. Sprinkle each stuffed eggplant with breadcrumb mixture, and top with feta cheese. Bake 35 minutes, or until heated through and browned on top. Serve with lemon wedges, if using.

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 CRISP WITH WALNUT STREUSEL

Steps:

• Adjust two racks to the top and bottom position of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Pierce the eggplants all over with a fork, and place on the foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Roast on the top rack until completely soft when pierced with a paring knife, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss the grape tomatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds pepper. Spread on a small baking sheet and roast in the same oven until the tomatoes are soft and wrinkled, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Mix together the panko, walnuts, flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Drizzle in 3 tablespoons olive oil and mix until the mixture starts to clump. Reserve.
• When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, halve them and scoop the soft flesh into the bowl with the tomatoes (if the eggplants are too slippery to handle, hold them with a clean towel while scooping). Discard the skins and stems. Using a fork or spoon, mash the eggplant into smaller bite-sized pieces. (It's okay if the tomatoes get mashed in the process.) Add the garlic, 1 tablespoon each of dill and parsley, the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and a few grinds of pepper. Check for seasoning and add more salt, if necessary.
• Drizzle a little olive oil in the bottom of a wide 2-quart baking dish. Spread the eggplant mixture in the dish. Sprinkle feta in an even layer, then top with the reserved panko-walnut mixture. Bake until the top is golden brown and the eggplant is hot, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Right before serving, sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons each dill and parsley and the lemon zest.

STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Scoop out the flesh of the eggplant, chop, and reserve. Season shells with salt and pepper, and coat with some olive oil; set aside.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Saute sausage and garlic until sausage is evenly brown. Stir in the reserved chopped eggplant. Season with parsley, salt and pepper. Pour in wine, and cook 5 minutes. Mix in the bread crumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. If mixture is dry, stir in more olive oil. Stuff mixture into eggplant shells, and sprinkle top with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until eggplant is tender.