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'Wich of the Week: Eggplant Grilled Cheese

YumSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:30:57 -0800

When dealing with Thanksgiving leftovers, sandwiches are an obvious choice - and believe me, I consumed my fair share of turkey and stuffing on wheat bread last week. But in a more unexpected repurposing, I also used the breadcrumb mixture leftover from my New Orleans-style baked oyster dish to make this twist on a grilled cheese.

In this case, the "bread" is actually sliced eggplant coated with breadcrumbs, and the cheese is provolone (though mozzarella would also be good with a marinara dipping sauce on the side). I can't say this recipe is any healthier than a typical grilled cheese, since the bread crumb mixture is made with butter, but it is a creative take on a classic for all you grilled cheese fans.

What's cool is that the golden-browned breadcrumbs take on both the look and flavor of grilled, buttered bread, and the skins of the eggplant slices resemble bread crust. The breadcrumb mixture is easy to make, even for a weeknight supper. To get the recipe and step-by-step photos, read more.

Eggplant Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Original recipe

Ingredients

2 medium to large eggplants
1/4 cup salted butter
1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for brushing eggplant
2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
2 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions (green parts only)
2/3 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 egg
4 slices of provolone cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
After removing the stems from the ends, slice each eggplant lengthwise into 1/2-inch thick slices, discarding the round-edged slices, for a total of eight uniform slices.

Brush eggplant lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake in oven for 30 minutes, flipping the eggplant once during baking.
Meanwhile, make breadcrumb mixture. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a skillet over low heat. Add oil, garlic, parsley, and green onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Mix in 2/3 cup Italian bread crumbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, cayenne, tarragon, and oregano. Stir until well combined and remove from heat.
In a small, shallow bowl, lightly beat the egg.
Transfer the breadcrumb mixture onto a large plate, and wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel.
To prepare each eggplant slice, dip lightly into the egg, then coat generously with breadcrumbs, pressing to stick the bread to the eggplant.

Two slices at a time, place the eggplant in the skillet over medium-low heat and cook for 2 minutes per side, until breadcrumb coating is golden brown. Top one slice of eggplant with provolone cheese and place the other slice of eggplant on top of the cheese to make a "sandwich." Cook for an additional minute per side.

Continue with the remaining eggplant slices. If desired, transfer each completed sandwich to the baking sheet and place in the oven to keep warm.

Makes 4 sandwiches.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Grilled Ratatouille With Ricotta

partysugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:50:36 -0700

Traditionally, ratatouille is a slow-cooked vegetable dish that can simmer on the stove for hours. However, this recipe takes the basic elements and makes them accessible to the busy home cook. Instead of combining the zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers in a large pot, the vegetables are individually charred on the grill. A generous shaving of salty cheese and a chunk of toasted bread slathered with chopped olives makes this a hearty, yet healthy vegetarian meal. For the recipe, keep reading.

'Wich of the Week: Sardine and Arugula Sandwich

YumSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:00:50 -0700

Since I make my sandwich obsession so public, my friends and family are always passing along recommendations and recipes. I was especially tickled by an article my mom tore out of an old Esquire magazine from 1989, entitled "New Hope For the Bread." My dad and I share a love of Esquire, so these sandos are well-suited to Father's Day. The '80s sandwich tribute included such forward-looking recipes as an open-faced polenta sandwich and a breadless one eerily similar to my eggplant grilled cheese. I chose the simple sardine and arugula sandwich (arugula in '89! who knew?) to showcase this super-healthy, sustainable fish. It was tasty but there were some things I'd do differently, find out what and read more.

The magazine recommended water-packed sardines, but I think oil- or mustard-packed make for a tastier and less dry sandwich. In addition, I spread a bit of mustard on the bottom slice of bread to hold everything in place. Rather than sprinkle crumbled egg yolk over the sardines, as suggested in the article, I couldn't resist using lovely whole egg slices. Here's my modified recipe.

Sardine and Arugula Sandwich
Modified from Esquire

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
8 slices Jewish rye bread
2 handfuls arugula
1 tablespoon walnut or olive oil
2 tins good quality oil-packed sardines, drained
2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced

Directions

Spread one half tablespoon of mustard on four slices of bread.

Toss the arugula with the oil and place it on the mustard-coated slices. Arrange the sardines over the arugula.

Lay the hard-boiled egg slices over the sardines.

Top with remaining bread, cut in half, and serve.

Makes 4 sandwiches.

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What's Cooking at Slashfood

YumSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:00:07 -0700

We love Slashfood so much that every Thursday we round up their most delicious stories. Here are this week's finds:

Are those hard-boiled eggs from the Easter egg hunt safe to eat afterward?
Get acquainted with allepo, serrano, and dried arbol chiles.
Extend the life of overripe eggplant by salting it beforehand.
The Brewers Association has released their list of America's top 50 breweries.
Terrance Brennan's tips for making winning grilled cheese sandwiches.
What will go down at this year's National Grits Festival?

Source

Sunday BBQ: Grilled Vegetable Salad

partysugar — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:00:37 -0700

When piled high on a plate, a salad of grilled veggies is just as hearty as a slab of steak. Grilling the vegetables is a great way to bring out their full, rich flavor.

This salad is packed with thickly cut zucchini, eggplants, and peppers. A quick lemon vinaigrette adds a tart freshness and a sprinkling of goat cheese adds a lush creaminess. Serve with a cold beer and a chunk of grilled, crusty bread for a delicious dinner. To take a look at the recipe, read more.

Grilled Vegetable Salad
From Food and Wine magazine

Ingredients

1 garlic clove, halved
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 large onion, sliced 1/2 inch thick
2 small eggplants, sliced crosswise 1/2 inch thick
Two 6-ounce zucchini, sliced crosswise 1/2 inch thick
Two 6-ounce yellow squash, sliced crosswise 1/2 inch thick
Freshly ground pepper
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 large head romaine lettuce (1 1/4 pounds), quartered lengthwise
1/4 pound fresh goat cheese, crumbled (1 cup)

Directions

Light a grill. In a mortar, pound the halved garlic to a paste with 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and the lemon juice.
In a small skillet, cook the pine nuts over moderate heat until toasted, about 3 minutes.
Thread the onion slices onto two parallel 10-inch skewers. Put the eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash slices on 2 large rimmed baking sheets; brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Brush the bell peppers and lettuce with olive oil.
Grill the vegetables over a medium hot fire, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and just tender. The onions will take about 5 minutes per side; the eggplant, zucchini and squash, about 3 minutes per side; the peppers, about 3 minutes on each of 4 sides; the lettuce wedges, about 1 minute per side.
Scrape the charred skin from the peppers, discard the stems and seeds and cut into strips.
Put a lettuce wedge on each plate. Mound the vegetables on the lettuce and sprinkle with the cheese and toasted pine nuts.
Pass the lemon vinaigrette at the table.

Serves 4.

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