In the Kitchen with Sigona’s: featuring eggplant

Eggplant is like a sponge: it’ll soak up any flavor in the dish in which its featured. I love it simply brushed with olive oil, dusted with salt and pepper and grilled. After you do that, you can use it in almost anything! Here are a few recipes to choose from:

Eggplant Milanese

Milanese is traditionally made with veal or chicken, but we put a lighter, meat-free twist on it and used eggplant. You can serve this over a bed of noodles or simply increase the amount of greens and vinaigrette. Serves 2 to 4.

Ingredients:

• 1 large eggplant, cut on the bias into 1-inch-thick pieces
• 4 Tbsp. Sigona’s Fresh Press Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
• 1 Tbsp. Sigona’s 12-year-aged Balsamic Condimento Tradizionale
• 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 3 Tbsp flour, preferably Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free
• 2 egg whites
• 3/4 cup bread crumbs or panko, preferably gluten-free
• 1 Tbsp dried Italian herbs, such as parsley, basil, garlic and oregano
• 3 to 4 cups baby spinach
• 3/4 cup halved grape tomatoes
• Optional: shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, for topping

Directions: Salt and pepper both sides of the sliced eggplant and allow the slices to sit while you prepare the other ingredients, or for at least 10 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon olive oil, the balsamic, dijon and salt and pepper, to taste; set aside. Place the spinach and tomatoes in a medium bowl; set aside.

Add flour to one shallow bowl or rimmed plate. In another, lightly whisk the egg whites. In a third bowl or plate, mix together the bread crumbs and spices.

Add 1 1/2 tablespoons oil to a large skillet over medium heat.

Dip each side of each eggplant slice in the flour, then in the egg and finally in the bread crumbs, shaking off excess in between. Working in 2 batches (add 1 1/2 more Tbsp oil in between batches), cook the eggplant until golden-brown and crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving platter and set aside.

Drizzle about half of the vinaigrette on the spinach and tomatoes; toss to incorporate. Add more vinaigrette if desired, but be careful not to over dress. Top the plated milanese with the dressed spinach, top with shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, if desired, and serve.

Grilled Eggplant

Grilled eggplant is great on a veggie platter or then used in a variety of dishes, including lasagna.

What you need:

• Eggplant
• Sigona’s Fresh Press extra virgin olive oil
• Salt & Pepper

Directions: Slice eggplant in 1/4 inch slices. Brush each side of the eggplant with a light coating of olive oil. Sprinkle on a bit of salt and pepper on each side. Grill for about 5 minutes on each side or until tender.

Eggplant Lasagna

I think this dish is even better reheated the second day as all the flavors will have melded together! This is for a 9×13 size baking dish. Serves 6+.

What you’ll need:

• 2 large American eggplants, sliced thin (about ¼ – ½ inch thick)
• 1 lb. of lasagna noodles
• 1 jar of Sigona’s marinara
• 16 oz. ricotta cheese
• 1 3/4 cups shredded mozzarella, PLUS 1/2 cup
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Slice eggplant lengthwise, brush it lightly with olive oil and dust with salt and pepper. Place in baking tray to roast for 20 minutes. Remove and reduce oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Brush olive oil on the bottom and sides of a 9×13 baking dish. Spread a couple tablespoons of the marinara on the bottom of the dish and then add on a layer of cooked noodles. Dollop a bit of ricotta on top of the noodles and then add slices of roasted eggplant, laying them out in a single layer, as you would lasagna noodles.

Next, sprinkle on a layer of shredded mozzarella and follow that by a layer of Sigona’s marinara sauce. Repeat the layers until ingredients run out. Finish with a sprinkling of the remaining ½ cup of mozzarella.

Bake for 1 hour and allow to rest at least 10 minutes before serving.

Sicilian-Style Caponata

A traditional Sicilian caponata always features eggplant. Other typical ingredients include raisins, garlic, tuna, red wine vinegar, balsamic, anchovies, olives, flat leaf parsley, olive oil, bell peppers and pine nuts. Simply typing this makes me want to go home and whip up a batch of Sicilian caponata this very second.

You can use a variation of any ingredients, adding or removing any of the above or following: onions, zucchini, tomato paste or bouillon, lemon juice or red wine vinegar. Just eyeball amounts based on what you know your taste buds like!

The process is simple: While the eggplant is grilling or under the broiler, dice up all vegetables and herbs, drain the tuna and anchovies (if using) and gather up all other ingredients. In a large sauté pan, start with a little olive oil and sauté the onion. After it’s a little soft, add the garlic, peppers, zucchini, nuts and raisins. Add in the vinegars or lemon juice and a bit of tomato paste or bouillon. Stir and then add in the diced, grilled/broiled eggplant and cook until the liquid is absorbed and vegetables are starting to become tender (about 15 minutes). The eggplant will absorb the flavors of all the other vegetables and seasoning because it acts like a sponge.

Remove from heat and stir in any remaining additions, such as parsley, anchovies, tuna and olives. Season with salt and pepper.

This dish tastes much better if refrigerated for a day as the flavors get a chance to meld together. We normally eat this as an antipasta, but it also goes great over pasta, whole grains, such as Farro, Integral brown rice, polenta or crostinis.

Moussaka My Way

By Luisa Ormonde of Luisa’s Catering.

Moussaka is a comfort dish which originated in Greece. It’s made by layering eggplant with a spiced meat filling which is topped with a creamy béchamel sauce before it’s baked to a golden brown. A special thanks goes out to Luisa Ormonde, a local personal chef and caterer, for sharing this recipe!

Ingredients:

• 3 medium American eggplants
• [Sigona’s Fresh Press Extra Virgin] olive oil & butter, for brushing
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 2 large sweet onions, minced
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2 pounds all natural ground beef (Marin Sun Farms grass-fed beef)
• 1 cup Glen Muir fire roasted tomato puree
• 1 cup freshly roasted red bells, pureed
• 1/2 cup good red wine (I use Zinfandel)
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons fresh bread crumbs (use your food processor or blender to make your own with a sweet French baguette)
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (or Mizritha, if you prefer)
• kosher salt and freshly grated pepper, to taste
• sugar, to taste

CREAM SAUCE:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups half & half, warm
• 4 egg yolks, beaten
• kosher salt and white pepper
• Freshly grated nutmeg to taste

How to make it

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice eggplant into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Mix a little olive oil with melted butter and brush each side. Season both sides with kosher salt and pepper. Place on parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake until softened & golden brown. Set aside.
• In a large skillet, sauté onions in 1/4 cup butter until tender. Add garlic. Crumble beef into pan and brown. Add the purees, wine, salt, pepper, parsley, cinnamon and sugar; mix well. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until juice is absorbed and cook covered for an additional 30 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in 3 tablespoons bread crumbs to the meat sauce and 1/2 cup of the cheese. Sprinkle remaining bread crumbs on bottom of 17 x 11-inch baking pan. Place a layer of eggplant slices on the bottom; then layer of meat mixture. Repeat layers ending with eggplant.
• Pour cream sauce over all. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven; cool 15 minutes. Cut into squares.