Creole Stuffed Eggplants Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat the butter and olive oil together in large skillet.
• Add the onion, celery, and garlic and saute over low heat until the onion is translucent.
• Add the diced bell pepper and continue to saute until the onion is golden.
• In the meantime, stem the eggplants and cut them in half lengthwise.
• With a sharp knife, score each half several times lengthwise and across, carefully removing the pulp.
• Leave a sturdy shell of about 1/4" all around.
• Chop the eggplant pulp and add it to the skillet mixture along with all the remaining ingredients except the bread crumbs.
• Add a bit of water, just enough to keep the mixture moist.
• Simmer, covered, over low heat until the eggplant is tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the bread crumbs.
• Set the eggplant shells in an oiled shallow baking dish, which should be of a size that they can be securely propped up against each other.
• Stuff the eggplant shells with the sauteed mixture, then drizzle them with 2 tablespoons of melted butter apiece.
• Bake at 375 degrees F for 30-40 minutes, or until the shells are tender but not collapsed.
• Serve with a bit of grated Parmesan for garnish.
• Note: if you do not like green bell pepper, you might want to try substituting with orange, yellow, or red bell pepper.

Steps:

• Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise. Run a knife around the inside rim of each half, about 1/2 inch from the skin, making a 1-inch deep cut. Scoop out the pulp, dice and place in a large colander. Toss with 1 teaspoon of salt. Set aside to drain for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wrap the eggplant halves in foil and bake until soft, about 20 to 30 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Combine 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion, garlic, cayenne pepper, thyme and bay leaf in a nonstick skillet. Cook over medium heat until aromatic, about 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Add the eggplants and Tabasco. Stir. Cook for 3 minutes.
• Transfer the stuffing to a large bowl. Set aside to cool slightly. Add ham, red pepper, tomato, shrimp, beaten egg and 3/4 cup bread crumbs. Mix well. Season to taste with remaining salt and pepper.
• Use a spoon to mound the filling into the 4 halves. Sprinkle each with the remaining bread crumbs. Brush the bottom of a baking dish with the remaining oil. Put the halves in a baking dish. Bake about 30 minutes.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 400˚F. 2. Cut the eggplants in half and hollow out the centers, leaving a 1/2-inch thick shell. Coarsely chop the scooped-out pulp and set aside. Rub the halved shells, inside and out with 1/2 cup of the olive oil, and place them in a baking dish. 3. Bake the eggplant shells until just soft, about 15 minutes. Set them aside. Lower the oven temperature to 325˚F. 4. Heat the tablespoon of oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring until peanut butter-coloured, about 10 minutes. Add one-fourth of the chopped onion, the chile pepper, and the lovage, and sauté for about 2 minutes. Add the garlic, the remaining 1/2 cup of olive oil and the reamining chopped onion. Cook until the onion is soft, about 7 minutes. 5. Lower the heat to medium and add the totato, hot sauce, Worchestershire sauce, fish sauce, salt, black pepper, and about 2 tbsp water - enough to make a thick suace-like consistency. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the reserved eggplant plulp, and cook until all the ingredients have softened, about 5 minutes. 6. Add 1/2 cup of the bread crumbs and 3 tablespoons of the cheese. Take the pan off the heat. 7. Beat the egg white lightly in a bowl, and combine it thoroughly with the stuffing mixture. Stuff the eggplant halves, and dust the tops with the remaining bread crumbs and the remaining cheese. 8. Bake until cheese and bread crumbs have browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• 1. In a large stockpot, over medium heat melt the butter and saute the eggplant until slightly soft. Add the onions, season with a little salt and pepper, and saute until translucent; then add the celery, bell peppers, garlic and tomatoes.
• 2. Saute for about 5-10 minutes until the vegetables soften up. Add the rosemary and flour, and use a wire whisk to incorporate it into the vegetable mixture.
• 3. Cook the roux for 3-4 minutes until you get a white roux (don't brown the flour). Then add the chicken stock, a cup or two at a time, whisking to incorporate all the roux, then add a little more stock, whisk again and repeat until you have a nice smooth sauce.
• 4. Add the rest of the chicken stock, bay leaves, and the andouille, bring to a boil stirring often, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 30 minutes.
• 5. Add the raw shrimp*, half & half, green onion, parsley, Creole seasoning to taste, then cook for 10 more minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed.
• 6. Leave the soup chunky like it is for a rustic effect; for a more elegant soup, you may puree it in batches in a food processor, or right in the pot with a hand blender.
• 7. *If you want to puree the soup, remove about 24 shrimp and set aside. Coarsely blend the soup so that it still has some texture to it.
• 8. Serve with toasted garlic french bread and place two or three whole shrimp on the top of the soup. Sprinkle with shredded Parmesan cheese if desired.