Eggplant Sandwich With Black Olive Pesto Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner and another baking sheet with a wire rack.
• For the eggplant: In a bowl, toss the tomatoes with the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, brown sugar and some salt. Evenly place the tomatoes on the lined baking sheet. Place in the oven and roast until slightly caramelized and dried out a bit, 20 to 30 minutes. Set aside.
• Set the eggplant slices on the wire rack (if you don't have a rack you can use a colander set in the sink). Sprinkle salt on each side of the eggplant and let the salt do the work for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Once the salt has released moisture from the eggplant, pat the slices dry with paper towels. Then sprinkle each side of the eggplant with pepper.
• Set up a standard breading station with the flour in one shallow dish, the eggs in another and the panko mixed with the Parmesan in a third dish. Dredge each eggplant slice in the flour, shake off any excess, dip in the egg, let any excess drip off and then coat in the panko. Set aside on the wire rack and repeat.
• In a large cast-iron skillet, heat 1-inch vegetable oil to 350 degrees F.
• Working in small batches, fry the eggplant slices, turning once, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes a side. Using a pair of tongs, transfer back to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining eggplant. Make sure to season the eggplant as it comes out of the oil.
• For the sandwich build: Butter and griddle both sides of the buns until golden and crispy (you can toast the buns as well). Tear the burrata over the bottom buns, then add 2 hot eggplant slices, some roasted tomatoes, a few pickled cherry peppers and some fresh basil leaves on each bun. Serve to applause.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Slice the eggplant into 15 pieces, brush with olive oil, place on cookie sheet, and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 25 minutes and let cool.
• Cut the baguette into 1/3's and slice in 1/2 for sandwiches. Slice green and red peppers, discarding stems and seeds. Slice the tomatoes and red onion and set aside. Mix goat and feta cheese together, set aside. In separate bowls place oregano, salt, pepper and olive oil.
• Spread goat and feta cheese mix on 1 side of baguette and brush other side lightly with olive oil. Spread 5 pieces of eggplant on baguette, generous amounts of red and green peppers, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro. Lastly, sprinkle with oregano, salt, and pepper.

Steps:

• Place the garlic, and herbs in a food processor and blend until finely chopped.
• Add the tomatoes, olives and Parmesan and pulse until coarsely chopped.
• Scoop the mixture into a bowl and stir in the olive oil to make a thick paste.
• Serve tossed with freshly cooked spaghetti, black pepper and extra Parmesan, or on bruschetta.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Coat two large baking sheets with olive oil.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the panko crumbs, salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. In another bowl, whisk together the egg and water. Place the flour in a third bowl. Coat each slice of eggplant with flour, shaking off the excess, then dip into the egg, and finally coat with panko crumbs. Place on the oiled baking sheets.
• Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven, then turn over the slices and bake for an additional 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool slightly, but leave the oven on.
• While the eggplant is baking, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion; cook and stir until almost tender, then add the garlic. Cook for just about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the goat cheese, provolone cheese, parsley and basil. Season with pepper.
• Divide the cheese mixture among 8 slices of the eggplant (half). Spread to cover, then top with remaining eggplant slices, pressing to compact. Return to the baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until eggplant is crisp, about 15 minutes. Place two sandwiches onto each serving plate, and drizzle with pomegranate molasses.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Toss eggplant slices with olive oil, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few pinches pepper.
• Lay eggplant on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven and brush with the balsamic vinegar.
• Cut baguette in half lengthwise and hollow out the center.
• Brush both sides generously with pesto, then lay eggplant in bottom in overlapping slices.
• Follow with an overlapping layer of tomatoes and sprinkle them lightly with salt and pepper.
• Place the cheese on top and follow with the lettuce.
• Place the top of the baguette on the sandwich and slice diagonally into 4 sandwiches.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the flour, salt, and pepper. Coat each eggplant slice with the seasoned flour.
• In a large skillet heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil over medium-high heat and fry the eggplant slices until golden brown on both sides, adding more oil as needed. Remove the eggplant from the skillet and blot lightly on paper towels.
• Cut the focaccia in 1/2 horizontally and spread the Black Olive Pesto on the inside of both halves. Arrange the eggplant slices on 1 half of the focaccia. Layer the tomatoes and roasted peppers on top and sprinkle with cheese. Cover with the other half of the focaccia, pressing firmly to join.
• Cut the sandwich in 2 pieces. Brush each side of the focaccia with olive oil. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and grill both sides until golden and crispy. Place the sandwiches on a baking sheet and place in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and gooey.
• Cut each sandwich into 3 and serve warm.
• Black olive pesto:.
• In a food processor puree the olives, Parmesan, olive oil, and garlic until smooth.
• Can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks in an air tight container.