Garlic And Herb Roasted Eggplant Recipes

Steps:

• Toss the eggplant in a large colander with a generous sprinkle of salt. Set the colander over a bowl to drain and top with a second bowl filled with water or a few heavy cans to press the liquid out of the eggplant. Set aside for at least 1 hour or up to 3 hours.
• Spread the eggplant out onto a baking sheet or large cutting board and pat dry with paper towels.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add half of the eggplant and half of the pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally until tender and lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Add half of the garlic and continue to cook until the garlic is soft, about 1 minute. Remove from the skillet to a bowl. Repeat with the remaining oil, eggplant, crushed red pepper and garlic. Off the heat, add the reserved eggplant back to the skillet, stir in the parsley and mint and season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and arrange three racks evenly spaced.
• Lay the eggplant in one layer on three sheet pans and brush both sides with olive oil, using all the oil. Sprinkle with the oregano, crushing it lightly in your hands, then sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn the slices and rotate the pans in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes, until tender. Leave the oven at 400 degrees F.
• In a 10 by 14 by 2-inch ceramic baking dish, spread a third of the marinara sauce. Arrange a third of the eggplant on top in one layer. Scatter a third of the basil, a third of the mozzarella, a third of the goat cheese, and a third of the Parmesan on top. Repeat twice, starting with the marinara and ending with the Parmesan, making sure each layer is evenly distributed.
• For the topping, place the bread crumbs, garlic, and basil in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt and pulse to moisten the crumbs. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the dish.
• Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until bubbling and golden brown. Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rub the eggplant and onion with the olive oil. Place on a baking sheet. Bake until the eggplant and onion have both softened, turning once, about 25 to 30 minutes. Add the garlic to the baking sheet with the eggplant and onions at the halfway point, after about 15 minutes. Cool until warm enough to handle.
• Peel the eggplant and the garlic and place in the bowl of a food processor. Cut the onion into quarters or large chunks, and add to food processor. Add vinegar, lemon juice, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Pulse until combined. Pulse longer if making a dip. Add cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Place eggplant and tomatoes on rimmed baking sheet; toss with oil and vinegar. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons oregano, salt, and pepper. Roast until eggplant is tender and golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 40 minutes. Transfer eggplant and tomatoes to platter. Sprinkle with feta and 2 teaspoons oregano and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Using a small paring knife, make a few ½-inch slits into the cut side of each eggplant. (You can do this lengthwise, crosswise, or even diagonally. Knock yourself out with your decorative prowess!)
• Place the eggplant cut side up on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with ½ cup olive oil, distributing as evenly as possible. Season with salt and pepper and turn over so that the eggplant is cut side down.
• Place in the oven and roast, without moving or disturbing, until eggplant is completely tender, cooked through, and golden brown on the bottom (since the skin is already so dark, it can be hard to tell, but the skin will look shriveled and, when poked, the whole thing should feel tender, on the verge of collapse; you can also use a spatula to lift up the eggplant to check the underside for color), 40 to 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining ¼ cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and chile and cook, shaking the skillet occasionally, until the garlic and chile are frizzled and fragrant (but not yet browned), 1 or 2 minutes. Add the bread and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the bread is evenly toasted and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Combine the labne, preserved lemon, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a small bowl; season with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice, if you like. Smear it onto the bottom of a large serving platter or in a shallow bowl.
• Once the eggplant is good and ready to go, use a fish spatula (or regular spatula) to lift up each eggplant half in one fell swoop, preserving its lovely golden underside. Place the eggplant, cut side up, on top of the seasoned labne. Scatter with the crispy croutons and herbs before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Eggplant can be roasted a few hours ahead, then kept loosely covered at room temperature (no need to reheat- it's excellent at room temperature). The labne can be seasoned a week ahead, covered tightly, and refrigerated. The croutons can be made 2 days ahead, kept covered tightly at room temperature.