Veal Cakes On Silky Eggplant Recipes

Steps:

• Cut the eggplant into 1" pieces, sprinkle with salt, and let stand for 30 minutes.
• Rinse the eggplant under cold water, drain, and pat dry with a paper towel.
• Heat the oil in a large pan and add the eggplant.
• Cook until lightly browned, then remove the eggplant from the pan.
• Heat the extra oil in the same pan.
• Add the veal, onions and garlic and cook until browned all over. You may have to do this in two batches, depending on the size of your pan.
• Add the spices, garlic and bay leaves and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Add the undrained diced tomatoes, tomato paste, water and wine.
• Stir until combined and simmer, covered, over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• Add the eggplant and simmer, covered, 20 minutes or until the eggplant and veal are tender.
• Add the lemon juice, olives, parsley and sugar with the salt and pepper to taste.
• Simmer until heated through.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. If using eggplant, cut off ends and slice off two long strips of skin, one on each side. With 1 skin side up, so that each slice will have skin on both sides, slice eggplant lengthwise, 1/4inch thick. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and dredge lightly in flour. If using zucchini, slice on diagonal, 1/4 inch thick.
• In a 6- to 8-inch ovenproof skillet (see Note), heat 1 tablespoon oil. Brown vegetable slices lightly on both sides, working in batches if necessary to avoid crowding pan. Add more oil as needed to keep pan lightly oiled. Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Sprinkle veal or chicken with salt and pepper, and dredge lightly in flour. Melt butter in same pan until it bubbles, then brown meat lightly on both sides. Remove and drain on paper towels. Add shallot to pan and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Pour in wine and simmer until syrupy.
• Turn off heat and place pieces of meat in skillet. Lay basil leaves or parsley over them, then arrange vegetable slices on top. Spoon tomato sauce over, sprinkle cheese on top, and pour about 2 tablespoons water (more or less, depending on thickness of tomato sauce) around edges of pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until meat is cooked through and liquid in bottom of pan is thickened. Sprinkle with torn basil or chopped parsley; serve with crusty bread.