Grilled Eggplant with Ricotta and Tomato: A Mediterranean Delight
In this culinary journey, we present a tantalizing grilled eggplant dish infused with Mediterranean flavors. This delectable dish features succulent eggplant slices, grilled to perfection, and topped with a creamy ricotta cheese mixture, bursting with tangy sundried tomatoes and aromatic basil. As you take a bite, the smoky grilled eggplant harmonizes perfectly with the smooth ricotta, creating a symphony of flavors. Accompanying this main course are two additional recipes that enhance the dining experience. Firstly, a refreshing cucumber salad, infused with a zesty lemon-tahini dressing, provides a light and tangy side dish. Secondly, a delectable grilled bread recipe complements the grilled eggplant, offering a crispy and flavorful base for the main course. These recipes combine to create a delightful Mediterranean feast that will transport your taste buds to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean.
GRILLED EGGPLANT CAPONATA BRUSCHETTA WITH RICOTTA SALATA
Provided by Bobby Flay
Categories appetizer
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
- Brush the tomatoes and eggplant with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the eggplant until golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes each side. Grill the tomatoes until charred all over, about 8 minutes. Remove the eggplant and tomatoes from the heat and cut into dice.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the canola oil in a large saute pan. Add the celery and onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the eggplant and tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Add the olives, vinegar, raisins, capers, sugar, chile flakes, a big splash olive oil, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the basil and parsley and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer the caponata to a bowl and keep at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving. The caponata can be made 1 day in advance, covered and refrigerated. Bring the caponata to room temperature before serving.
- Meanwhile, grill the bread on both sides until slightly charred, about 30 seconds each side. Remove the bread from the grill and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top each slice of bread with some of the caponata and sprinkle with the ricotta salata. Drizzle the top of each slice of bread with more olive oil and scatter basil on top.
GRILLED TOMATOES WITH SCALLIONS, CHIVES AND RICOTTA
Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli
Categories side-dish
Time 30m
Yield 3 to 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the grill or a grill pan to medium-high heat.
- In a large serving bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons of the olive oil with the vinegar, garlic, lime zest and juice. Taste for seasoning.
- Arrange the tomatoes, cut side-up, with the scallions and thyme in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle the remaining 4 to 5 tablespoons olive oil over all and sprinkle with salt. Place the tomatoes, cut side-up, and the scallions and thyme on a hot part of the grill and cook for 2 minutes. Flip the scallions and thyme and gently flip the tomatoes onto the cut sides. Place the chives on the grill near the scallions. Cook until tender and lightly charred, an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove the thyme sprigs from the grill. Remove the leaves from the stems and mix into the ricotta. Remove the tomatoes and scallions. Chop the scallions and chives into large (1/2-inch) pieces. Season the tomatoes with the sugar and some pepper. Spoon the ricotta into a serving platter or bowl and season with salt. Arrange the tomatoes, scallions and chives next to and on top of the ricotta. Spoon the dressing on top.
GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH FRESH RICOTTA AND GRILLED TOMATO-BASIL RELISH
Steps:
- Heat your grill to high.
- Place the tomatoes in a bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons of the oil and season with salt and pepper. Place tomatoes on the grill and grill until charred on all sides, and just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove from the grill and coarsely chop.
- Put the chopped tomatoes in a bowl, add the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil, onion, vinegar and basil and gently mix until combined. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Can be made 4 hours in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.
- Brush eggplant slices on both sides with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the slices on the grill and grill until golden brown and slighty charred, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn over and continue grilling until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Stir together the ricotta and parsley in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper.
- Place the grilled eggplant on a large platter and top each slice with a heaping tablespoon of the ricotta and a heaping tablespoon of the tomato relish.
GRILLED EGGPLANT AND RICOTTA CROSTINI
Provided by Anne Burrell
Categories appetizer
Time 45m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat grill or broiler.
- Brush each eggplant slice generously with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt.
- Place the slices on the preheated grill. Cook on both sides until the eggplant is soft and pliable and has a nice char. Remove from grill and let cool. When the eggplant is cool enough to handle, coarsely chop and reserve in a large mixing bowl. Add the ricotta, vinegar, oregano, Parmigiano and crushed red pepper and stir to combine. Season with salt and reserve.
- While the grill is still hot, grill the slices of bread on each side. When the bread comes off the grill rub each piece with a raw garlic clove and brush lightly with olive oil.
- Top each piece of bread with the grilled eggplant mixture.
GRILLED CHEESE WITH EGGPLANT AND RICOTTA
Last weekend we went to visit my mother in Bemus Point. She had me try this new brand of ricotta cheese that she bought. It was so good, I just wanted to drizzle some honey on it and I could have eaten the whole tub. She bought one for me to bring home and I wondered, hmmm... what can I do with this. Well, I decided to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Of course eggplant goes great with ricotta so why not make grilled cheese with eggplant. And if I am going with this Italian theme, bring on the fontina!
Provided by Mangialicious
Time 40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Slice Italian bread info 8 thick slices. Slice each tomato into 4 slices.
- Remove some of the skin from the eggplant, leaving the rest of the skin on for a striped look. Slice the eggplant into eight 1/2-inch rounds.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season eggplant with salt and pepper; cook until soft, about 5 minutes per side. Watch that it does not burn. Remove to a plate and set aside.
- Spread ricotta over 4 slices of bread. Top each with 2 eggplant slices and 2 tomato slices. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper. Tear 2 basil leaves over each sandwich. Add 4 slices of fontina cheese. Spread butter over the remaining slices of bread and place over the cheese, buttered sides up.
- Melt remaining butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sandwiches to the skillet with the dry side down. Cover with a piece of foil and place a heavy pan on top. Toast sandwiches for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip over and cover again. Cook until cheese is melted, 3 to 4 minutes more.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1108 calories, Carbohydrate 100.8 g, Cholesterol 164.5 mg, Fat 55.3 g, Fiber 11 g, Protein 52.7 g, SaturatedFat 30.2 g, Sodium 2007.1 mg, Sugar 8.9 g
EGGPLANT FOCACCIA WITH RICOTTA AND OLIVES
A generous amount of olive oil in the dough gives this flatbread its especially crisp edges, and a soft, bready crumb. The topping, a mix of thinly sliced eggplant slathered with garlic-imbued olive oil and minced olives, is silky, rich and very flavorful - even without the optional (but excellent) anchovies. Just as good devoured warm from the oven and as it is at room temperature, this makes perfect picnic fare. Or serve it with a leafy salad for a light but satisfying dinner.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories breads, vegetables, main course
Time 1h
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Oil a large bowl and set aside. (This is for the rising dough.)
- Add water to another large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle yeast and sugar over. Let stand until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Stir 1/3 cup oil and salt into yeast mixture. Stir in flour until a soft, shaggy dough forms.
- If kneading by hand, turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until it is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Or knead in a stand mixer equipped with the dough hook for 3 to 5 minutes. The dough is ready when it's elastic but somewhat sticky and damp. If the dough seems unmanageable and won't come off your hands, add more flour, a little at a time.
- Place dough in the oiled bowl and turn to coat it lightly with oil. Cover bowl with a plate or plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place until dough has doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
- While dough is rising, make the topping: Combine eggplant and salt in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
- Mince half of the olives and slice the other half.
- In a small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium. Add garlic, stirring constantly, and heat until opaque, about 1 minute. Add the minced olives and anchovies, if using. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring, until the oil is fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and pour oil over eggplant. Add thyme or oregano and toss until evenly coated. Set aside and cool completely before using.
- Lightly oil an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet. Working on a floured surface, roll dough into an 11-by-16-inch rectangle, then transfer it to the oiled baking sheet and press the dough to the sides. Cover with a damp cloth and let rest for 30 minutes.
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange eggplant slices evenly over dough, and scatter tomatoes and sliced olives on top. Drizzle any leftover oil from the bottom of the eggplant bowl on pizza.
- Bake until edges and underside are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
- Using a spoon, top with dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle freshly ground black pepper and basil leaves on top, and drizzle with olive oil. Serve warm or at room temperature.
EGGPLANT BAKED WITH TOMATOES AND RICOTTA SALATA
I have always loved eggplant parmigiana, but the first time I tried preparing it at home, I found the standard recipe daunting: too much frying and too much cheese. I've been simplifying it ever since. This recipe is more pared-down than most. I baked the eggplants with a simple tomato, eggplant and garlic topping bolstered with fragrant herbs. I used ricotta salata, but other cheeses, including shavings of Parmigiano-Reggiano, fontina or mild pecorino, would be fine. Though the dish can be served hot from the oven, I prefer to let it cool somewhat, to let the flavors bloom. If made well in advance but not refrigerated, it can be reheated in a 300-degree oven for 20 minutes. And it makes for a handsome and delicious buffet dish.
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories brunch, dinner, casseroles, main course
Time 1h30m
Yield 6 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Use a little of the oil to brush the bottom of an oblong baking dish, like a lasagna pan, 9 by 13 inches. Snip off any stems from the eggplants but keep the leaves on. Quarter the eggplants vertically and place them skin side down in the baking dish. Brush the cut sides with oil, about a tablespoon. Season with salt and pepper. Place in the oven and bake 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, but keep oven on. Place the eggplant quarters on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut away the flesh, quite close to the skin. Dice the flesh, then chop it fine, by hand or in a food processor. But don't let it become a purée.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a heavy skillet. Add the ham and sauté on medium until it barely starts to brown. Add the garlic and oregano, sauté another 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes. Cook on medium-high until any juices from the tomatoes begin to reduce, about 5 minutes. Stir in the eggplant. Season with salt, black pepper and Espelette. Stir in 1/2 tablespoon of the remaining oil.
- Top the eggplant skins with this mixture, mounding it up a bit. Return eggplants to the baking dish. Top each with the cheese and drizzle with remaining oil. Bake 20 minutes, until eggplants start to sizzle and cheese has softened - it won't melt. Serve at once or let cool and serve at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 91, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 6 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 277 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams
GRILLED BABY EGGPLANTS WITH FRESH RICOTTA AND FARM STAND TOMATOES
Steps:
- Combine the tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and parsley in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature while you prepare the eggplant or for up to 2 hours.
- Combine the ricotta and lemon zest in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the eggplant or for up to 2 hours.
- Heat a grill to high or a grill pan over high heat.
- Brush the eggplant on both sides with the canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the eggplant, cut-side down, until golden brown and caramelized, about 4 minutes. Flip the eggplant and grill until the bottom is golden brown and the eggplant is tender, about 3 minutes more.
- Transfer the eggplant to a platter, cut-side up, and top each half with a large dollop of the ricotta. Spoon the tomatoes over the top and serve.
GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH TOMATOES, BASIL, AND FETA
The secret to perfectly tender eggplant is salting before you cook. Here, flame-kissed slices are topped with a simple tomato salad for a satisfying vegetarian main course.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dinner Recipes
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Generously season eggplant slices with salt. Place vertically in a colander, overlapping them. Let stand 30 minutes; rinse and pat dry.
- Preheat grill to medium-high. Liberally brush cut sides of eggplant with oil. Grill, turning once, until tender, about 4 minutes a side. Mix tomatoes, pine nuts, feta, red-pepper flakes, and oil; season with salt. Spoon over eggplant; top with basil.
Tips:
- Choose the right eggplant: Look for eggplants that are firm and have a deep purple color. Avoid eggplants that are soft or have brown spots.
- Slice the eggplant evenly: This will help the eggplant cook evenly.
- Grill the eggplant over medium heat: This will prevent the eggplant from burning.
- Brush the eggplant with olive oil: This will help the eggplant soften and prevent it from sticking to the grill.
- Season the eggplant with salt and pepper: This will help enhance the flavor of the eggplant.
- Top the eggplant with ricotta cheese and tomatoes: This will create a delicious and flavorful combination.
- Serve the eggplant immediately: This is when it is at its best.
Conclusion:
Grilled eggplant with ricotta and tomato is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a summer meal. With its smoky flavor and creamy texture, this dish is sure to be a hit with your friends and family. So next time you're looking for a new way to prepare eggplant, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
#30-minutes-or-less #time-to-make #course #main-ingredient #cuisine #preparation #for-1-or-2 #low-protein #side-dishes #vegetables #easy #european #beginner-cook #vegetarian #italian #dietary #low-sodium #low-cholesterol #low-saturated-fat #low-calorie #low-carb #healthy-2 #low-in-something #tomatoes #number-of-servings
You'll also love