Eggplant Crepes Recipe 45

Steps:

• Heat the broiler. Peel and cut the eggplant into eight 1/4-inch slices. Brush each slice with oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoons basil, salt, and pepper. Broil 5 minutes.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
• In a microwave-safe bowl, combine washed spinach and the water. Cook 3 minutes or until wilted. Rinse with very cold water and drain very well. Mix with ricotta cheese and the 1/2 cup Italian blend cheese.
• Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Roll 1/4 cup of mixture up jelly-roll style in each slice and place on top of the marinara. Pour on the remaining sauce and sprinkle with 1 tablespoons of the Italian cheese on each. Cover and bake 10 minutes. Remove cover and bake 3 minutes more to brown.

Steps:

• Cut eggplant lengthwise into thin slices.
• Sprinkle each side lightly with salt.
• Place in a colander weighted with a heavy plate and let stand one hour.
• Dip each slice on both sides in seasoned flour.
• Sauté lightly on both sides until golden.
• Add oil as needed.
• Keep warm.
• Mean while grate parmesan or romano cheese in food processor with steel blade.
• Combine with ricotta, eggs, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Add spinach and blend.
• Place several tablespoons of spinach mixture in center of crepe.
• Roll up and place seam sides down in a 13x9 inch baking pan.
• Top with tomato sauce.
• Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 15 minutes or until hot and bubbling.
• To prepare tomato sauce for eggplant crepes: Place vegetables in a food processor with steel blade.
• Process until finely chopped.
• In large saucepan, sauté vegetables in olive oil with garlic, basil, oregano and thyme until tender.
• Add remaining ingredients and simmer 20 minutes.
• Transfer to food processor or blender and process until smooth.
• Pour over eggplant crepes before heating in oven.
• Makes 2+1/2 cups sauce.
• Notes: When I'm in a hurry I will use one of the good home style Italian sauces with peppers and vegetables on the grocery shelf like Aunt Millie's or Classico, instead of making this sauce.

Steps:

• Whisk flour, 1/4 cup yogurt, 1 1/4 tsp. salt, and 2 cups plus 1 Tbsp. water in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add lamb, cumin, red pepper, and 1/4 tsp. salt and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon and stirring often, until browned, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving fat in skillet.
• Add 2 Tbsp. oil to skillet, then add eggplant and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until lightly browned and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add raisins and wine and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes and their juices, pine nuts, lamb mixture, and 1/4 cup water. Reduce heat to medium and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of the juices have evaporated, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, swirl remaining 1 tsp. oil in an 8" nonstick skillet, then wipe it out with paper towels so there's just a sheen of oil coating skillet, then heat over medium-high. Whisk flour mixture to loosen, then pour about 1/3 cup into skillet. Immediately swirl to coat pan with batter, as if you're making a crepe, and cook until bottom is browned, about 1 minute. Flip and cook until browned, 30 seconds more. Transfer to a clean plate and cover with a towel to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter, using greased paper towels to prepare pan before each, until you have at least 8 pancakes. (The batter can yield 11-12 pancakes, but you might have a few you'll need to discard-or nibble as a snack as you cook.)
• Spoon lamb filling onto pancakes. Top with yogurt and greens and serve with lemon wedges alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Pancake batter can be made 2 days ahead; cover and chill. Pancakes can be made 3 days ahead; transfer to resealable plastic bags and chill, or freeze up to 1 month. Reheat in skillet before serving.