Eggplant Tortino Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Lay the eggplants in a single layer on a baking sheet and broil them, flipping once or twice, until they are soft and blackened on all sides, about 15 minutes. (If you have a gas stove, you can do this by holding the eggplants with tongs over a burner on medium-high heat, turning them so they blacken on all sides.)
• Place the softened eggplants in a ziplock bag. Set aside for 10 minutes to steam (this makes the skin easier to peel). Peel the eggplants, discarding the skins, and use a fork to gently flatten the flesh.
• Put the eggs in a shallow bowl. Beat well and season with salt and pepper.
• In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Dip each eggplant in the beaten eggs, letting it soak for a second or two so that it is well covered with the egg. Season the egg-dipped eggplant with additional salt and pepper and place it in the skillet. Repeat with the other eggplant, making sure there's room between them in the skillet. Place 1 tablespoon of the crab (if using) on top of each eggplant, pressing it down with a fork.
• When the eggplants are crispy and browned on one side, 4 to 5 minutes, flip them over and cook until browned and crispy on the second side, about 3 minutes more. Transfer the eggplants to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• Serve hot or at room temperature, with fish sauce.

Steps:

• Combine oil and minced thyme, basil, and parsley.
• Trim eggplant ends and discard. Rinse eggplant, cut into 24 equal rounds, and brush lightly with some of the herb oil.
• Rinse and core tomatoes, then trim thin slices off tops and bottoms. Cut yellow tomatoes into 24 equal rounds; cut red tomatoes into 12 equal rounds.
• Cut cheese into 12 equal rounds.
• Lay tomato slices in a 10- by 15-inch pan. Drizzle with herb oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Lightly oil a barbecue grill over a solid bed of medium-hot coals or medium-high heat on a gas grill (you can hold your hand at grill level only 3 to 4 seconds). Lay eggplant on grill; close lid on gas barbecue. Cook eggplant, turning once, until soft when pressed, 5 to 7 minutes total. Let cool.
• For each tortino, stack 1 slice each yellow tomato, eggplant, mozzarella, and red tomato, then top with 1 more slice each eggplant and yellow tomato. Set stacks on a platter. Reserve 2 teaspoons of pan juices from tomatoes; use remainder in other salads.
• In a 2- to 3-quart pan over high heat, boil vinegar until reduced to 2 tablespoons, 5 to 7 minutes, stirring as it nears the end of cooking.
• Mix the reserved tomato juices with vinegar and drizzle over tortinos. Garnish with thyme sprigs.

Steps:

• Prepare the pie dough. While it is rising, prepare the filling for the torte. Salt the eggplant slices on both sides, and let stand for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450 degrees and make the tomato sauce.
• Rinse the eggplant slices, and blot dry with paper towels. Line baking sheets with foil, and oil the foil with olive oil. Place the eggplant rounds on the baking sheet, and brush the tops with olive oil. Bake in the oven until tender and beginning to color, 15 to 20 minutes. They will dry out on the surface but feel soft when you press on them. Remove from the oven, and fold the foil over the eggplant slices, enclosing them so they'll continue to steam and soften. Turn the oven down to 375 degrees.
• Generously oil a 10-inch spring-form pan or cake pan. Roll out two-thirds of the dough to a large, thin round, and line the pan, making sure that there is some overhang all the way around the edge. Beat the eggs in a large bowl, and use a bit to brush the bottom and sides of the crust. Remove 1 tablespoon for brushing the top crust, and set aside. Stir the tomato sauce into the bowl of beaten eggs, and combine well.
• Line the pastry with half the eggplant slices, overlapping them slightly. Sprinkle half the Gruyère over the eggplant, and top with half the egg and tomato sauce mixture. Sprinkle with half the Parmesan. Repeat the layers.
• Roll out the remaining dough, and place it over the top of the torte. Fold in the overhanging bottom crust and pinch the edges together, then pinch an attractive lip around the rim of the pan. Brush the top crust with the beaten egg you set aside, and make a few slits in it with the tip of a knife. Bake 50 minutes to one hour, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for at least 20 minutes before cutting. Serve hot or room temperature, cut in wedges.