Eggplant Zucchini Rollatini Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the grill pan and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place a rack over a large baking sheet. Cut the 2 ends off the eggplant. Cut the eggplants lengthwise, into 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange eggplant slices onto rack. Sprinkle with sea salt to help remove excess moisture and any bitterness from the eggplants. Set aside for about 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off the salt from the eggplants and pat dry with a towel. Spray hot grill pan liberally with vegetable spray and then place eggplant slices on the grill until lightly browned on each side and tender, about 4 minutes per side. Remove slices from the grill pan and allow to cool.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs until lightly scrambled. Mix the ricotta in with the egg. Add mozzarella, 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts and gently combine. Fold in basil just to combine. Do not overmix.
• Place a tablespoon of the cheese mixture on 1 end of the eggplant and roll up tightly. Place the eggplant rollatini into a greased (with olive oil) 13 by 9-inch baking dish, seam side down. Continue with remaining eggplant. Evenly distribute the tomato sauce on top of the eggplant rollatini. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining 5 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and bake for 15 minutes. When cooked, drizzle the top with extra-virgin olive oil.
• In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Trim the ends off of the zucchini and slice lengthwise on a mandoline to about 1/8-inch thick. Reserve the 16 largest interior slices for this dish and save the rest for another use.
• Fill a medium ovenproof skillet with lightly salted water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add half of the zucchini slices and cook until just pliable, about 45 seconds. Transfer to a paper towel-lined platter to dry. Repeat with the remaining zucchini slices.
• Stir the ricotta, basil, oregano, lemon zest and 3/4 cup mozzarella together in a bowl with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Beat the egg well in another bowl, then add 1 tablespoon egg to the ricotta mixture and stir to incorporate. (Discard the remaining egg.)
• Pour the water out from the skillet and add the marinara. Bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat.
• While the sauce warms, lay the dry zucchini slices out on a work surface. Spoon a scant tablespoon of the ricotta filling on one end of a zucchini slice, then gently roll the zucchini up. Arrange in the skillet seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining zucchini slices and ricotta filling.
• Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and bake until the center is bubbling and the cheese is golden in spots, 20 to 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Peel and slice eggplant lengthwise into fifteen 1/8-in.-thick slices. Place in a colander over a plate; sprinkle with salt and toss. Let stand 30 minutes., Meanwhile, for sauce, in a large saucepan, saute onion in oil. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in remaining sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until flavors are blended, stirring occasionally, 20-25 minutes. Rinse and drain eggplant., In a large bowl, combine filling ingredients; set aside., Place eggs in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Dip eggplant in eggs, then bread crumb mixture., In an electric skillet or deep skillet, heat 1/2 in. of oil to 375°. Fry eggplant in batches until golden brown, 2-3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels., Preheat oven to 375°. Spoon 1 cup sauce into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Spread 2 rounded tablespoons filling over each eggplant slice. Carefully roll up and place seam side down in baking dish. Spoon remaining sauce over roll-ups. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake until bubbly, 30-35 minutes.

Steps:

• Position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment.
• Cut off the stem of one eggplant, then slice 1/2 inch off one long side. Turn the eggplant onto the trimmed flat side and slice 1/2 inch off the 2 long sides, squaring it off slightly. Slice the eggplant into 6 long pieces, each about 1/4 inch thick. Repeat with the other eggplant. (Discard the trimmed pieces or reserve for another use.)
• Divide the eggplant slices between the prepared baking sheets. Brush both sides of each slice with the olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Bake, flipping the slices over about halfway through, until just tender and starting to brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Use a large spatula to transfer the slices to a cutting board in a single layer to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, stir together the ricotta, parsley, lemon zest, basil, 2 cups of the mozzarella, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a pinch of black pepper in a medium bowl. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Stir in the egg. Spoon a leveled 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture into the center of each eggplant slice and roll up tightly.
• Spread half of the tomato basil sauce on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange the rolled eggplant slices seam-side down in the center of the baking dish, making 2 rows of 6 and leaving space between the rows. Spoon the remaining sauce down the middle of the rolls, leaving the edges exposed. Top the rolls with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
• Bake, rotating the dish halfway through, until the eggplant is very tender and the cheese is golden brown and bubbly, 40 to 45 minutes. Allow to sit for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.