Ingredients
- 3 medium-sized eggplants (about 4 pounds total)
- Sea salt
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 32 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
- 8 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
- 20 basil leaves, chiffonade
- 2 cups fresh tomato sauce, recipe follows
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the grill and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place a rack over a large baking sheet. Cut the eggplants lengthwise, into 1/2 inch thick slices. Arrange eggplants 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. Brush the eggplant slices with olive oil and place on a hot grill until lightly browned on each side and tender, about 4 minutes per side. If you do not have an outdoor grill, you can use a grill pan. Brush or spray vegetable oil evenly over the grill pan.
In a large bowl, mix the ricotta and egg. Add mozzarella, 3 tablespoons of Parmesan and toasted pine nuts and gently combine. Fold in basil just to combine. Do not over mix.
Place a tablespoon of the cheese mixture on 1 end of the eggplant and roll up tightly. Place the eggplant rollatini onto a greased 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 and bake for 15 minutes. When cooked, drizzle the top with extra-virgin olive oil.
Simple Tomato Sauce:
- 2 (32 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 2 dried bay leaves
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional
In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5-10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5-10 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 half 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 1-2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to six months.
Yield: 6 cups
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Ease of Preparation: Easy
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By leftygirl910_11...
Hubbard, Ohio
on September 01, 2010
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I really enjoyed this recipe. I already had my own simple tomato sauce so I didn't use Giada's this time. The pine nuts really added a nice texture to the filling. I had them on hand because I am making pesto, but you could easily leave them out. I would make this recipe again.
By captainkitts_12...
Clinton, 45
on December 26, 2009
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You'll spend some time frying (I actually timed the frying to exactly 4 minutes per side which she recommends & works perfectly but it's worth it! I thought it might not be good without bread crumbs & egg, but it's delicious. I used my own sauce, not the 'simple sauce' that goes with the recipe. I also cooked it for double the time recommended (it was fine as I didn't feel the eggs would be cooked in only 15 minutes of baking.
I served this for Christmas dinner & everyone loved it.
By liz_12255406
Saint John
on October 25, 2009
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WOW! What a surprisingly flavorful dish.
My sister visited us in Canada and prepared this dish as the second course. Typical for most, the word eggplant conjures up parallels such as bland, boring and too vegetarian - similar to tofu.
Everyone at dinner (7ppl were in awe over this dish. Everything from its texture, flavor and a colourful presentation were present. Whether your vegetarian or a carnivore, this dish is meaty.
I own a Deli and took the leftovers to staff the next day and also handed off a few bites to a couple regular customers. Their responses echoed the dinner guests.
Read all 17 reviews