Best Beef And Eggplant Bake With Polenta Crust Recipes

BEEF AND EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray an 8-inch square glass pan with cooking spray.
• Place eggplant slices on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Top slices with additional paper towels; allow salt to draw off some of the moisture, 30 to 45 minutes. Press down on paper towels to get as much moisture out as you can.
• Combine cornmeal, flour, paprika, cinnamon, and ginger in a bowl. Dredge eggplant slices in mixture.
• Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Place floured eggplant slices in pan and cook until edges start to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Flip; cook until crisp on edges but still soft in centers, 3 to 4 minutes more. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until onions are softened and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Layer eggplant slices to cover bottom of the prepared pan; follow with ground beef, 1/2 can diced tomatoes, 1/2 the Cheddar cheese and 1/2 the Monterey Jack cheese. Repeat layers, starting with eggplant slices. Dredge any remaining eggplant slices in Parmesan cheese and place on top of casserole.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbling and top is golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.

BEEF AND EGGPLANT BAKE WITH POLENTA CRUST

Steps:

• Place eggplant in colander, sprinkle salt all over, leave 30 min, rinse then drain.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in medium frypan; cook onion, capsicum and garlic, stirring until onion softens; add beef, cook stirring until beef browns.
• Add paste, cook stirring for 2 minutes; add wine, cook stirring 5 minutes; add undrained tomatoes; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until liquid is almost evaporated. Chop 1/4 of the basil coarsely and add along with the oregano.
• Preheat oven to moderate heat (180°C)(350°F).
• Cook eggplant on heated oiled grill plate until just browned.
• Meanwhile, combine stock and milk in medium saucepan; bring to a boil; gradually add polenta, stirring constantly; reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes or until polenta thickens.
• Using 3 litre dish, layer 1/2 eggplant, then 1/2 beef mixture, repeat then top with remaining basil; spread polenta on top then sprinkle with cheese.
• Cook, uncovered, in moderately hot oven about 20 minutes or until top is browned lightly.
• Stand 10 minutes before serving.

LAYERED EGGPLANT AND POLENTA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400ºF degrees with rack in upper third.
• In a medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat; add the onion, garlic, and mushrooms cook, stirring, until soft and lightly golden, about 8 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Stir in vinegar, oregano, basil & Italian seasoning; season with pepper.
• Remove sauce from heat.
• Meanwhile, heat a large cast-iron skillet or grill pan over medium heat; lightly brush eggplant slices with the remaining tablespoon oil.
• Working in batches, lay slices in skillet in a single layer; cook until browned and they begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Transfer to a plate.
• Spoon about a cup tomato sauce into a 9-inch square baking dish, spreading to coat evenly; arrange eggplant slices snugly in a single layer.
• Spoon about 1 cup tomato sauce over eggplant, and arrange polenta rounds in slightly overlapping slices on top.
• Repeat with sauce and another layer of eggplant.
• Finish by dotting with remaining tomato sauce.
• Cover with foil; bake until bubbling and juicy, about 30 minutes.
• Remove foil; continue baking until sauce is lightly caramelized and eggplant is tender, about 15 minutes more.
• Remove from oven; let cool slightly, and serve.

BAKED EGGPLANT WITH GROUND BEEF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Put bread crumbs in a bowl with enough water to cover; set aside to soak.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet. Cook and stir ground beef, onion, and garlic in hot oil until the beef is completely browned and no large chunks remain, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Stir eggplant into ground beef mixture; cook and stir until eggplant is tender, about 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and set aside to allow mixture to cool.
• Drain excess water from bread crumbs and dump into a large bowl; add ground beef mixture, half the tomatoes, rice, Italian cheese blend, egg, and basil. Stir the mixture until ingredients are evenly mixed, adding more liquid from the tomatoes if too dry; season with salt and pepper. Fill the eggplant shells with the mixture and put into a large baking dish. Top with remaining tomatoes and cover dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, remove foil, and continue baking until beginning to brown around the edges, about 10 minutes more.