Best Eggplant Aubergine Crepes With Spinach Filling Recipes

EGGPLANT ROLLATINI WITH SPINACH & RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/350F/. Cut the tops off the eggplant/aubergine then cut into slices around 1cm / 1/4 inch thick. Place on a lined baking tray, brush with a little olive oil (2 tbsp) and bake for 20 minutes until tender. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile add half tbsp of olive oil to a frying pan and add the spinach, stir so it doesn't burn until completely wilted. Remove from the pan and let cool.
• To make the tomato sauce, add a tbsp of olive oil to the frying pan. Add the finely chopped shallot and garlic to the pan.
• Sauté for 1 minute then add the chopped tomatoes. Rinse out any excess tomato from the can with 1/4 cup (60ml) water and add it to the sauce alongside the tomato paste, oregano and season with salt and pepper. Let the sauce reduce and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Squeeze out any extra moisture from the wilted spinach then finely chop and add to a large bowl. Add the ricotta, parmesan, nutmeg and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix everything together until thoroughly combined.
• To assemble the eggplant roll-ups, add a spoonful of ricotta mixture (about a heaped tbsp) in the centre of a slice of eggplant then roll it up. Repeat with the rest of the eggplant and ricotta mixture.
• Add 3/4 of the tomato sauce to the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange the eggplant roll-ups in the baking dish then top with the remaining sauce. Top with mozzarella then bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the mozzarella is golden and melted and everything is heated right through.

BUREKAS WITH SPINACH OR EGGPLANT FILLING

Steps:

• If using the eggplant-tomato filling, heat the oven to 425 degrees. Pierce the eggplant several times with a knife and roast on a parchment- or foil-lined baking sheet until the eggplant collapses and is completely soft, 35 to 40 minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove and discard the skin; transfer the flesh to a strainer to drain and set aside.
• Make the dough: In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade attachment, add the flour and salt and pulse briefly to combine. Add the butter and pulse just until the butter pieces are the size of peas. Slowly add the ice water and process just until combined. Form the dough into 2 disks about 1 inch thick, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• If using the spinach-feta filling: In a medium bowl, combine the spinach, feta and Parmesan. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then add egg and flour.
• If using the eggplant-tomato filling: In a medium-sized frying pan over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onions, season with salt, and cook until beginning to soften but not brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and eggplant, breaking them up with a wooden spoon, and cook until the mixture begins to thicken and loses some of its moisture, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and remove from the heat. When the mixture has cooled, stir in the Parmesan, egg and flour.
• Working with one disk of dough at a time, on a lightly floured surface and using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a circle about 1/8-inch thick or slightly thinner. Using a 3 1/2-inch/9-centimeter circle cutter, cut as many circles as you can from the dough.
• Hold a circle in your hand and fill with 1 tablespoon of filling. Fold up the sides into a half-moon shape and pinch the edges closed to seal, crimping them if you like. Place the sealed bureka on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough.
• Brush the tops lightly with the egg wash and sprinkle with a large pinch of grated Parmesan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the crusts are golden brown.

ITALIAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CREPES

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.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) " CREPES" WITH SPINACH FILLING

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.

CHICKPEAS WITH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Rinse the chickpeas.
• Fry the eggplant cubes in the oil until golden on the outside and tender inside.
• This will take about 10 minutes.
• Remove with a draining spoon.
• If there is no oil left in the pan then add a little more and when it is hot, add the ginger, garlic and chilli and fry for one minute.
• Stir constantly.
• Add the coriander and cumin and cook for 30 seconds, taking care not to burn the spices.
• Add the tomatoes and their juice, chickpeas and water.
• Bring to a boil and simmer.
• Cook for 15 minutes, add the spinach and bring to a boil.
• Cook for a further minute or two until the spinach is tender.
• Stir the eggplant back in, season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

AUBERGINES FILLED WITH SPINACH & MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the aubergine halves and cook for 4-5 mins. Drain well and pat dry with kitchen paper.
• Place the aubergines on a baking tray, brush with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and cook for 20-25 mins until tender and golden. Scoop out the flesh (leaving about 15mm of flesh attached to the skin), then roughly chop.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a large frying pan, then cook the onion and garlic for 4-5 mins until the onion has softened. Add the aubergine flesh to the pan and fry for a few mins, add the mushrooms, then cook for about 5 mins until browned and tender. Add the spinach and cook for 3-4 mins until wilted, stirring frequently.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese, fromage frais and seasoning to taste.
• In a bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, lemon zest, pine nuts, parsley and seasoning.
• Spoon the spinach mixture into the aubergine halves and sprinkle the top of each with the breadcrumb mixture. Return to the oven and cook for 10-15 mins until the topping is golden.

CRISPY FRIED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Peel eggplant and slice into 1/4 inch slices.
• Add salt to egg and beat.
• Add cheese to breadcrumbs.
• Dip eggplant slices into cornstarch and shake off excess.
• Dip into egg.
• Press breadcrumb onto slices.
• Fry till golden.
• Salt to taste.

AUBERGINE (EGGPLANT) AND SPINACH TERRINE

Steps:

• Vegan: use water or broth or oil.
• Preheat oven to 375F Cover one end of 4 2 1/2 inch metal muffin rings with plastic wrap to seal.
• Slice the eggplant into four equal rounds. Heat half the oil in in a fry pan and cook the eggplant on both sides until brown. Place themn on a cooking sheet and cook in oven for 10 minutes. Transfer to plate lined with paper towels.
• Heat half the remaining oil and cook the zucchini for two minutes then drain on paper towel. Season with salt,pepper and thyme.
• In the rest of the oil in a heavy frying pan put the tomatoes and basil and cook for 5 to 8 minutes.
• Cook the spinach, garlic and butter in a pan allowing water to evaporate. Drain and add nutmeg then season with salt and pepper. Note if making it Vegan you can simply use a bit of water or broth in place of the butter. You want them wilted not "mushed".
• Line the base and sides of muffin tins with spinach leaves leaving no gaps. Place the zucchini around the edges of each ring and overlap them slightly. Divide and place tomato mixture in center. Press it down well. Place eggplant on top, trim edges to fit.
• Seal top with clear plastic and pierce the base to allow liquid to escape. Chill overnight Remove the rings and serve with roastged pepper and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.