Best Eggplant Polenta Stacks With Tomato Sauce Recipes

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN STACKS

Steps:

• Rinse eggplant and trim off and discard both ends.
• Cut eggplant crosswise into 8 equally thick slices.
• Cut Polenta crosswise into 8 equal rounds.
• Lightly coat a 14- by 17-inch baking sheet with olive oil spray or brush with olive oil.
• Arrange eggplant and polenta slices in a single layer on sheet.
• Lightly coat slices with more olive oil.
• Bake in a 425 degree regular or convection oven until eggplant is soft when pressed and polenta is heated through, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a 8-to 10 inch nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat, stir onion, garlic, and basil occasionally until onoin is lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add tomato puree and 1/4 cup water; simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until flavors are blended, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover and keep warm over low heat,stirring occasionally,until eggplant is done.
• When eggplant is soft, sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses equally over eggplant and polenta.
• Return to oven and bake until cheese is melted, about 2 minutes.
• On each of 4 dinner plates, place 1 slice eggplant (use larges sizes first) and drizzle with 1 tablespoon sauce; top with 1 slice polenta and 1 tablespoon sauce, Repeat until all slices are used.
• If desired garnish with rosemary sprigs.
• Spoon remaining sauce around base of eggplant stacks, Serve.

POLENTA WITH HOT TOMATO-EGGPLANT SAUCE

Steps:

• If using a broiler, turn on.
• Wash, trim and slice eggplant lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. Brush with four teaspoons of the oil.
• If using a top-of-the-stove grill, prepare. Broil or grill the eggplant until it begins to brown on both sides. Set aside.
• Mince garlic, and saute in the remaining two teaspoons of hot oil in a saucepan with hot-pepper flakes for 30 seconds.
• Crush tomatoes with your fingers and add them in the pan with vinegar. Reduce heat and simmer until the rest of the meal is complete.
• Bring 1 1/4 cups of water to a boil in a covered pot.
• Cut the skin from eggplant and cut into 1/2-inch chunks. Add to tomatoes.
• Add polenta, one tablespoon at a time, to the boiling water, stirring well, and cook over medium-high heat until polenta thickens.
• Season the polenta with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, coarsely grate the cheese.
• Spoon polenta onto two dinner plates; top with tomato-eggplant sauce, and sprinkle with cheese. Serve with bread.

POLENTA STACKS WITH EGGPLANT, TOMATO AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• For polenta:
• Bring 2 cups water and salt to boil in heavy small saucepan. Gradually whisk in cornmeal. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until polenta is very thick, whisking constantly, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cheese and butter; whisk until melted. Mix in basil. Season generously with pepper. Spread in 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Chill until cold, about 1 hour.(Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover, keep chilled.)
• For stacks:
• Preheat broiler. Place eggplant on baking sheet. Brush with oil on both sides; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil until brown, about 4 minutes per side. Arrange 12 tomato slices on large plate (discard end slices). Drizzle each slice with a few drops of vinegar. Sprinkle eggplant and tomatoes with oregano.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Oil baking sheet. Cut polenta into 25 squares. Place 12 squares on sheet. Top each with eggplant round. Cut cheese into 1/3-inch thick slices; place atop squares. Top each with tomato slice (save remaining polenta and cheese for another use).
• Bake polenta stacks until heated through and cheese melts, about 15 minutes. Top each stack with 1 basil leaf.