Best Eggplant Red Gravy With Anchovies Recipes

RED BELL PEPPER AND EGGPLANT TIAN WITH ANCHOVIES

Steps:

• Roast red bell peppers directly over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose peppers in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel and seed roasted peppers; cut into scant 1/2-inch-wide strips. (Roasted bell peppers can be prepared ahead. Cover and refrigerate up to 2 days.)
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Brush each of 2 large baking sheets with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Arrange eggplant rounds in single layer on baking sheets; sprinkle eggplant rounds on each baking sheet with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bake until eggplant begins to soften but not brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven; maintain oven temperature.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 cups fresh breadcrumbs to skillet and sauté until golden, about 6 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
• Arrange half of eggplant rounds in single layer in 12 x 9 x 2-inch oval baking dish. Sprinkle eggplant rounds with half of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme and 3 tablespoons Niçois olives. Top with half each of thinly sliced plum tomatoes, anchovy fillets and roasted bell pepper strips, spacing evenly. Sprinkle lightly with salt and generously with black pepper. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Repeat layering with remaining eggplant rounds, minced garlic, 1 tablespoon thyme and 3 tablespoons Niçois olives. Top with remaining sliced plum tomatoes, spacing evenly, leaving 1 1/2-inch-wide space at edge of baking dish. Arrange remaining roasted red bell peppers and anchovies between tomato slices. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Niçois olives.
• Bake assembled tian 30 minutes. Sprinkle toasted breadcrumbs and remaining 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme around edge of baking dish. Continue to bake tian until vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes longer. Let tian stand 15 minutes. Serve tian hot or at room temperature.

SAUTEED EGGPLANT WITH CAPERS AND ANCHOVIES

Steps:

• Peel the eggplant and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Pour the olive oil in a highly heated large nonstick skillet and add the eggplant, red and green peppers and the onions. Cook and stir until tender. Do not overcook.
• Add the garlic, salt, pepper, pepper flakes, rosemary, capers and anchovies. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve hot.

NIKA HAZLETON'S PENNE WITH TOMATO, EGGPLANT, AND ANCHOVY SAUCE

Steps:

• Peel the eggplants, leaving a 1/2-inch strip on each of four sides. Trim the ends and cut into 1/2-inch slices. Layer the slices in a colander and sprinkle each layer with a little salt. Cover with wax paper and weigh down with something heavy, such as a large can. Set the colander in the sink. Let the eggplant stand for 30 minutes to an hour to drain off the bitter juices. Press down with your hands to extract all possible liquid.
• Dry the eggplant. Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a skillet over moderately high heat. Fry about one third of the eggplant slices until golden on both sides. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Add 2 to 3 more tablespoons oil to the skillet and fry another third of the eggplant slices. Remove and drain. Add 2 more tablespoons of oil and fry the remaining eggplant. Drain and reserve.
• Place the anchovies in lukewarm water to cover to remove the salt. Soak for 5 minutes; change the water; let stand for 10 more minutes. As the anchovies are soaking, heat the remaining 4 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until soft. Add the tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and cook, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
• While the sauce is cooking, chop the anchovies fine. Stir the anchovies and fried eggplant slices into the sauce with a fork, mashing the eggplant into lumps. Depending on the tomatoes, the sauce may be very thick. Thin it with the wine to the consistency of pancake batter. Taste for saltiness and, if necessary, add a little more salt. Add a generous amount of pepper, stir in the basil leaves, and continue to cook. In a kettle of boiling salted water cook the pasta until it is al dente and drain.
• Pour the sauce into a heated serving dish and add the pasta. Toss and sprinkle with the pecorino. Toss again at the table.