Best Eggplant Walnut Ricotta Rolls With Fresh Greens And Basil Salad Recipes

EGGPLANT ROLLUPS RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Sprinkle eggplant slices on both sides with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and place in a colander to drain 15 minutes. Rinse well, and press between 2 clean, absorbent towels to dry. Arrange eggplant slices in a single layer on greased baking sheets. Rub eggplant slices on both sides with 3 tablespoons of the oil. Bake in preheated oven until just beginning to brown, 13 to 15 minutes. Remove eggplant from oven, and reduce oven temperature to 375°F.
• While eggplant is baking, stir together ricotta, chopped basil, pepper, and remaining 3 tablespoons oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Pour 1 cup of the marinara into an 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Place 1 tablespoon ricotta mixture on 1 eggplant slice, and roll up from 1 short end. Place rollup, seam side down, in baking dish. Repeat with remaining ricotta mixture and eggplant slices. Top evenly with remaining 1/4 cup marinara.
• Bake at 375°F until sauce is bubbly and warm and tops of rollups are very lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese and chopped basil. Serve immediately.

EGGPLANT WALNUT RICOTTA ROLLS WITH FRESH GREENS AND BASIL SALAD

Steps:

• Wash eggplants, cut off and discard stems. On a cutting board, using a mandoline or sharp knife, slice each eggplant lengthwise in long pieces, 1/2-inch thick. Sprinkle eggplant slices with Kosher salt and place in a large colander to drain for 15 to 20 minutes. Discard liquid.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, walnuts, garlic, olive oil, dill, sea salt, nutmeg, lemon juice and lemon zest. Mix all ingredients until smooth in texture and set aside. (Ricotta filling should be chilled until ready to use.)
• In a large deep skillet, pour ½-inch canola oil and heat over medium heat until oil is hot. Blot the pieces of eggplant with paper towel to remove any water droplets and fry eggplant slices in batches until golden brown on both sides, about 90 seconds per side. Remove from pan to drain flat on paper towels.
• Place slices of eggplant on a tray or dish and spread a tablespoon or two of the ricotta filling across each slice; roll up pin-wheel style and repeat until all eggplant slices have been filled and rolled.
• In a medium bowl, toss the salad greens with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Arrange the mixed greens on four serving plates and serve with eggplant walnut ricotta rolls. Toss torn basil leaves over the salad. Garnish salad with candied walnuts.

RICOTTA EGGPLANT ROLLS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook until fragrant and lightly browned. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, sugar, and pepper. Simmer covered over medium-low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a large shallow dish, stir together the bread crumbs and flour. In a separate dish, whisk together the eggs and cream with a fork.
• Heat the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dip each eggplant slice into the egg mixture, then coat with breadcrumbs. Fry each slice until golden brown in the hot oil, turning once. Drain on paper towels.
• Spread a thin layer of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and parsley. Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons of the cheese mixture onto one side of each slice of eggplant. Roll up, and place in the baking dish seam side down. Spoon the remaining tomato sauce over the rolls. Cover the baking dish with a lid or aluminum foil.
• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Garnish with additional chopped parsley before serving if desired.

EGGPLANT ROLLS WITH RICOTTA, WALNUTS AND MINT

Steps:

• Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet. Lay the eggplant slices on the rack, generously salting each slice (about 1/4 teaspoon per slice). Place another baking sheet on top of the eggplant and weigh it down with a few cans. Let them sit 30 minutes. Flip the eggplant slices, sprinkle with more salt, weigh down again and let them sit for another 30 minutes. (This draws out the bitter juices.) Meanwhile, toast the walnuts.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the walnuts on a small baking sheet and pop into the oven until the walnuts give off their nutty aroma and deepen in color, about 5 minutes. When they are cool enough to touch, chop them finely.
• Make the ricotta filling: Push the ricotta through a sieve into a medium bowl. This gives the cheese a light, airy texture. Add the toasted walnuts, garlic, mint, date, half the lemon juice, a pinch of salt and a swirl of olive oil. Stir together, taste for seasoning and then set aside.
• Rinse the eggplant slices well and pat them dry. Warm a grill pan over moderately-high heat. Brush the eggplant slices with olive oil on one side; place the oiled-side down on the hot griddle and brush the other side. Cook until browned, about 2 minutes, then flip and cook another 2 minutes.
• To assemble the rolls, place a couple of tablespoons of filling at one of end of a slice of eggplant. Roll and place on a plate seam-side down. Top the eggplant rolls with the remaining lemon juice, a swirl of extra-virgin olive oil and the reserved mint leaves, torn over the dish. Serve hot or at warm temperature.

EGGPLANT RICOTTA BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Arrange eggplant slices in a single layer on two rimmed baking sheets. Brush lightly on both sides with oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast until eggplant is tender and golden, turning halfway through, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together ricotta, eggs, 1/2 cup Parmesan, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Brush an 8-inch square baking dish with oil.
• Lay a fourth of eggplant slices in bottom of prepared dish; spread with half of marinara sauce. Top with another fourth of eggplant; spread with half of ricotta. Repeat layers, ending with ricotta; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Bake until bubbling and golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.

VEGETARIAN EGGPLANT ROLLS WITH SAVORY TOMATO SAUCE AND FRESH RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Stir olive oil and vinegar together in a small bowl and brush onto both sides of the eggplant slices; season both sides with salt and pepper. Grill eggplant slices, turning once, until tender and golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer eggplant slices to a rimmed baking sheet with the short ends facing you.
• In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta, Parmesan, and half of the basil; season with salt and pepper. Spoon about 3 tablespoons of the cheese mixture onto each slice of eggplant and 1 inch from the bottom edge, leaving a 1/4-inch border on each side. Roll each slice away from you and arrange rolls, seam side down, on the baking sheet. Spoon tomato sauce over rolls and place them in the oven until warmed through, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan and remaining basil; serve immediately.

PASTA WITH ROASTED EGGPLANT, RICOTTA, AND BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• In a jelly-roll pan toss eggplant with 1 tablespoon oil and salt and pepper to taste and roast in oven, shaking pan occasionally, until golden and tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• While eggplant is roasting, in a heavy skillet cook onion, garlic, and bell pepper with salt and pepper to taste in remaining tablespoon oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened.
• Add tomatoes and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes and pepper are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in vinegar and roasted eggplant.
• In a kettle of boiling salted water cook pasta until al dente and drain well, reserving about 3/4 cup cooking water. In a bowl toss pasta well with sauce, ricotta, basil, Parmesan, salt and pepper to taste, and enough reserved cooking water to reach desired consistency.

BAKED EGGPLANT AND RICOTTA ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius Spray large baking trays with oil spray to lightly grease, cut eggplants into 16 or so 1cm thick slices lengthways. Arrange eggplant in a single layer, on the repared trays. Lightly spray with olive oil spray. Bake in oven for 10 minutes or until golden.
• Meanwhile, mix the basil, ricotta, and three quarters of the parmesan in a medium bowl. Taste and season well with pepper.
• Place 1 tablespoon of the ricotta mixture on one eggplant slice. Roll up firmly to encose fulling. Place the roll, seam side down, in a 30 x 20cm baking dish. Repeat with the remaining ricotta mix and eggplant slices. Pour the sauce evenly over the rolls, sprinkle with the remaining parmesan and the mozzarella. Bake in oven for 10 minutes or until the mozzarella melts. Serve with polenta, if desired.

ENDIVE AND APPLE SALAD

Steps:

• To make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, juice and honey. Season with salt.
• In a small sauté pan, toast the pecans over medium heat. Allow to cool.
• Mix together the endive, arugula, apple and cherries (or cranberries) in a medium-size bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat. Top with the pecans and goat cheese (optional).