Best Louisiana Eggplant Casserole Recipes

CREOLE EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Peel, clean, devein and rinse shrimp. Depending on the size of the shrimp, they can be chopped into a smaller size if desired. Pat dry with paper towels and place in a bowl. Add a generous sprinkle of creole seasoning, mix well and set aside.
• Peel the eggplant and cut into small cubes about 1/2 inch square; place in a bowl and mix in a little (not much) kosher salt. Set aside.
• Chop the yellow onions, green onions and garlic. If using fresh tomatoes, peel them using the boiling water blanch method (see Hints and Tips). Drain the tomatoes if using canned. Measure the butter, creole seasoning and bread crumbs.
• Melt butter over medium heat in Dutch Oven.
• Sauté the yellow onions in the butter until starting to clear, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add the garlic and saute until the garlic is aromatic, probably about 2 minutes.
• Add green onions, salt and pepper and 2 tablespoons of creole seasoning. Mix well and cook about 2 minutes.
• Crush the tomatoes by hand as you add them to the Dutch oven and mix well. Saute for about 5 minutes.
• Add the eggplant cubes a little at a time but don't add any of the water that has gathered in the bottom of the bowl. Mix the eggplant cubes and sauteed onions together very well.
• Lower the temperature to medium, cover the Dutch oven and simmer until the eggplant is starting to soften, about 15 minutes. The eggplant will give off a lot of water that will partially cook off.
• When soft and starting to reduce, smash down some of the eggplant with a wooden spoon.
• Add the shrimp and mix well and continue to cook, uncovered, for about 10 or 15 minutes or while the liquid evaporates.
• Remove from the heat and add the bread crumbs a little at a time and mix well. The eggplant should tighten up a little, but don't over do the bread crumbs. Taste for seasoning.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Spread a thin layer of butter inside of an oven proof casserole or baking dish.
• Pour the eggplant mix into baking dish and spread out softly.
• Sprinkle a little bread crumbs on top and place about 6 small dots of butter on top
• Bake in 350 degrees Fahrenheit preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until bubbly on edges and browned a little on top.

LOUISIANA EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Butter a casserole dish and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cover eggplant with boiling salted water; let stand for five minutes; drain well.
• Brown onion, bell pepper and meat in bacon drippings until onion is translucent, about five minutes.
• Add tomato puree and heat thoroughly.
• Add drained eggplant and remaining ingredients.
• Place in prepared casserole, cover and bake for 1/2 hour; remove cover, increase temperature to 400F and bake for an additional 15 minutes until golden brown on top.

CAJUN EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Dice unpared eggplant in 11/2 in cubes. Cook eggplant and chopped onion in boiling water to cover for 20 min. or till tender. Drain and mix with all ingredients except grated cheddar and creole seasoning.
• 2. Place mixture into greased casserole and add grated cheddar and creole seasoning on top.
• 3. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.

CREOLE EGGPLANT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Peel the eggplants and cut them into large cubes. Place the cubes in a large saucepan and sprinkle them with 1 teaspoon of the salt. Add 2 cups water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let cook until the eggplant is soft, about 45 minutes. Drain off the water and mash the eggplant well with a potato masher, or puree in a food processor or blender.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F Brown the ground beef in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Pour off the excess fat. Add the onions, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Stir well, cover, and let cook until the vegetables are transparent, about 20 minutes. Stir in the thyme, the rest of the salt and the peppers, and cook for 5-7 minutes more. Mix in the pureed eggplant, cook 2 minutes more, and remove from heat. Stir in 1 3/4 cups of the bread crumbs.
• Butter a casserole dish and sprinkle with the remaining bread crumbs. Pour in the eggplant mixture and bake in the oven until bubbling and just beginning to brown, about 20 minutes.