Best Polenta Stacks With Eggplant Tomato And Mozzarella Recipes

TIAN PROVENCAL WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Brush a shallow 2-quart baking dish with oil. Bring milk and 2 1/2 cups water to a simmer in a medium pot. Whisk in polenta; cook, whisking, 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to prepared dish, spreading in an even layer.
• Layer half of leek, eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes over polenta. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper. Scatter with half of cheese. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients, omitting cheese.
• Bake 30 minutes. Press vegetables down with a spatula; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until vegetables are knife-tender and edges are caramelized, about 35 minutes more. (If cheese is darkening too quickly, tent with foil.) Let cool slightly before serving.

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.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND TOMATO STACKS

Steps:

• In a large bowl toss the eggplant slices with 1/4 cup kosher salt. Using your fingertips, evenly distribute the salt on both sides of each slice. Place the eggplant in a colander set over a large bowl or sheet pan to catch juices. Set aside for 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line two 18 by 13-inch baking sheets with heavy-duty foil.
• Rinse the eggplant under cold water and dry thoroughly with paper towels.
• Arrange the eggplant slices in a single layer on one baking sheet. Brush olive oil on 1 side. Brush with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper.
• Drizzle the other pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Arrange the tomato slices in a single layer, season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with the minced garlic.
• Roast the tomatoe slices until they are very soft and just beginning to brown, 10 to 15 minutes, without turning. Bake the eggplant slices until they are tender and well browned, 20 to 30 minutes, without turning. Let the tomato and eggplant slices cool until you can handle them with your fingers.
• Make a short stack starting with eggplant on the bottom, 1 slice mozzarella, and then tomato. Top with another piece of eggplant. Warm stacks in the oven until mozzarella lightly melts. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

EGGPLANT-POLENTA STACKS WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Puree tomatoes in blender. Strain into heavy small saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer tomatoes until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons oil and simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
• Combine 4 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Gradually whisk in cornmeal. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until polenta is very thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add Parmesan and butter and stir until melted. Mix in cayenne pepper. Spread polenta in 9-inch-square pan. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour. (Sauce and polenta can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.)
• Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt. Let stand 30 minutes. Pat dry.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Brush eggplant and zucchini with oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill or broil until tender, about 2 minutes per side.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly oil large baking sheet. Using eggplant as template, cut polenta into 4 rounds. Place rounds on prepared baking sheet. Top each with eggplant, 2 zucchini slices, basil leaf and mozzarella slice.
• Bake eggplant stacks until cheese melts and begins to brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer to plates. Rewarm sauce. Spoon around eggplant stacks. Sprinkle with chopped basil and serve.