EGGPLANT INVOLTINI WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

Eggplant Involtini with Fresh Tomato Sauce image

Grilling eggplant is a lighter alternative to frying, and when you pile up cooked slices as they come off the fire, they continue to soften from the steam. Afterwards, the tender slices are stuffed and rolled with a mixture of three different cheeses, currants, pine nuts, and breadcrumbs, and baked in a fresh tomato sauce. The result is a vegetarian one-pan dinner and a culinary melting pot, reflecting influences from numerous invasions of Sicily over the centuries.

Provided by Lauryn Tyrell

Categories Food & Cooking Main Dish Recipes Casserole Recipes

Time 1h40m

Number Of Ingredients 20

Ingredients

2 large eggplants (about 2 pounds total)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup dried currants
Boiling water, for soaking
6 ounces fresh mozzarella
1/2 cup full-fat ricotta
2 ounces feta, crumbled
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted and roughly chopped
Pinch of ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon fresh oregano or marjoram, finely chopped
1/2 cup packed fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1 large egg, whisked
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Vegetable oil, for brushing
Fresh basil leaves and crusty bread, for serving (optional)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 pounds tomatoes, coarsely chopped
Kosher salt (we use Diamond Crystal) and freshly ground pepper

Steps:

Fresh Tomato Sauce: Heat oil in a medium straight-sided skillet over medium. Add garlic; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up tomato pieces with a wooden spoon, until tomatoes are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Pass through the medium disk of a food mill. Sauce can be allowed to cool completely, then refrigerated in an airtight container up to 5 days. (Makes about 2 1/2 cups.)
Involtini: Trim and cut eggplants length-wise into 1/4-to-1/2-inch-thick slices. Place on a rimmed baking sheet fitted with a wire rack; season both sides with salt. Let stand 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F. Place currants in a small heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand 10 minutes, then drain. Finely chop half of mozzarella and place in a bowl with currants, ricotta, feta, pine nuts, cinnamon, oregano, parsley, breadcrumbs, and egg. Season with salt and pepper; stir to combine.
Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Pat eggplant slices dry with paper towels and brush both sides of each evenly with olive oil. Brush grates with vegetable oil and grill eggplant slices, turning occasionally, until charred in places and tender, about 3 minutes a side.
Transfer to a plate, piling slices on top of one another so that they continue to steam and soften. Let cool 15 minutes. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons filling at one short end of an eggplant slice. Roll up tightly to secure in a cigar shape. Repeat with remaining filling and eggplant slices.
Spread tomato sauce evenly in the bottom of a 9-by-12-inch gratin dish or 9-inch square baking dish. Arrange eggplant rolls snugly in an even layer, seam-sides down. Thinly slice remaining mozzarella and arrange over top.
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with pepper. Bake until cheese has melted and eggplant is bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly, then garnish with basil and serve with bread.