Best Tomatoes With Crisp Fried Eggplant And Burrata Recipes

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TOMATOES AND BURRATA



Tomatoes and Burrata image

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     appetizer

Time 30m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (8- to 10-ounce) ball of fresh burrata cheese
1 pint mixed heirloom cherry tomatoes or 8 to 10 (2-inch diameter) heirloom tomatoes
Good olive oil
Aged balsamic vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
10 fresh basil leaves, julienned
Fleur de sel or sea salt
6 Garlic Toasts, recipe follows
1 baguette
1/4 cup good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 garlic clove, halved lengthwise

Steps:

  • Cut the ball of cheese in half crosswise and place the halves, cut side down, on 2 salad plates. Cut each tomato in half through the stem end and distribute them around the burrata. Drizzle the tomatoes and burrata generously with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper. Scatter the basil on the salads, sprinkle with fleur de sel, and serve with Garlic Toasts.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Slice the baguette diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Depending on the size of the baguette, you should get 20 to 25 slices.
  • Lay the slices in one layer on a baking sheet, brush each with olive oil, and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Bake the toasts for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are browned and crisp. As soon as they are cool enough to handle, rub one side of the toasts with the cut side of the garlic. Serve at room temperature.

CHARRED EGGPLANT WITH BURRATA AND FRIED CAPERS



Charred Eggplant With Burrata and Fried Capers image

When summer cooking feels like too much, the simple formula of grilled vegetables served with an herby dressing and a ball of burrata will get you through the season. Here, grilled or seared eggplant is bathed in an herbaceous, lemony caper-infused olive oil for a light dinner or side dish. Salt-packed capers work best, as they are generally larger and have a petal-like shape that opens up when fried, resulting in a crisp shell that is crunchy and salty (but, brined capers work, too). Make sure to dry the capers well before frying to prevent aggressive spitting when they hit hot oil. Fried capers are highly snackable, so consider making a double batch. Serve with bread, flatbread or, for something heartier, pasta.

Provided by Hetty McKinnon

Categories     weeknight, vegetables, appetizer, main course, side dish

Time 20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup salt-packed or brined capers, rinsed
1 1/2 to 2 pounds eggplant (about 2 medium or large), trimmed and sliced into ½-inch disks
1 large handful of parsley, basil or a combination, finely chopped, plus more to serve
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
2 balls burrata (about 1 pound), at room temperature

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan or skillet, heat ¼ cup olive oil over medium-high until it shimmers, about 1 minute. Meanwhile, dry the capers very well by wrapping them in paper towels or a clean dish towel and wringing out the moisture. (If there is too much moisture, the oil will sputter aggressively.) Line a plate or tray with paper towels or a clean dish towel.
  • When the oil is ready, carefully drop the capers in and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden. (Watch closely, as smaller capers will cook more quickly.) Remove the capers from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on the lined plate. They will crisp up further as they cool.
  • Transfer the caper-infused oil to a large heatproof bowl and set aside to cool for a few minutes.
  • Lay the disks of eggplant on a large cutting board or sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil, flip over and drizzle the other side. Heat a large (12-inch) grill pan or cast-iron skillet on medium-high. (See Tip for grilling instructions.) When hot, working in batches, add the eggplant disks in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes, pressing the eggplant into the pan to encourage browning. Flip, reduce heat to medium and cook on the other side for another 2 to 3 minutes, until completely tender. (The eggplant continues to soften as it soaks up the marinade in the next step, so don't be tempted to overcook.) Remove the eggplant from the pan and place them back on the cutting board or plate. Continue cooking the remaining eggplant.
  • Meanwhile, to the bowl with the cooled caper-infused oil, add the herbs, garlic, red-pepper flakes, lemon zest and juice, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt and a few pinches of black pepper. Toss to combine and taste, making sure it has enough salt. Add the warm eggplant slices to the oil and gently toss to coat. Allow to marinate for at least 5 minutes (see Tip).
  • Serve this on one large platter or as four separate servings. Place the burrata (for single servings, halve each ball of burrata) on the plate along with the eggplant and top with any remaining marinade and the fried capers, and scatter with fresh herbs.

EGGPLANT RAGù WITH CAPERS AND BURRATA



Eggplant Ragù With Capers and Burrata image

This eggplant dish is a lot like pasta alla Norma, minus the pasta. Instead, it's the large, crisp chunks of eggplant that star, enrobed in basil-scented marinara sauce and topped with a melting, creamy mix of burrata and ricotta. In this recipe adapted from the chef Amy Brandwein of Centrolina in Washington, D.C., the cubed eggplant is topped with crunchy, salty eggplant chips, sliced ultrathin and deep-fried until golden. But if that's one step too many when you're cooking this at home, feel free to leave the chips out.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     vegetables, side dish

Time 1h

Yield 3 to 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced
1 (14-ounce) can whole plum tomatoes in purée
1/2 cup basil leaves
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
2 large eggplants (about 2 1/4 pounds total)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Vegetable or canola oil, for frying
1/2 cup burrata (4 ounces), roughly torn
1/2 cup sheep's milk ricotta
Roughly chopped capers, for serving (optional)

Steps:

  • Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until onions start to brown, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook until lightly caramelized, another 10 to 15 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
  • Use your hands to break up the tomatoes in the can, squishing them into the skillet. Pour in the tomato juices. Fill tomato can halfway with water and stir that water into the skillet. Add half the basil leaves, season with salt and black pepper to taste, and red-pepper flakes, then simmer vigorously until tomatoes break down and sauce has thickened, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat the broiler, and place the rack 4 inches from the heat source.
  • Cube 1 1/2 of the eggplants into 1 1/4-inch cubes (about 7 cups). Save remaining half an eggplant for garnish. Arrange cubed eggplant in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss eggplant thoroughly with remaining 4 tablespoons oil, then season to taste with salt.
  • Broil eggplant until browned on one side, 5 to 6 minutes. Flip the pieces and broil until browned and tender, 6 to 8 minutes. (If your eggplant starts to burn, move the baking sheet to a lower rack.)
  • To make the garnish of eggplant slices, slice remaining eggplant lengthwise into long, thin 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place flour on a plate, and generously coat both sides of each eggplant slice.
  • In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat 1 inch of oil to 350 degrees. Fry eggplant, in batches, until golden, about 1 to 2 minutes, flipping the slices halfway through. Transfer to a separate paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt.
  • In a medium bowl, fold together burrata and ricotta.
  • To serve, gently stir broiled eggplant into tomato sauce until evenly coated. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes until the eggplant is warmed through. Transfer to serving bowls, and spoon burrata mixture on top. Garnish with remaining basil leaves, crisp eggplant slices and the capers if you like.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 472, UnsaturatedFat 21 grams, Carbohydrate 37 grams, Fat 32 grams, Fiber 13 grams, Protein 16 grams, SaturatedFat 9 grams, Sodium 1332 milligrams, Sugar 17 grams

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