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Tag: Comfort Food

Eggplant Parmigiana

Eggplant Parmigiana (for 4 – 6 people)

I rarely see this wonderful Southern Italian dish on menus in Italian restaurants in the US.  But the Parmigiana is one of those “comfort foods” that every Italian knows and loves.  I remember coming back home to Calabria from the US one evening after many travel delays.  I didn’t get home until after midnight, and everyone was asleep.  But my mother had left a Parmigiana covered on the table. It was still warm, and I cut a slice of it and poured myself a glass of wine.  My mother came out of her room as I started on my second serving of the Parmigiana, and we talked until very early in the morning.

I’ll never forget how wonderful that Parmigiana was. It tasted like home.  A combination of simple flavors that somehow create a complex feeling of warmth and comfort.

If you’ve never had the Parmigiana, I hope this recipe inspires you to add it to your list of favorite recipes.

A general overview – the Parmigiana is sort of like a lasagna, except that the pasta is substituted with grilled slices of eggplant.   This recipe requires that you first prepare and grill the eggplant slices: once that work’s done, it’s very easy and fast to assemble the final product.

Ingredients

  • Coarse salt
  • 2 cups of my simple Italian tomato sauce
  • 4 large eggplants (make sure that they are dark purple and unbruised)
  • 2 containers of mozzarella cheese (do not use the American version of mozzarella—purchase one that is labelled “Mozzarella from Italy”)
  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano cheese
  • 2 hard boiled eggs, sliced (optional)
  • Lots of basil
  • Basic tomato sauce

Preparation

  1. Slice the eggplants lengthwise into long, ¼ inch slices. Because eggplant can sometimes have a slightly bitter, flavor, I like to to salt it so that it sweats out some of the bitterness –some people disagree as they like the bitter flavor, I DO NOT.
  2. Pour a layer of salt over the eggplant slices, then lay them on top of one another in a large pot. Once you have salted and layered all the eggplant, put another heavy pot on top of the preparation.
  3. After 20 minutes, remove the eggplant slices and place them in a colander. Rinse the salt very well, and then put the slices on paper towels so that the extra moisture is absorbed.
  4. Because of the salt that is absorbed in the eggplant (even after rinsing), you will want to be careful of adding any more salt in the preparation of this recipe.
  5. Place a cast-iron skillet or a grill and turn the heat to very high. As the skillet/grill gets hot, prepare the eggplant slices by using a kitchen brush to apply a thin layer of olive oil to each side.  Place them on the hot skillet/grill and cook them until they are slightly scorched on each side.
  6. When the eggplant slices are ready, remove from the grill with tongs and place them in a single layer on a paper towel, which will absorb any excess olive oil. Add another layer of paper towels to keep the slices separated.
  7. Once you’ve grilled all the eggplant slices, you are ready to assemble it in the baking pan.
  8. The assembly of the eggplant parmigiana is similar to that of lasagna: You create layers of the eggplant slices, topped with chopped mozzarella and tomato sauce in a rectangular baking dish (9 x 13 inches).
    1. Put a small amount of olive oil on the bottom of the dish before adding the first layer of eggplant slices. Make sure the slices overlap slightly as you layer the bottom of the baking dish.

      Eggplant Parmigiana

      Layers of grilled eggplant with mozzarella, tomato sauce, and a sprinkle of freshly-grated Parmigiano

    2. Spoon the basic tomato sauce in a thin layer on top of the layered slices.
    3. Add sliced boiled eggs
    4. Sprinkle chopped mozzarella over the tomato sauce add basil leafs.
    5. Sprinkle a small amount of grated Parmigiano over the layer.
    6. Add the next layer of eggplant slices, topping with the tomato sauce, basil, the mozzarella and grated Parmigiano.
    7. Create at least 3 layers. The topmost layer should be topped with the tomato sauce, grated Parmigiano, and mozzarella cheese.
  9. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375 F for 30 minutes.
  10. Enjoy

Comments.  My parmigiano is a very simple parmigiano, many in Italy like to add salame, caciocavallo cheese, etc.  I like it this way, with lots of basil.  The trick for a good parmigiana is to not exaggerate with tomato sauce; just a little bit, the parmigiana should not be swimming in tomato sauce!

Italiano: La “famosa” parmigiana

A me la parmigiana piace semplice, senza salame, senza caciocavallo, solo con mozzarella, molto meglio se di bufala, Parmigiano e un sugo di pomodoro semplice e tanto basilico.

Ingredienti

  • Sale grosso
  • 1/2 litro della mia semplice salsa di pomodoro italiana
  • 4 melanzane grandi (assicurati che siano viola scuro e non ammaccate)
  • 2 contenitori di mozzarella (non utilizzare la versione americana della mozzarella, acquistane uno con l’etichetta “Mozzarella from Italy”)
  • 120 ml di olio extravergine di oliva, diviso
  • 226 grammi di parmigiano grattugiato fresco
  • 3 uova sode, affettate (facoltativo)
  • Molto basilico
  • Salsa di pomodoro simplice, vedere la mia ricetta

Preparazione

  1. Le melanzane devono essere soffritte su una gratella arroventata; nel forno senz’olio vengono una schifezza, ma per carità, poco, quando le soffriggete pochissimo, olio, perciò uso un pennello per passarglielo sopra.
  2. Le melanzane vanno tagliate per lungo dello spessore di circa 5 cm.  Coprite ogni fetta con un po’ di sale, mettetele una sull’altra, un peso sopra, circa 2 kg, e lasciatele così per 20-30 minuti che caccino la loro acqua amara-c’è chi le preferisce amare, non io di sicuro, e in quel caso potete risparmiarvi questo passaggio, poi sciacquatele bene e asciugatele.
  3. Poi soffriggetele, come indicato sopra con pochissimo olio su una gratella arroventata –alcuni cuochi, pure famosi, suggeriscono di cuocerle in una pentola antiaderente, non in una graticola, senza olio –a questa gente la patente di cuoco andrebbe tolta!
  4. Poi dopo avere soffritte in graticola le asciugate con carta assorbente e le mettete in una teglia da forno su cui avrete spalmato poco, pochissimo olio e poco sugo di pomodoro.
  5. Per il sugo di pomodoro, usate un sugo semplice, tipo quello indicato di sopra. L’importante è metterne poco, cioè le melanzane non devono nuotare nel sugo.
  6. Poi mettete su ogni strato di melanzane, basilico fresco, tanto; sugo di pomodoro, poco; un po di mozzarella di bufala, diciamo una fetta per fetta di melanzana; e un po’ di rondelle di uovo sodo, e poco Parmigiano.
  7. Continuate cosi è avrete riempito la teglia e siete arrivati fino all’orlo.
  8. Coprite l’ultimo strato con più Parmigiano.  Poi coprite con carta alumino e mettere nel forno a 375 F. (190 C). Fate andare cosi 20 minuti poi togliete la carta stagnola e rimettete in forno per altri 10 minuti.
  9. Buon appetito!

Fate la parmigiana come dico io e vedrete come è buona: la mia parmigiana è un piatto leggero per chi vuole stare in forma.

 

Il Polpettone: “the big meat ball”

This is a very old recipe that you can find in the famous cookbook by Artusi, the great grandfather of what is now known as the Italian Cuisine.  He apparently loved this dish—like me and all my friends and guests—but you will seldom find it in any Italian restaurant, either in Italy or in the US.  It is the type of food that your mom cooks at home.  Anyway, apparently this dish originated in Florence in the 1400s.

Here is the original recipe: Try it and tell me what you think.

Il polpettone

This is similar to the meatloaf that is made in the US, but it has some variations in its preparation.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound or 500 grams of lean ground meat—buffalo meat is perfect
  • 2 eggs: 1 whole egg, and only the yolk of the other, which will be mixed with the ground meat
  • 2 egg yolks, beaten – used to create a gravy from the drippings
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons grated parmigiano cheese
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons plain bread crumbs
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • A handful of flour (for dusting the cutting board where you shape the polpettone)
  • salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Preparation

  1. Wash your hands.
  2. Make a “volcano” out of the ground beef on a cutting board that has been dusted with all-purpose white flour. There should be a hole in the middle of the beef.
  3. Add to the center of the volcano: 2 eggs: 1 whole, 1 yolk only; 2 TB of grated Parmigiano; 2 table spoons of “plain” bread crumbs, TB. nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Using your hands, mix them up with the surrounding meat trying not to let the egg leak on the floor –that is why you made a volcano!  With your hands mix everything well and make a big oval meatball log, i.e., the “polpettone.”
  4. Roll the polpettone in the flour. Carefully lift the polpettone log into the pan where the ½ cup of olive oil is already hot, but not smoking!
  5. Brown the polpettone on medium-high fire for about 10 minutes turning it around gently so all sides take a nice brown color.
  6. Add 1 cup of chicken broth, cover and lower the heat to medium-low (or low depending of the stove) and let it cook 20 minutes.
  7. Remove from the heat and IMMEDIATELY add the 2 well-beaten egg yolks,  and turn the polpettone around the egg yok. As this starts to coagulate, add the juice of 1 squeezed lemon, turn the polpettone a little more. It will form a nice granulated sauce.
  8. Put the polpettone on the cutting board, slice it, put slices on serving dish, pour some of the gravy over it, and enjoy.

Wine Pairing Suggestions

A good Chianti, of course, or a Rosso di Montalcino for this dish that apparently originated in Florence.

Italiano: Il Polpettone

Il polpettone è una delle ricette più antiche della cucina Italiana.  Era uno dei piatti preferiti dell’Artusi, il grande nonno della cucina Italiana, ma trovare questa ricotta in un ristorante è impossibile, chissà perché.  Piace a tutti, adulti e bambini, e si fa molto facilmente.  In 30 minuti da mangiare a 5 persone, o dieci se raddoppiate gli ingredienti.

Ingredienti

  • 236 ml di olio extravergine di oliva
  • 500 grammi di carne macinata magra: la carne di bufalo è perfetta
  • 2 uova: 1 uovo intero, e solo il tuorlo dell’altro, che andrà mescolato alla carne macinata
  • 2 tuorli d’uovo, sbattuti – usati per creare un sugo dalle sgocciolature
  • Succo di 1 limone
  • 2 cucchiai di parmigiano grattugiato
  • 1 cucchiaino di noce moscata
  • 2 cucchiai di pangrattato normale
  • 236 ml di brodo di pollo
  • Una manciata di farina (per spolverare il tagliere dove si forma il polpettone)
  • Sale e pepe a piacere

Preparazione

  1. 500 grammi di carne magra tritata (di bufala se la trovate).
  2. Lavatevi le mani.
  3. Formare un vulcano, e mettere nello spazio vuoto al centro del vulcano 2 uova, uno intero, l’altro solo il rosso, 2 cucchiai di Parmigiano grattato e due di pan grattato, un cucchiaino da te di noce moscata, sale e pepe.  Mischiate bene e fate una polpettona ovale.  Poi passatela nella farina.
  4. Mettetela in una pentola con olio già caldo (circa 10 cucchiai d’olio o 120 ml).  Giratelo delicatamente finche non prende un bel colore marrone da tutti i lati, circa 10 minuti fuoco medio alto.  Aggiungete una tazza di brodo di pollo, abbassate il fuoco e fate andare per 20 minuti coperto.
  5. Togliete la pentola dal fuoco e procedete con la “fricassee” cioè: aggiungete 2 torli d’uovo sbattuti, e girateci intorno il polpettone, appena l’uovo comincia a raggrumarsi spremeteci sopra 1 limone, girate il polpettone ancora un po’ e poi mettetelo su un tagliere, tagliatelo a fette, servite nei piatti e aggiungete sopra un po’ della salsetta.  La fine del mondo.

 

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