An opulent summer dinner
“The cattle lay drowsing all day long under the willows and only moved out at night to feed. An umber tone came to the grass. And the afternoon winds blowing inevitably down the valley started a dust that was like fog and raised it into the sky almost as high as the mountaintops.”
East of Eden, John Steinbeck
Inspiration
Its still summer. If only it would last forever. But then juicy peaches and sweet corn would become mundane. Voluptuous tomatoes would be boring and perfectly regal eggplant might be ignored for the avalanche of winter squash and pumpkin that nudge us to the next season. Grab the last of summer’s finest and then welcome autumn.
Essentials
In an effort to use up the end-of-summer, I have too many cherry tomatoes, I added some to the baking dish and found that they were very happy to burst open and make a chunky sauce for the Eggplant Stacks. The ripe tomatoes mingle nicely with any garlic crumbs that fall in their direction. Sprinkle with abandon. Also recommended is scooping the sweet tomato goodness with crusty bread. Soon all our plans for tomatoes will be tucked away in jars and cans.
This recipe serves two and can be easily doubled to serve four. Planning for leftovers is something I often do. A light brush with oil and roasting at high heat insures that the eggplant doesn’t become a sponge for too much oil. I am also a fan of salting the eggplant to remove excess moisture and bitterness before making the stacks. Take care not to add too much cheese or tomato sauce between the layers of eggplant, the stacks might slide apart when baking. To capture the subtle and fresh flavors of the eggplant and buffalo mozzarella mellow parsley is the only herb in the recipe.
| Garlic Crumbs | |
| 3T | olive oil |
| 1 | large clove of garlic |
| 1/2C | bread crumbs |
| 1T | fresh parsley, chopped |
| 1/4t | fine grain sea salt |
| Eggplant Stacks with Buffalo Mozzarella | |
| 1 | large eggplant |
| 1T | fine grain sea salt |
| 1T | olive oil |
| 1 | ball buffalo mozzarella, 4.4oz, drained |
| 1/2C | tomato sauce |
| 1/2pint | cherry tomatoes |
- To make the garlic crumbs warm the olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add the minced garlic and stir just until the garlic becomes fragrant. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the bread crumbs and parsley.
- Heat the oven to 425°. Cut the eggplant vertically in half inch slices, ideally there will be eight slices to make two stacks. Generously salt both sides of each piece of eggplant. Set in a colander to drain for fifteen minutes to remove excess moisture and bitterness from the eggplant. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of a large sheet pan. Rinse all the salt from the eggplant slices and throughly pat each slice dry. Spread the eggplant slices across the surface of the sheet pan and brush both sides lightly with olive oil. Roast the eggplant slices for 15 minutes. Take care not to overcook, the eggplant will become too soft to stack.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350°. Cut the buffalo mozzarella in very thin slices. (I use an egg slicer.) Lightly oil individual baking dishes or a casserole pan. Pick the two largest slices of eggplant for the bottom of the stacks. Place them in the prepared pan(s). Scoop just enough tomato sauce to cover the top of the slices and add a thin layer of mozzarella. Don’t be tempted to add lots of tomato sauce or cheese, as the stacks will slide apart and the eggplant will become an afterthought. Thin layers will be just right! Continue building the stacks, ending with the smallest slices of eggplant on top. Finish the top slice with tomato sauce and cheese too. Leave some of the cherry tomatoes whole and cut the others in half. Scatter them around the base of the stacks. Top each stack generously and firmly with garlic crumbs and sprinkle some of the crumbs on the cherry tomatoes. Bake for 30 minutes, the cherry tomatoes will be bubbling and the cheese will be melted. Serve with crusty bread for scooping up the best and ripest of summer’s offerings.
Now this is the way one should eat eggplant! What a dish! I’m fighting the end of summer and by still eating summer vegetables is one of the ways I’m doing. Gotta pick me up an eggplant this week. 🙂
I agree! It’s so difficult to let go of summer! Thank you for stopping by MJ!
Deb, for years I thought I had an allergy to eggplant so I have avoided it. Recently I found out that in fact I am not allergic to eggplant. I was thrilled! (Sadly I discovered I AM allergic to cantaloupe of all things. Sad face. ). Anyway, this recipe would be the perfect way to delve back into eating one of my favorite, and deeply missed, foods.
What a wonderful revelation! Thank you for the eggplant love Mary!
It’s hard to let go of summer here in LA – it’s going to be 90 today! Hard to let go of those tomatoes, too. This is such a gorgeous dish — and feels perfect for a transition from summer to fall. The stacks are so fun and beautiful.
Thank you Valentina! I’m holding on to summer as long as I can!
This is a perfect end of summer meal – warming and fresh at once.
Thank you Lynda!
Absolutely perfect, Deb! I love your treatment of the eggplant — salting, roasting, not overwhelming it with seasoning. It can be such a divine veggie, but many are turned off because it isn’t prepared well. Anyway, here’s wishing you a very happy end of summer 🙂
Thank you for the gracious comment Viviane, much appreciated!
It looks comforting, beautiful and quite delish, Deb! A perfect fall meal!
Thank you Denise! I’m holding on to summer for as long as I can!
Fall is just around the corner, some of the trees are changing colors. This year it is hard for me to let go of summer but eventually I will embrace fall. Your post is so beautiful and I love eggplant dishes. Your dish looks so light and tasty. I will have to make it before summer is over.
I having a difficult time letting go of summer too, but it is almost time. You are correct, this is not a heavy eggplant recipe, more of a summertime treat!
I love eggplant, these stacks look absolutely mouthwatering! This is a dinner that would make me mourn summer’s end.
Thank you for the gracious comment Laura!
I adore eggplants and would love this dish in any season. Fall reared its head a little early this past weekend, but summer has moved back in. Let’s hope she sticks around for a loooong time.
I know the seasons are shifting! Thank you for the eggplant love Jacquee!
Gorgeous! Summery and comforting, too!
Thank you Carol! It really feels like fall today, summer is almost gone.
Still summer–yes for hope! I could look forward to autumn and the seasonal produce, though. Thanks for this yummy share, Deb!
Thank you Ala! It is really staring to feel like fall. I swapped out my mid-morning iced coffee for hot tea this morning…..