These light and elegant timbales of eggplant parmigiana are a definite three-star take on a very simple dish. Serve them hot from the oven or at room temperature, whichever your picnic allows. Satisfying Vegetarian Recipes
How to Make It
Preheat the oven to 400°. Brush six 1/2-cup ramekins with olive oil and coat the bottoms and sides with the bread crumbs. Tap out any excess crumbs.
Squeeze as much juice from the tomatoes as possible; discard the juice. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large saucepan. Add the garlic and cook over moderate heat until golden, about 2 minutes; discard the garlic. Add the tomatoes and cook over moderately high heat until reduced to a thick sauce, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, add 2 tablespoons of the basil and season with salt.
Slice the wider eggplant lengthwise into eighteen 6-by-1/4-inch-thick strips. Cut the narrow eggplant crosswise into eighteen 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Arrange the strips and rounds on a rimmed baking sheet, brush with 6 tablespoons of the oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for about 8 minutes, or until tender. As the eggplant is done, transfer the slices to a platter, keeping them intact. Lower the oven temperature to 375°.
Line each ramekin with 3 strips of eggplant, allowing the excess to hang over the edges. Add about 1 tablespoon of the tomato sauce, a large pinch of the basil and 1 tablespoon of the mozzarella and cover with an eggplant round. Repeat the layering process 2 more times. Bring the overhanging strips of the eggplant over the filling to enclose it.
Arrange the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes, or until heated through. Let cool for 10 minutes, then unmold each one onto a small plate. Drizzle the remaining tomato sauce around the timbales, garnish with any remaining basil and serve.