Stuffed Baby Eggplant

Photo: The Red Spoon

Ingredients

Tomato Sauce:

28 ounce can whole tomatoes in juice, preferably San Marzano

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/4 cups water

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Eggplant and Stuffing:

4 pounds small baby eggplants with stem attached

1/2 cup long grain rice

1 cup water

1 cup panko breadcrumbs

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano

1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 cups vegetable oil

Preparation

Make Sauce: Drain tomatoes, reserving juice, then finely chop. Heat oil in a 4 – 5 quart heavy pot over medium heat until hot but not smoking, then cook garlic, stirring until golden brown, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes with reserved juice, water, tomato paste, sugar and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in basil.

Eggplants and Stuffing: Bring a 5 – 6 quart pot of salted water to a boil over moderately high heat. Boil eggplants, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender when pierced with a pairing knife, 20 – 25 minutes. (Meg note: I stood over the stove and had to use a large slotted spoon to twirl the eggplants in the boiling water to cook both sides since they decided to float. Perhaps this was unnecessary? Let me know how you got them to sink or if you just left them alone and they turned out ok.) Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggplants to a colander to drain. Discard cooking water. When eggplants are cool enough to handle, about 15 – 20 minutes, halve eggplants lengthwise through the stem, but keeping the stem attached. With a small knife (Meg note: it is easier to cut around the edges of the eggplant with a pairing knife and use a spoon to scrape out the flesh), scoop out and reserve flesh, leaving 1/4-inch thick shells. Very finely chop flesh and transfer to a large bowl.

Bring rice and water to a boil in a 1-quart saucepan, uncovered, then reduce heat and simmer rice, covered, until water has be absorbed and rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork and add to the chopped eggplant.

Add breadcrumbs to the rice and eggplant mixture along with the garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir to combine well.

Sprinkle inside of eggplant shells with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Firmly pack the stuffing into the eggplant shells, about 1/3-cup. (You will probably have some stuffing leftover.)

Fry and bake eggplants: Position oven rack in the middle and preheat oven to 375°F.

Heat 1-inch vegetable oil in a large 3 – 4 quart heavy skillet over medium heat until a thermometer reaches 320°F and add 4 – 5 eggplant halves, stuffing side up. Fry, turning over once using 2 slotted spoons until golden brown, about 3 – 5 minutes on each side. Transfer stuffing side up to a paper towel lined plate to drain, then fry remaining eggplant halves in the same manner, returning oil to 320°F between batches.

Spoon sauce into a 3-quart (13×9-inch) nonreactive baking dish. Add eggplants, stuffing sides up and bake, covered with foil, until sauce is bubbling, 20 – 30 minutes.

Serve.