Il Cucinologo
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Eggplant and Mozzarella Tower

17/11/2023

The eggplant and mozzarella tower is a delicious dish that’s quite simple to prepare. It’s a Mediterranean-inspired recipe that works very well as an appetizer or main course. Here’s how to make it.

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggplants
  • 250 g buffalo mozzarella (or fior di latte)
  • Flour, as needed to coat the eggplants
  • Extra virgin olive oil, for frying and seasoning
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Fresh basil leaves
  • Tomato sauce (optional for a richer variation)
  • Grated Parmesan (optional)

Preparation

  1. Start by washing the eggplants, dry them and cut them into slices about 1 cm thick. You can choose to cut them lengthwise or into rounds, depending on your preferences.

  2. Arrange the slices on a plate or baking tray and sprinkle them with a little salt. Let them rest for about 30 minutes so they release their vegetable water and some of their bitter flavor.

  3. Meanwhile, slice the mozzarella and let it drain to remove excess liquid.

  4. After the resting time, pat the eggplant slices dry with paper towels, then coat them in flour and shake off the excess.

  5. Heat plenty of oil in a pan and fry the eggplants until golden and crispy. Drain well and place them on paper towels to remove excess oil.

  6. Now assemble the tower by alternating a slice of eggplant, a slice of mozzarella, a basil leaf, and so on until you reach the desired height. If you like, you can also add a little tomato sauce between the layers.

  7. Finish the tower with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, a sprinkle of pepper and, if you prefer, a dusting of Parmesan.

  8. For an extra touch, you can place the towers in the oven to gratinate for a few minutes until the mozzarella becomes stringy.

Serve the towers hot or at room temperature, garnished with fresh basil leaves.

Trivia

Even though the eggplant and mozzarella tower is a more modern and structured variant, it draws inspiration from the classic flavors of eggplant parmesan, a dish typical of the culinary tradition of southern Italy. The technique of layering the ingredients and the use of basil and mozzarella reflect the Italian love for fresh flavors and seasonality.