Il Cucinologo
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Mediterranean Eggplant Rolls

17/11/2023

The Mediterranean eggplant rolls are a delicious dish that combines the intense and fresh flavors typical of the cuisine of this region. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggplants
  • 200 g cherry tomatoes
  • 150 g fiordilatte mozzarella (or other string cheese)
  • 10-15 fresh basil leaves
  • 50 g salt-packed capers (to rinse and desalinate)
  • Pitted black olives to taste
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Breadcrumbs (optional, for a crispy coating)

Preparation

  1. Start by washing the eggplants and slicing them lengthwise into pieces about 5 mm thick.

  2. Arrange the eggplant slices on a rack and lightly salt them to draw out their bitterness. After about 20 minutes, rinse the slices and pat them dry with paper towels.

  3. On a griddle or nonstick skillet, cook the eggplant slices until soft and lightly golden. Brush with a drizzle of oil if needed.

  4. Meanwhile, halve the cherry tomatoes and thinly slice the mozzarella. Also prepare a mixture of the rinsed olives and capers.

  5. Take an eggplant slice, place a few cherry tomato halves on top, a piece of mozzarella, some of the olive-caper mixture, and a basil leaf. Gently roll to form the rolls.

  6. If you want extra crispiness, you can coat the rolls in breadcrumbs after lightly brushing them with oil.

  7. Arrange the rolls in a lightly oiled baking dish, seam side down.

  8. In a skillet, quickly sauté the garlic cloves with a drizzle of oil. Remove the garlic and pour the flavored oil over the rolls.

  9. Bake in a preheated oven at 200 °C for about 15 minutes, or until the surface of the rolls is golden.

Serve hot, perhaps with a drizzle of raw olive oil and a few fresh basil leaves for garnish.

Interesting Facts

This dish is the perfect expression of the sea and sun of the Mediterranean enclosed in a roll. Eggplant, the true queen of the Mediterranean garden, pairs beautifully with the acidity of tomatoes and the bold flavor of capers and olives, balanced by the sweetness of mozzarella. Every bite is a journey through the lands of the South!