Garlic and Spinach Eggplant Rollatini
This is one of those dishes that just gets better the longer it lasts. If you can manage not to eat it all directly out of the pan as soon as it's done. Creamy, zesty, and comforting, this Italian classic is perfect for a crowd or an elegant date night.
Ingredients
4 medium eggplants
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
10-oz. frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
3 cups whole fat ricotta
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups shredded whole fat mozzarella
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
4 cups of your favorite marinara sauce
Directions
Slice ends off eggplants. Cut eggplants lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, discarding peel-covered ends. Lay slices on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle both sides liberally with salt. Let stand for 15 minutes, then rinse salt off under cold running water and pat slices dry.
Preheat oven to 400ºF. Brush both sides of eggplant slices with olive oil and place in single layers on 2 baking sheets. Roast for 15 minutes, until tender, turning eggplant slices over halfway through. Let cool on sheets on wire racks until cool enough to handle.
In a large bowl, combine spinach, ricotta, garlic, eggs, 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Season with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce over bottom of dish. Divide ricotta mixture among eggplant slices, using about 1/3 cup for each, spreading it down the center. Roll up slices and place seam-side down in baking dish. Top with remaining sauce and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake until browned and bubbling, about 15 minutes longer. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
About the Chef
Stephanie Goldfarb is a Chicago-based chef and national food television personality specializing in seasonal, globally-inspired cuisine. Recognized as the winner of Food Network’s America’s Best Cook competition, and a celebrity chef on Kitchen Inferno and NBC’s Food Fighters, Goldfarb delivers unique and relatable culinary experiences to discriminating and casual diners alike. As the owner of the successful Seven Species Supper Club & Catering, she enjoys the challenge of building brand new menus each month that inspire both repeat clients and newcomers, and seeks opportunities to utilize new ingredients, techniques, and approaches in accessible ways.