Baked Orzo with Eggplant and Mozzarella

Baked Orzo with Eggplant and Mozzarella
Adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi
Serves 4
1 large (mine was just over 1 1/4 pounds/570 grams) eggplant, cut into 3/4-inch dice
Salt and black pepper
1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil
1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 celery stalk, in a 1/4-inch dice
1 medium onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces (225 grams) orzo, a rice-shaped pasta, rinsed
1 teaspoon (6 grams) tomato paste
1 1/2 cups (355 ml) vegetable stock
1 to 3 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest or more to taste, up to the zest of a whole lemon
4 ounces (115 grams) mozzarella, firmer is better here, cut into 1/3-inch dice
1 1/2 ounces (a generous 1/2 cup or 45 grams) parmesan, grated
3 medium tomatoes, diced
Sprinkle your eggplant generously with salt and let it drain in a colander for 30 minutes. I used this time to get the rest of my ingredients ready. After 30 minutes, rinse it well and pat it dry on towels.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the oil and once the oil is shimmering, add the eggplant. Fry for 8 minutes, stirring pieces occasionally. Using a slotted spoon or spatula, transfer them to paper towels to drain. Add celery and carrots to remaining oil and cook for 3 minutes before adding onion and garlic. Cook together for 5 more minutes on medium heat. Stir in the orzo and tomato paste and cook for two minutes more. Off the heat, add the oregano, mozzarella, parmesan, tomatoes, fried eggplant, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon table salt, many grinds of black pepper and the stock and mix well.
Transfer mixture to an 8×11-inch (about 2 quarts) ovenproof baking dish. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes, then bake 20 minutes without the foil. (You can increase the ration of foil-on to foil-off time if you don’t like a crunchy pasta lid.) Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

21st Century Caponata (from Greg Atkinson)

This Sicilan style eggplant appetizer is delicious served over brown rice, tossed with pasta or as an appetizer with crackers. With hummus, olives and feta, it makes an appetizer platter.

Cut a large eggplant into 1-inch cubes. Toss with 1 T. salt and let it stand at room temp in a colander for 10 minutes to drain off the bitter juices Then toss with olive oil and spread on a cookie sheet and roast at 400 degrees until soft and slightly browned, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, chop a red onion and two stalks of celery and saute in olive oil. until onions are beginning to brown. Add 1 T. dried oregano leaves and 1 T. chopped garlic and cook 1 minute longer.

Transfer to a bowl, stir in the eggplant plus 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup capers, drained, 1 cup julienne-cut strips of sun-dried tomatoes in oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let the mixture stand at room temp for at least 10 minutes before serving. Caponata keeps well in the refrigerator for a week.

Penne with Walnut Pesto and Eggplant

From "The Herbal Kitchen", serves 4
-2 small or 1 large eggplant
-2 T. olive oil
-1 tsp. salt

Pesto:
2 cups lightly packed basil leaves
1/2 cup toasted walnuts
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup freshly rated Parmigiano-Reggiano

3/4 pound penne pasta
1/2 cup roughly chopped toasted walnuts to finish

Preheat oven to 425. Cut the unpeeled eggplant into 3/4 inch cubes. Spread tehm out on a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt. Toss with your hands to distrubte the oil and salt and shake the cubes out into a single layer. Bake for 25-30 minutes until they are brown on the edges and are very soft.

While the eggplant is roasting, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare the pesto by pulsing the basil, walnuts, garlic and 1/2 tsp salt in a food processor. With the machine running, pour in the olive oil. Scrape down teh bow and add the cheese, pulse again.

Boil the pasta , scoop out 1/2 cup of cooking water into a cup and drain the pasta. Return the pasta to the warm pot, top with pesto, pour in the water and stir until evenly sauced. Scrape the eggplant cubes into the pot and stir gently. Scoop the pasta into warm serving bowls, top with walnuts and serve right away.