My eggplant crop was a runaway success this year—not always the case—and I’m getting a little tired of baba ghanoush. I’ve cooked eggplant with pasta every conceivable way… and still I have eggplant. For Labor Day, when normal people were grilling burgers, we grilled eggplant. That’s when I was reminded how much I enjoy this pasta-free riff on cannelloni, which I developed for a Sur La Table cookbook several years ago. Eggplant and tomato are a proven love match; add ricotta and prosciutto to the mix and you hit it out of the park. For a dinner party, you can assemble the dish ahead, then slip it into the oven when guests arrive. It’s delicious warm or at room temperature so you don’t have to worry about timing. With both eggplants and tomatoes at their annual peak, now’s the moment to master this lighter rendition of eggplant parmigiana.
Grilled Eggplant Cannelloni with Ricotta and Prosciutto
Lengthwise slices from a large eggplant become supple when grilled, so you can roll them around a ricotta filling as if you were making cannelloni from pasta squares. Blanketed with a homemade fresh-tomato sauce and baked until bubbly and a little crusty around the edges, the fork-tender bundles of stuffed eggplant are the ultimate Italian comfort food. If you’re pressed for time, use a store-bought sauce. From Eating Local by Janet Fletcher (Andrews McMeel).
Photo: Douglas Fletcher
2 large eggplants, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 pounds each
Kosher or sea salt
2 to 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Tomato Sauce:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, minced
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 pounds plum (Roma type) tomatoes, chopped (no need to peel)
8 to 12 fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch hot pepper flakes
Kosher or sea salt
Ricotta Filling:
2 cups fresh ricotta (or one 15-ounce container)
1/2 cup freshly grated pecorino or Parmigiano Reggiano, plus 1/2 cup for topping
1/3 cup minced prosciutto (about 2 ounces)
2 tablespoons minced Italian parsley
1 large clove garlic, minced
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Slice off the eggplants’ green cap, then cut each eggplant lengthwise into slices about 1/3 inch thick. Discard the first and last slices, which are mostly skin. You should get at least 6 large slices from each eggplant. Sprinkle generously with salt on both sides, then set the slices on a rack to drain for 30 minutes.
Prepare a moderate charcoal fire or preheat a gas grill to medium (375˚F). Pat the eggplant slices dry with paper towels, then brush both sides with the 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil. Grill directly over the coals or flame until the slices are nicely marked by the grill and pliable, about 3 minutes per side. They do not need to be fully cooked as they will cook further in the oven. Set the slices aside on a tray to cool.
Prepare the Tomato Sauce:
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over moderate heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is soft and beginning to color, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the chopped tomato and cook, stirring often, until it softens and collapses into a sauce. Pass the mixture through a food mill fitted with the fine disk. Return the tomato puree to the skillet and add the basil leaves, torn in half. Add the oregano, rubbing it between your fingers as you do, the hot pepper flakes and salt to taste. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick and tasty.
Prepare the Ricotta Filling:
Put the ricotta, 1/2 cup pecorino or Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto, parsley and garlic in a bowl. Stir until blended, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the egg.
Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Choose a shallow baking dish large enough to hold all the eggplant rolls snugly in one layer. Spread 1/3 cup tomato sauce on the bottom of the dish.
Put a generous 2 tablespoons filling on each eggplant slice and spread it evenly. Carefully roll the slices like a jelly roll and place them seam side down in the baking dish. Top with the remaining tomato sauce, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup pecorino or Parmigiano Reggiano. Bake until lightly browned and bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool 20 minutes before serving.
Serves 4 as a main course, 6 as a first course