Best Bean Casserole With Eggplant And Red Pepper Recipes

THE BEST GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Make the casserole: Place the dried shiitake mushrooms in a small bowl and cover with boiling water, about 2 cups, and cover with plastic wrap. Let steep for 20 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh strainer, reserve 1/2 cup of the liquid and slice the steeped mushrooms.
• Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion; cook, stirring, until softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the cremini and shiitake mushrooms; saute until softened and most of the liquid has evaporated, 10 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the broth and mushroom liquid. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook until crisp-tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain; shake off any excess water and add to the mushroom sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are very tender and the sauce is thick, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and season with 2 teaspoons of salt and pepper.
• For the topping: Soak the sliced onions in the buttermilk, 5 minutes. Combine the flour and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Heat 2 to 3 inches vegetable oil in a large pot until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Working in batches, drain the onion, toss with the flour and shake off the excess, then fry until golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Transfer the green bean mixture to a 4-quart baking dish and top with the fried onions. (The casserole and topping can be made up to 2 hours ahead; refrigerate the casserole. Bring to room temperature; reheat at 350 degrees F, 30 minutes. Top with the fried onion; bake 5 more minutes.)

EGGPLANT, ZUCCHINI AND SWEET RED PEPPER STEW

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a colander and sprinkle with salt.
• Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot. Rinse eggplant and pat dry. Saute until slightly browned. Stir in onion and saute until transparent. Stir in garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in rice, zucchini, red bell pepper, tomatoes, wine, water, salt and red pepper flakes. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture reaches a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
• Remove from heat and stir in basil, parsley and rosemary.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND RED PEPPER GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut eggplant into small dice (1/2 to 3/4 inch) and toss with salt to taste. Place in a colander in the sink and let sit for 20 minutes, then drain on paper towels and blot to remove liquid that has accumulated on the surface. Transfer to a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
• Line a baking sheet with foil and oil the foil with olive oil. Lay the diced eggplant on the foil in 1 layer. Roast in the hot oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the dice are soft when pierced with a knife and browned in spots. Remove from oven and carefully fold foil up over the eggplant slices (be careful not to burn yourself!). Crimp the edges of the foil so that eggplant is hermetically sealed in a big foil packet, and allow eggplant to steam for another 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully remove from the foil. Place in a colander or strainer set over a bowl again and allow eggplant to drain for 30 minutes, or preferably, overnight (uncovered) in the refrigerator.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish or gratin. Heat remaining oil over medium heat in a medium size skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, thyme and cumin and continue to cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds to a minute, until fragrant. Remove from the heat.
• If the diced roasted peppers are very moist, drain in a strainer and then place on paper towels and blot. Whisk eggs in a large bowl. Whisk in milk and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in eggplant, roasted peppers, onion mixture, chives and parsley and combine well. Stir in cheese and optional rice and combine well. Scrape into prepared baking dish.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

EGGPLANT AND RED PEPPER BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix red bell pepper, onion, and garlic in a large mixing bowl; season with basil, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the pepper mixture; toss to coat the vegetables evenly.
• Brush eggplant slices with olive oil to coat thinly.
• Spread about 1/3 of the pepper mixture into the bottom of a square glass baking dish; top with a layer of about 1/3 of the eggplant. Repeat layering twice more. Top final layer with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until the cheese is browned and the vegetables are bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes.

ROASTED RED BELL PEPPERS WITH EGGPLANT (FUNGHETTO)

Steps:

• For the peppers: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Spray a small baking dish or baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray. Arrange the peppers, cut side-up, on the baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Bake until the peppers are tender but still holding their shape, about 20 minutes.
• For the eggplant: Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Add the eggplant in batches and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
• For the filling: Combine the cooked eggplant, tomato-basil sauce, olives, capers, salt and pepper in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Spoon the filling into the bell peppers and sprinkle the topping over the filling. Drizzle with the olive oil and broil until a golden crust forms, 2 to 3 minutes.

OLD FASHIONED EGGPLANT CASSEROLE - A SOUTHERN EGGPLANT CASSEROLE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 2 quart baking dish (or 8x8 inch) with nonstick cooking spray.
• Cook peeled, diced eggplant in boiling water until fork tender; drain well.
• In a large bowl, combine cooked eggplant, beaten eggs, crushed crackers, milk, shredded cheese, melted butter and salt and pepper.
• Pour into prepared baking dish.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.