Julia Child's Eggplant Pizzas (Tranches d'aubergine á l'italienne)

Happy Labor Day! The unofficial end of summer, seems too soon yet.
Julia's eggplant pizzas are one of my favorite summer meals. We have been enjoying them for dinner with a salad. I hope you will try this....it's that good. I'll be making it again tomorrow since some nice person left me some beautiful plum tomatoes and an eggplant from their garden. I still don't know who ;o)

 

Julia Child's Eggplant Pizzas (Tranches d'aubergine á l'italienne)

(Makes 3-4 servings or 6-8 appetizer servings, recipe adapted from one found in From Julia Child's Kitchen.)

Ingredients:

1 globe eggplant, about 8 ounces and 9-10 inches long

about 1 T salt, for drawing water out of eggplant

about 2 T olive oil, for brushing eggplant before roasting

about 2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning, for sprinkling on eggplant before roasting

10 large basil leaves, cut in chiffonade strips (optional)

1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan

1/3 cup finely grated low-fat mozzarella blend

hot red pepper flakes for sprinkling finished pizza (optional)

Sauce Ingredients:

2-3 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

3 large garlic cloves, very finely chopped

1 can good quality petite diced tomatoes with liquid (or use 3 cups peeled and diced fresh tomatoes)

1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning blend

1/4 tsp. dried oregano (use Greek or Turkish oregano)

Instructions:

Cut off both ends of the eggplant; then cut it into 3/4 inch thick slices (trying to make them the same thickness!) Put the eggplant pieces on a double layer of paper towels and sprinkle both sides generously with salt. Let the eggplant sit with the salt on it for about 30 minutes to draw out the liquid. (After the eggplant sits for 15 minutes, turn on the oven to 375F/190C.)

While the eggplant sits, make the sauce. Heat 2-3 tsp. olive oil (depending on your pan) and saute the finely chopped garlic just until it becomes fragrant.  Add the petite diced tomatoes, dried Italian seasoning, and dried oregano and let the sauce cook at a low simmer until it's thickened, breaking up the tomatoes with a fork as it cooks.

After 30 minutes, wipe the eggplant dry with paper towels (this also removes most of the salt.) Spray a roasting sheet with olive oil or non-stick spray, lay eggplant slices on, brush the tops of the eggplant with olive oil, and sprinkle with dried Italian seasoning. Roast the eggplant about 25 minutes (but "not so long that the slices become mushy and lose their shape" as Julia says.)

While the eggplant roasts, thinly slice the fresh basil leaves (if using) and combined freshly grated Parmesan and low-fat mozzarella blend. After 25 minutes or when eggplant pieces are done, remove eggplant from the oven and turn oven setting to broil. Spread a few tablespoons of sauce on the top of each eggplant slice, sprinkle with thin basil slices (if using) and top with a generous amount of cheese. Put pizzas under the broiler until the cheese is melted and slightly browned. (This took 6-7 minutes for me, but I was using a toaster oven and in a more powerful broiler it would probably only take a few minutes.)Serve hot, with red pepper flakes to sprinkle on pizza if desired.

 

 

With this post, I am joining Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday.

We took time to enjoy the beautiful weather on Saturday. Thank you for stopping by!

Debbie