Eggplant Involtini

Right now, you’re probably either groaning or cheering.  If you’re not a fan of eggplant, you’re wondering why I’m torturing you by posting it for the second time this week.  I promise, no eggplant next week 🙂  But if eggplant is your thing, maybe this is a preparation you’ve never seen.  I hadn’t, which is why I flagged it in my copy of Emeril’s new book, Sizzling Skillets and Other One-Pot Wonders.  Last week when I was house sitting for Shane’s parents and on my own for dinner every night, I put it on the menu.    

I’d brought one lonely eggplant with me, but it was looking pretty sad (meaning it had been in my fridge for about one day too long already) so I was excited when I noticed Shane’s mom’s plant had a few that were ready to be used.  It was so gratifying to walk out the door a few feet, pick a couple of eggplant and cook with them.

The dish was simple to prepare.  It was easy to scale back too, a bonus when you’re cooking for one.  The eggplant are cut into 1/2-inch slices and broiled briefly to tenderize them.  Then the slices are rolled up and around a simple mixture of breadcrumbs, garlic, balsamic vinegar, mozzarella, basil, oregano, red pepper and diced tomatoes (pine nuts too, but I omitted them).  Once assembled, you pop the eggplant rolls into the oven to heat them through and melt the cheese. 

The eggplant involtini was a delicious dinner for one.  I loved the combination of the melted cheese with the breadcrumbs and balsamic vinegar.  Next time I prepare the dish I might make a looser tomato sauce to nestle the rolls into for cooking, rather than the bed of diced tomatoes they sat on but that would be my only change.  Unfortunately, I can’t share the recipe today but here’s another variation from Emeril that I saw on Food Network which looks delicious too!

Check back tomorrow for the 7th post (you can see the first 6 here) I’ll be sharing for Emeril’s One-Pot Blogger Cooking Party.  There might even be a giveaway 🙂

{Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Sizzling Skillets and Other One-Pot Wonders in exchange for participating in the party.  All of the opinions expressed are mine alone.}