Moving on with the Sunday Small Bites schedule, this week was Eden's turn to choose an ingredient. She (very brilliantly I may add) chose eggplants. I love eggplants, but it is one of these vegetables that I don't cook much, I think I just find it hard to incorporate them into dishes I cook. (Note to self: I need to be more creative.) I recently bought a few cookbooks that were on sale from T.J. Max. One of these books is a Love Food Baking Book (I got it for $3), and it has many interesting baking recipes, from which I chose my eggplant recipe for this week: Eggplant and Pesto Tartlets.
The original recipe calls for draping the tartelts with a slice of prosciutto after baking, and I am sure that would have been amazing, alas we've been eating a lot of meat and I wanted to make it a "light" appetizer. Just using the eggplant,mozzarella and pesto sauce over puff pastry was fantastic, and with using a ready-made puff pastry it was really quick. I think this recipe may become a staple at our house, we really loved it!
Eggplant and Pesto Tartlets
9 oz ready-made puff pastry, thawed
all-purpose flour for dusting
1 eggplant,trimmed and thinly sliced
5 Tbsp. olive oil
Mozzarella cheese
6 Tbsp. pesto
black pepper to taste
1 egg yolk
Working on a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry and divide into six pieces. Roll out the pieces into rectangles (or cut into circles if you wish) and place them on a cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 375F.
Brush the eggplant slices with 2 Tbsp. olive oil and cook in a non-stick skillet briefly and in batches. Arrange the eggplant slices over the pastry base leaving about an inch margin around the edges. Fold the edges. Lay the mozzarella over the eggplant slices and spoon over some pesto. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and season with pepper. brush the edges of the pastry with eff yolk and bake for 15 minuets. Serve warm.
Enjoy!
Comments (6)
These look really interesting. I am making my eggplant tomorrow.
Have a great New Year!
Posted by Jerry | January 2, 2010 9:32 PM
Posted on January 2, 2010 21:32
Hi Candi, your eggplant dish looks really delicious. Maybe I can try it today. I bought an extra egg plant when making my dish and this looks really easy and delicous.
Thanks so much for sharing your recipe.
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | January 3, 2010 9:27 AM
Posted on January 3, 2010 09:27
Candi, your eggplant creation looks delicious. I have never used puff pastry before. After reading your recipe, I am determined to try this. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by Eden | January 3, 2010 9:08 PM
Posted on January 3, 2010 21:08
I love eggplant too and this looks delicious!
Hope your holiday was lots of fun. And Happy 2010 too!
Posted by Annie | January 4, 2010 8:51 AM
Posted on January 4, 2010 08:51
Your dish looks very tasty. I see eggplant in the store, but never know what to do with it, other than ratatouille (sp?) which my hubby doesn't like. I might try this one of these Sundays at my mom's house (we often gather there after church, and usually are in need of some nibblies!)
Posted by Anne | January 4, 2010 7:28 PM
Posted on January 4, 2010 19:28
What an unusual recipe! I have to admit that eggplant is not one of my favorites, but there were a lot of good recipes posted, so I may have to try some of them.
Posted by nancyhol | January 6, 2010 1:57 AM
Posted on January 6, 2010 01:57