If you hate eggplants, let this recipe change your mind.
Did you know that Italians used to think that eggplants can kill you? Back in the VIII century, when the Arabs introduced it to Europe, the plant was considered purely ornamental and its fruit so poisonous that it could cause madness or even death!
Fortunately everybody changed their mind and eggplants slowly became a staple of many European cuisines.
Tools
stock pot
colander
large bowl
non-stick pan
Ingredients
3 medium eggplants
1 cup of breadcrumbs
1 cup of grated Parmigiano or Pecorino cheese
1 egg
1 garlic clove, minced
⅓ cup of chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil
Directions
Cut the eggplants in half longwise. Then place the halves cut face down and cut again to obtain 3 long sticks.
Bring a big pot of water to boil, add the eggplants sticks and cook them for 15 minutes.
Discard the water and let them cool off for at least one hour in a colander in the sink, so that they lose some of their water.
After they cooled off, place them in a large bowl and smash them with a fork or a masher.
Now add breadcrumbs, grated cheese, egg, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper to taste.
Place the bowl in the fridge and let it rest for half an hour. .
After about half an hour of rest, take the mixture from the fridge and start to form the meatballs. First oil your hands, then scoop one full teaspoon of the mixture and roll it with your palms to form a small ball. Gently press with the palms of your hands to flatten it, to obtain a sort of disk.
Place the disk on a big plate or a tray and repeat the same operation with the rest of the mixture.
Heat one tsp of olive oil in a non-stick pan on medium heat. Gently place the meatball in the pan making sure to leave at least an inch between them.
Cook for 3 minutes then gently flip them and cook for 3 minutes more or until the surface turns golden. Now remove them from the pan and place them on a plate or tray lined with a paper towel.
Let them cool down for a few minutes and serve them on their own or accompanied by a simple marinara sauce. Buon Appetito!
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