Eggplant Bruschette
- 1 baguette
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 garlic cloves, whole clove left unpeeled
- 1 small eggplant (1/2 lb)
- 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse gray sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 tablespoons
- Parmigiano-Reggiano
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375u0b0F.
- Cut off and discard 1 end of baguette, then cut 12 (1/4-inch-thick) crosswise slices from baguette (reserve remainder for another use). Lightly brush 1 side of each slice with some oil (about 1 tablespoon total) and arrange, oiled sides up, on a baking sheet. Toast until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. While toasts are still warm, rub oiled sides with cut side of garlic clove half, then transfer to a rack to cool. Reduce oven temperature to 350u0b0F.
- Halve eggplant lengthwise and make shallow 1/2-inch-long incisions all over cut sides with tip of a paring knife. Arrange eggplant, cut sides up (without crowding), in a shallow baking dish and add unpeeled garlic clove. Sprinkle thyme, rosemary, oregano, sea salt, and pepper over eggplant, then drizzle eggplant and garlic with 2 tablespoons oil.
- Bake until garlic is very tender, 30 to 35 minutes, then transfer garlic to a cutting board and continue to bake eggplant until very tender, 20 to 25 minutes more. When garlic is cool enough to handle, squeeze flesh from peel onto cutting board.
- Transfer eggplant to cutting board and let stand until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Scrape out flesh with a spoon onto cutting board, discarding peel. Finely chop eggplant and garlic together and transfer to a bowl. Add parsley and remaining tablespoon oil, then stir until combined well. Season with sea salt and pepper to taste.
- Top toasts with eggplant mixture and sprinkle with cheese.
baguette, extravirgin olive oil, garlic, eggplant, thyme, fresh rosemary, fresh oregano, coarse gray sea, ground black pepper, parsley
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/eggplant-bruschette-233960 (may not work)