Eggplant-Polenta Stacks With Tomato Sauce

Serves: 6

Destiney Bartoletti

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

49

Spice

47

Sweetness

51

Sourness

43

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.5

Difficulty

Ingredients:

4 cups

Water

1 tsp

Salt

1 cup

Cornmeal

Directions:

1

Puree tomatoes in blender

2

Strain into heavy small saucepan

3

Bring to boil

4

Reduce heat to medium; simmer tomatoes until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 10 minutes

5

Add 2 tablespoons oil and simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors

6

Season with salt and pepper

7

Remove from heat

8

Combine 4 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt in heavy medium saucepan

9

Bring to boil

10

Gradually whisk in cornmeal

11

Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until polenta is very thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes

12

Remove from heat

13

Add Parmesan and butter and stir until melted

14

Mix in cayenne pepper

15

Spread polenta in 9-inch-square pan

16

Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour

17

(Sauce and polenta can be prepared 1 day ahead

18

Cover separately and refrigerate

19

) Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt

20

Let stand 30 minutes

21

Pat dry

22

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler

23

Brush eggplant and zucchini with oil

24

Season with salt and pepper

25

Grill or broil until tender, about 2 minutes per side

26

Preheat oven to 375°F

27

Lightly oil large baking sheet

28

Using eggplant as template, cut polenta into 4 rounds

29

Place rounds on prepared baking sheet

30

Top each with eggplant, 2 zucchini slices, basil leaf and mozzarella slice

31

Bake eggplant stacks until cheese melts and begins to brown, about 15 minutes

32

Transfer to plates

33

Rewarm sauce

34

Spoon around eggplant stacks

35

Sprinkle with chopped basil and serve

36

Puree tomatoes in blender

37

Strain into heavy small saucepan

38

Bring to boil

39

Reduce heat to medium; simmer tomatoes until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 10 minutes

40

Add 2 tablespoons oil and simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors

41

Season with salt and pepper

42

Remove from heat

43

Combine 4 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt in heavy medium saucepan

44

Bring to boil

45

Gradually whisk in cornmeal

46

Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until polenta is very thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes

47

Remove from heat

48

Add Parmesan and butter and stir until melted

49

Mix in cayenne pepper

50

Spread polenta in 9-inch-square pan

51

Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour

52

(Sauce and polenta can be prepared 1 day ahead

53

Cover separately and refrigerate

54

) Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt

55

Let stand 30 minutes

56

Pat dry

57

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler

58

Brush eggplant and zucchini with oil

59

Season with salt and pepper

60

Grill or broil until tender, about 2 minutes per side

61

Preheat oven to 375°F

62

Lightly oil large baking sheet

63

Using eggplant as template, cut polenta into 4 rounds

64

Place rounds on prepared baking sheet

65

Top each with eggplant, 2 zucchini slices, basil leaf and mozzarella slice

66

Bake eggplant stacks until cheese melts and begins to brown, about 15 minutes

67

Transfer to plates

68

Rewarm sauce

69

Spoon around eggplant stacks

70

Sprinkle with chopped basil and serve