Cotolette di Melanzane

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Eggplant cutlets

  • 4

Ingredients

  • 3 large purple eggplants
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 bunch parsley, finely chopped
  • bread crumbs, for dredging
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • extra-virgin olive oil
  • grated cacviocavallo cheese
  • Pepperoncini, fennel fronds and oranges

Preparation

Step 1

Slice the eggplants into round slices, each about 1/2 -inch thick. Sprinkle the slices liberally with salt and then place them in a colander. It is all right if the eggplant slices overlap or cover one another. Place a weighted bowl on top of the eggplant, and leave for at least 1 hour. Don't rinse the eggplant, just shake off excess water.

When eggplant are ready to be used, use a fork to lightly beat the three eggs in a shallow bowl, and add parsley to it. Spread the breadcrumbs out in a baking pan. Season the eggplant slices to taste with pepper. Lightly dredge each eggplant slice first in the egg and then in the breadcrumbs. In a 2-quart saucepan, heat extra-virgin olive oil to come up a 1/4 way u pthe side of the pan, over medium heat. When the oil begins to smoke, lay several eggplant slices in a single layer in the pan. Fry the slices slowly until golden brown. When the first batch is cooked, remove the eggplant from the pan to a serving dish using a slotted spoon. Repeat the cooking process, beginning by adding 3 fresh tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil to the pan, until all of the cutlets are cooked.

Serve warm, garnished with caciocavallo cheese, pepperoncino, fennel fronds and juice from the oranges.