Easiest Way to Make Chiacchiere Di Carnevale Al Forno

Polpettine Di Melanzane Al Forno (Italian Baked Eggplant And Parmesan Bites)

Tanti sono i nomi che identificano questi tipici dolci di carnevale della tradizione italiana.

Recipe Summary Polpettine Di Melanzane Al Forno (Italian Baked Eggplant And Parmesan Bites)

When eggplants are in season we make these yummy eggplant balls a lot. They are made with baked eggplant, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and I add mint for extra taste! Feel free to experiment with other cheeses.

Ingredients | Chiacchiere Di Carnevale Al Forno

2 large eggplants

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 egg

3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons bread crumbs, plus more for rolling

1 teaspoon mint, thinly sliced, or more to taste

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Wrap each eggplant in foil and place on a baking tray. Bake until skin can easily be pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes. Slice each eggplant in half, discard seeds, and scoop out soft flesh; place flesh in a colander.

Place colander on a plate; cover eggplant with foil and set a heavy object, like a plate with some cans, on top of the plate to squeeze out any excess liquid. Let stand for about 20 minutes, then chop the flesh, squeezing out extra water as you work.

Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease baking sheet with olive oil.

Combine chopped eggplant, egg, grated Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, mint, salt, and pepper in a bowl; mix well.

Scoop up a small amount of eggplant mixture and roll into a ball between your palms. Roll in breadcrumbs and place on the prepared baking sheet. Continue making balls and rolling them in breadcrumbs until mixture has been used up.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes until golden brown, carefully turning balls after 20 minutes.

Eggplant are full of water so this mix will still be quite moist even after squeezing out excess liquid. Add more breadcrumbs if you prefer a firmer texture. Also, be careful when turning the balls in the oven because they easily fall apart.

Info | Chiacchiere Di Carnevale Al Forno

prep: 20 mins cook: 1 hr 25 mins total: 1 hr 45 mins Servings: 4 Yield: 4 servings

TAG : Polpettine Di Melanzane Al Forno (Italian Baked Eggplant And Parmesan Bites)

Appetizers and Snacks, Cheese,