Eggplant Stacks

I'm calling last night's dinner eggplant stacks although the honest truth is this new invention really isn't much more than just lowly leftovers. I dare you to say you don't like leftovers after you get a load of this one.

Remember the meatloaf we had the other night? It has fed us well the past couple of days with meatloaf sandwiches made from crunchy ciabatta and melted cheese but last night said same meatloaf morphed into the filling for crispy panko crusted and fried eggplant, smothered in marinara sauce. 

Kinda' cool, eh?

I simply sliced eggplant on the diagonal, salted it then sandwiched it between sheets of paper towel lined cutting boards and weighed it all down with the lid of my cast iron Dutch oven and let it sit for a half hour to get rid of some of the liquid in the veg. Then I dredged the eggplant slices in flour, then an egg wash spiced up with pepper and red chile pepper flakes and finally in panko before they hit a little hot oil in a saute pan. Cooked till crisp on both sides, I kept them warm in the oven while I put the rest of the "stacks" together.

Meatloaf slices hit the frying pan to crisp on both sides then received a topping of pepperjack cheese. I heated about a cup of marinara then put it all together - eggplant slice, meatloaf, drizzle of marinara, eggplant slice, meatloaf, marinara, eggplant slice ...you get the picture right?

End result...delicious! Here's the "man sized" version.

To fill you in on the progress on the house, the guys are almost but not quite finished with the cedar shake siding and the interior window trim. You see, there's something we "Wallyworld" newcomers have to learn.  Here on the coast things kinda' coast along and get done whenever they get done - could be today, could be tomorrow, could be next week ... It'll happen eventually and when it does, I'll be sure to post a photo. Promise!

A year ago - Chipotle Chicken Salad with Peaches and Walnuts

Two year's ago - Creamy Hominy Gratin

Comments

[Lea M. Callais]

That is lovely - love the fried eggplant, meatloaf and the cheese!!!! I'm sold - just hold the sauce!

[June]

Lea - the added crunch from the eggplant was quite nice but it would be good with grilled eggplant too and for you we'll made a roasted red pepper sauce instead!

[Shaun]

Mmm like this idea, I rarely use aubergine yet can get them fresh at the farmshop! I'll probably substitute homemade burger for the meatloaf, we just dont eat it much over here.

[June]

Shaun, it is a quick, easy and darned tasty dinner. Interesting that meatloaf isn't popular over there, but burger will certainly do just as well.

[Lorraine]

You definitely know how to rock your leftovers! Wow, what a stack of savory goodness. Wish my bg liked eggplant because we sure eat a lot of meatloaf that can get a bit tired by the end of the week.

[June]

Thanks Lorraine. Would be good using roasted red peppers or grilled zucchini instead of the eggplant. Course it would be good using rye bread and grilled onions and call it a pattymelt too. (Can you tell I'm hungry?)