Rollatini
An Italian appetizer, rollatini di melanzane which, as far as I have studied, was famous especially among the American-Italian emigrant menu. Like most Italian dishes, it is easy to prepare, but it requires a bit of patience and is not one of the dishes that cook in 15 minutes.
The egg-plants are cut lengthwise into slices about 5-6 mm thick, which are baked soft in a pan or oven, wrapped in cheese filling and baked in tomato sauce and covered with cheese or left uncovered. Sometimes meat is also used to fill the rolls, but more often it is cheese.
I found two beautiful eggplants in the store and made eight rolls of them, which I filled with cream cheese, parmesan, and a little cheddar, and covered with mozzarella-like Italian Provola cheese.
Preparation time: 30-45 minutes preparation, 30-40 minutes baking
Level: easy
Quantity: appetizer for four
Ingredients:
Two medium eggplants cut lengthwise into 5-6 mm slices
For cooking olive oil, salt, and pepper
To cover rolls, some slices of mozzarella type cheese
Chopped parsley can be used for servings
Filling:
2 tablespoons cream cheese (Philadelphia, etc.)
50 g grated cheddar
50 g grated parmesan
Black pepper and dried basil for seasoning
Tomato sauce:
1 jar of crushed tomatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove chopped
Black pepper, salt and dried Italian herbs (oregano, bale, thyme) for seasoning
Preparation:
1. Cut the eggplants lengthwise into 5-6 mm thick slices, lightly grease with oil and cook either in a dry pan or in the oven on both sides until the aubergine slices are semi-soft
2. Mix 2 tablespoons of grated cheese with cheddar and parmesan, add spices
3. Prepare the sauce, heat the oil in a pan, add the onion and garlic, and spices. Fry for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add canned tomatoes and cook for another 1 min.
4. Pour half of the sauce into the bottom of the baking tin.
5. Place about 1 teaspoon of the filling on the eggplant slice and carefully turn the roll and place the baking tin in the tomato sauce.
6. Turn all rollers in the same way. I got four rolls of two aubergines.
7. Roll the remaining tomato sauce into rolls, cover with mozzarella slices, cover the baking tin with a lid or foil and cook at 200 degrees for 30-40 minutes until the eggplant is soft and the cheese has melted.
8. Serve warm, shake the chopped parsley when serving. The rolls are also suitable for cold appetizers.
Ready !!