My Signature Dish by Ben Tish for Stir it up magazine
Ingredients
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Ingredients
g quality canned chopped tomatoes
g fresh cherry tomatoes, cut in half
8 aubergines, ends trimmed
Extra virgin olive oil
g dried breadcrumbs
g A handful of basil, leaves picked
g burrata, drained
g Parmesan cheese, grated
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
1
Step 1
Put the canned and fresh tomatoes into a saucepan and simmer over a medium heat to slowly reduce by half. Reserve.
2
Step 2
Cut the aubergines lengthways into slices about 2cm thick.
3
Step 3
Heat a large, heavy-based frying pan over a medium heat. Pour in some olive oil and, when hot, gently fry the aubergines slices, in batches, until tender and golden brown on both sides. You will need to add extra oil as you go as the aubergines soak it up quite quickly. When the slices are fried, season well and drain on kitchen paper.
4
Step 4
Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/Gas Mark 6.
5
Step 5
Rub the inside of an ovenproof dish (I use a terracotta or a metal dish for a rustic look) with olive oil. Make a layer of aubergine slices on the bottom, then sprinkle with breadcrumbs and a few basil leaves followed by a ladleful of tomato sauce, a burrata ripped into pieces and a handful of Parmesan. Ensure everything is evenly spread, then continue layering this way, finishing with a layer of aubergine. Reserve some breadcrumbs, Parmesan and basil.
6
Step 6
Bake for 40 minutes or until the parmigiana is bubbling away and the aubergines on top have begun to crisp.
7
Step 7
Remove from the oven to rest for 20 minutes, then sprinkle with the reserved breadcrumbs and Parmesan, and finish under a hot grill for 5 minutes. Scatter the remaining basil leaves on top before serving.