Pacchetti di Melanzane
This is a delicious way to level up your eggplant game! Pacchetti di Melanzane or “Little packages of Eggplant” are grilled or fried eggplant slices stuffed with ham and fontina. Then baked in a quick tomato sauce and drizzled with pesto.
Pacchetti di Melanzane
A delicious way to prepare this summer vegetable!
Ingredients
- 2 Eggplant
- 7 Slices of Ham, cut in half
- 4 oz Fontina Cheese
- 1 clove Garlic
- 1 28 oz can San Marzano Tomatoes, pureed
- 1/2 Onion, diced
- Fresh Basil
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Olive oil for the pan and seasoning the eggplant
- Grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- 3 tbsp Pesto
Instructions
- Remove most of the skin off the eggplant. I remove every other strip. Then slice the eggplant into 1/8 inch thick slices. I use a mandolin slicer to do this because it is much easier and faster!
- Salt the slices and let them sit in a colander over a bowl for 30 mins. Rinse and pat dry.
- Grill the slices and place them into a bowl. Season with very little salt, pepper and fresh minced garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to combine.
- Into a saute pan, add olive oil, onion and saute until translucent. Add pureed San Marzano's and season with salt, pepper and fresh basil. Simmer for 20 mins to cook and reduce a bit.
- Lay out 2 slices of eggplant in a cross formation and place and piece of ham and fontina in the center. Fold one slice over and then the other to form a little package.
- Into a 9×9 baking dish, add some sauce. Place the eggplant on top. Drizzle more sauce over it and then grate parmigiano reggiano over it. Cover and bake at 400℉ for 15mins or until the cheese has melted.
- Drizzle with pesto right before serving. Enjoy!
