July 4th 2007

Yield:1 Servin

Ingredients:

Breading Mixture:
• 1½ cups flour
• 1½ seasoned bread crumbs
• 1½ cups buttermilk
  
  Eggplant Mixture:
• 4 eggplants
• ½ cup olive oil
• 2 onions, diced small
• 1 Tablespoon garlic, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, skinned and diced
• 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• ¼ teaspoon oregano
• ½ teaspoon chili flakes
• 1 Tablespoon thyme
• 2 cups parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper
  
  Blue Cheese Dressing:
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup water
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• ½ cup blue cheese
• ¼ teaspoons cayenne pepper
• ¼ cups rice vinegar
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 3 Tablespoons chives
  
  Assemble and Serve:
• Cooking oil

Method:
For the Breading Mixture:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix vigorously until mixture is smooth and free of lumps.

For the Eggplant Mixture:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut the eggplants in half and score in a diamond pattern.  Rub ¼ cup olive oil generously over the entire surface and season with salt and pepper. Roast eggplant halves in the oven for 45 minutes. Heat ¼ cup olive oil in a sauté pan, sweat the onions until translucent and add the garlic and tomatoes. Remove eggplant from the oven, scrape the insides onto a cutting board with a large spoon and add to the onions and tomatoes in the sauté pan. Cook the eggplant mixture on low heat for 20-30 minutes. Add in the bread crumbs, herbs and cheese and season with salt and pepper. Remove sauté pan from flame and spread contents onto a sheet pan. Roll the eggplant mixture in to ½-ounce balls and deep fry

For the Blue Cheese Dressing:
Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl until mixture reaches a thick, creamy consistency.

To Assemble and Serve:
Heat oil to 350°F. Scoop the eggplant mixture out of the sheet pan and roll into a bite-sized, ½ ounce balls. Coat each ball with the Breading Mixture. Fry for 2 minutes or until golden brown. With a slotted spoon, transfer Hush Puppies to a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess oil. Serve hot in a basket with a side dish of Blue Cheese Dressing.

back to top