| Eggplant Au Gratin
1 Eggplant (about 1 lb.)
1/2 pound of Fresh Mushrooms
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup of milk
Pepper, to taste
Tabasco, to taste
2 tablespoons of bread crumbs
Salt to taste
3 1/2 tablespoons of butter
1 1/2 tablespoon of flour
1/4 cup of heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
1 Egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese |
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Preheat oven to 425ºF. Peel the eggplant and cut the flesh into 1" cubes, more or less. Drop the cubes into boiling salted water, cook about 5 minutes, just until cooked. Drain well. Meanwhile, slice the mushrooms. There should be about 2 cups. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet and add the mushroom slices. Sprinkle with salt and about 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Cook, stirring and tossing, until the mushrooms give up their juice. Continue cooking until the liquid evaporates. Set aside. Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan and add the flour, stirring with a wire whisk. Add the milk and cream, stirring rapidly with the whisk. When blended and smooth, add salt and pepper to taste, the remaining lemon juice, nutmeg, and Tabasco to taste. Stir in the mushrooms and eggplant. Stir in the egg. Spoon the mixture into a baking dish (an 8" pie plate works well). Sprinkle with a mixture of crumbs and cheese and dot the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, and then brown under the broiler. Serves 6
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