Montaditos de Berenjena

 
   Here is an easy tapa that will impress your guests every time.  Montaditos de berenjena are little bites of Serrano ham and fig jam in between two slices of eggplant. The contrast of buttery and crunchy textures and the salty and sweet flavors will leave you wanting more of these tasty bites.

 
 
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    If you let the salted eggplant slices drain for about an hour, before cooking them, they’ll become even crunchier!
Here’s what you will need:

 
MATERIALS:
-  Frying Pan
-  Serving Plate
-  Bowl to dip in the batter

 
INGREDIENTS:
-  2 eggplants
-  ½ cup of flour (tempura flour would be even better)
-  2/3 cup of cold water
-  Salt
-  Fig jam
-  Serrano ham or prosciutto (about 8 slices, depending on how full you want to make them)
-  Cheese crumbles (blue cheese, feta or goat cheese work best)
-  Olive oil

 
HOW TO PREPARE IT:
1.  Rinse eggplants and slice them in ¼ inch slices (keeping the skin on).

 

2.  Salt the sliced eggplants and place them in a strainer or on an absorbent surface such as a paper towel for about 1 hour. If you run out of time or forget to drain them you can still make the dish, it just won’t be as crunchy.

 

3.  Prepare the tempura batter by mixing the tempura flour and the water at a very cool temperature.  If you don’t have tempura flour you can use regular flour and water or beer.  It will also be very good, just not as spongy.
4.  Dip each eggplant slice in the batter and proceed to fry them.
5.  Heat up about 2 cups of olive oil in a frying pan and add the eggplants when it’s hot.
6.  Cook at a medium heat for about 3 minutes on each side or until they turn golden.

 

7.  Place them on a plate covered with paper towels so they’ll drain the extra oil.
8.  Once they are a bit cooler, start to assemble them by spreading some fig jam on top of a slice, Serrano ham over that, and then some cheese crumbles. Top it with another slice of eggplant.

 
 
 

9.  For a better presentation decorate the serving plate with some type of greens (escarole or arugula) making a bed for the eggplants to be placed on.  Serve them as soon as possible so they remain crunchy.
 Enjoy!

 

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