Tags: Italian inspired, Ottolenghi
- Fresh breadcrumbs (~ 90g)
- Eggplants (~1kg, ~4 eggplants ), ~2½cm cubes
- Olive oil (75ml)
- Salt and black pepper
- Fresh ricotta (100g)
- Parmesan (75g), finely grated, plus extra to serve
- Parsley leaves (~2½ tbsp), finely chopped
- 1 whole egg, plus 1 yolk extra
- AP flour (~1½ tbsp)
- garlic cloves (6 large), peeled and crushed
- Basil leaves (~4 tbsp), roughly torn
- Peanut oil for deep frying
- Tinned peeled plum tomatoes(600 g)
- Tomato paste (~1½ tsp)
- Vodka (~2 tbsp)
- Sugar (~1½ tsp)
- Chilli flakes (~¼ tsp )
- Paprika (~¾ tsp)
- Fresh Oregano (~2 tsp), finely chopped
- Kalamata olives (45g), pitted and torn in half
- Heat oven to 390F.
- Toast the bread crumbs till lightly browned and dried (~12 minutes).
- Toss the eggplant in olive oil, half teaspoon salt and good grind of pepper.
- Roast the eggplants in parchment lined oven tray till golden brown, tossing halfway through (~ 30 minutes)
- Chop the roasted eggplants into a chunky mash.
- Mix in the ricotta, parmesan, parsley, egg, extra yolk, flour, breadcrumbs, a third of the garlic(2 cloves), two and a half tablespoons of basil, a quarter-teaspoon of salt, and another good grind of pepper.
- Heat the peanut oil of deep frying to ~350F.
- Shape the mixture into balls weighing about 55g (should make around 16).
- Fry the dumplings for three to four minutes until golden brown all over.
- Heat two tablespoon of oil in a saucepot and fry the rest of the garlic(4 cloves) until aromatic.
- Stir in the tomato tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, chilli flakes, paprika, oregano, a teaspoon of salt, a good grind of pepper, and a splash of vodka into the sauce pot and cook well (~ 8 minutes).
- Pour in 400 ml water and and bring to a simmer.
- Use an immersion blender to blend into it into a smooth consistency.
- Continue to simmer the sauce to the right consistency (~10 minutes).
- Add the dumpling and cook for another 15 minutes until cooked through.
- Remove from heat, scatter olves and the rest of the basil.
- Serve straight from pan with additional grating of parmesan.