Perfect for making in advance and assembling just before service, these easy eggplant stacks made with just seven simple ingredients (including the new lemon-basil infused Summer Sea Salt by Duxbury Saltworks) are free of nuts, dairy, meat and wheat, and packed with antioxidants, protein and other great for you ingredients to help keep everyone around your table feeling their best all summer long!
EGGPLANT gets its color from anthocyanins, a pigment with antioxidant properties that has been show to help protect cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and aging.
ONIONS contain sulfur, a natural chemical element that has been shown to help remove toxins from the body.
KALE is one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet with high levels of antioxidants that help prevent damage to cells.
BUTTER BEANS are rich in plant proteins that play an essential role in muscle repair.
OLIVE OIL is mainly comprised of monounsaturated fat called oleic acid that has been linked with reducing inflammation and having a beneficial effect on genes linked to cancer.
SEA SALT is full of necessary nutrients and trace minerals that play an essential role in many of our body's vital functions.
INGREDIENTS
1 pound baby kale leaves
4 cups sliced sweet onion
4 cups cooked butter beans
24 pieces eggplant slices (1" thick)
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
to taste duxbury saltworks sea salt
to taste duxbury saltworks summer salt
optional noochit! cashew grated cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
To prepare the onions, heat a large pan over medium-high heat, then add 4 cups of sliced onions and a pinch of Duxbury Saltworks Sea Salt to the pan, let cook for 3-5 minutes then turn the onions in the pan using a pair of tongs. Continuing turning the onions every few minutes until most of the liquid has released and they have begun to turn translucent. Then, stir in 1 tbsp olive oil, reduce the the heat to medium-low. Cover the pan and continue cooking the onions until a rich golden color appears, turning the onions every 3-5 minutes to prevent burning. Once the onions have caramelized, season to taste with sea salt, and set aside until needed. You should end up with approximately 1.5 cups of onions once they have finished cooking.
To prepare the baby kale, heat the same skillet (or a second skillet if you want to work on both at the same time) over medium-high heat, add 1 pound (16oz) of baby kale, 1 tbsp olive oil and a pinch of sea salt to the pan, cover and let cook for approximately 5 minutes before removing the lid. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking with the lid on while stirring occasionally until the kale is a completed wilted and has turned a deep green color. Season to taste with Duxbury Saltworks Sea Salt, then set aside and let cool until needed. You should end up with about 1.5 cups of kale once it has finished cooking.
To prepare the butter bean cream, combine 4 cups cooked butter beans, 2 tbsp water, 3 tsp Duxbury Saltworks Summer Salt and 1/4 cup olive oil in a blender, and blend until a smooth, even consistency is achieved. Season to taste with summer salt and set aside until needed.
To prepare the eggplant slices, place the eggplant slices on a rippled baking sheet in a single layer about 1-2 inches apart from each other. (You will likely need to use more than one baking sheet.) Then, drizzle with approximately 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 tsp Duxbury Saltworks Summer Salt, flip the the eggplant and slices and repeat on the other side with an additional 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 tsp summer salt. Place the baking sheets approximately 6" below the broiler and broil for approximately 8-10 minutes on each side. Season to taste with summer salt and let cool.
To prepare the creamed kale filling, combine the butter bean cream, caramelized onion and wiled kale in a mixing bowl and season to taste with Duxbury Saltworks Summer Salt.
To create the eggplant stacks, simply plate a single slice of broiled eggplant, top it with approximately 2-3 tbsp creamed kale filling, gently press a second slice of broiled eggplant over the creamed kale filling, add another dollop of creamed kale filling on top of the second eggplant slice, then finish with a pinch of Duxbury Saltworks Summer Salt (and dash of NoochIt! Cashew Grated Cheese by Uprise Foods if you aren't avoiding nuts at your table) and enjoy warm or at room temp!
