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Regalo Cuisine:
Don Lutrelli's Favorite
Recipes*
*A
work in progress, Don
Lutrelli considers himself an artist in the kitchen,
working from inspiration, love for his
long-suffering family and great food
alone. "Recipe?! Argh! " he
mutters dismissively under his breath. We have
pleaded with the Don to tell us exactly how much of what
he uses to create his culinary wonders only to
suffer the scorn of his appalled and wounded rebuff:
"It is like asking of the great Picasso : 'How
many appendages a woman should have, and where
should they be?' !" was one
particularly memorable indignant retort. So, to those of you desiring more
detailed direction we can only humbly apologize and
ask your indulgence:
Il Paradiso
Don Lutrelli is firmly of the opinion (as he is in regard to virtually everything)
that simpler is better. This said, the following is
the Don's favorite way to enjoy Regalo Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Choose vine ripened
Heirloom tomatoes. Cut into slices about 1/4 inch
thick. Bathe generously in Regalo Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Sprinkle with freshly ground
black pepper and sea salt. Enjoy with a crusty
baguette and glass of your favorite wine.
Perfection. OK, maybe a little shaved Parmesan
or aged hard Provolone and salami on the side.
Another glass of wine?
Mama Lutrelli's Favorite Dinner: Chicken
Piccata a la Regalo
Cut skinless, boneless chicken breasts into thin
fillets. Drench in flour and brown lightly in Regalo Extra Virgin Olive
Oil. Set aside and add about 2 table spoons of
additional Regalo Extra
Virgin Olive Oil. Add about 1 -2 teaspoons of
flour and raise heat, stirring to create a lightly
browned roux. Add non-pariel capers (1-2
tablespoons) and 2 cloves of crushed garlic, heating
until the garlic is translucent. Add
about 2 cups (or more!) of dry white wine (after
tasting), a few pinches of
Herbs d'Provence, and squeeze in the juice of one
lemon. Stir with a whisk under high heat until
reduced to medium sauce. Add salt to taste.
Add browned chicken fillets to coat with sauce and
reheat. Cover chicken fillets with additional sauce
at serving. Excellent with side of angel hair
pasta in a light tomato sauce and green vegetable.
Omaggio Farm Frittata Soufflé
This is a very quick and easy dish which is very
popular on the farm. A wide variety of ingredients
can be used to excellent effect to please any palate
and make the best use of both seasonal offerings and
whatever you might find in the frig. (The Don is a
practical man.) The following should serve four:
Coat the bottom of a 12-14 inch frying pan,
preferably heavy with straight sides, with
Regalo Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Heat over medium flame and cover the bottom of
the pan with slices of your favorite cheeses. The
Don is fond of Gruyere, extra-sharp cheddar,
Jarlsberg, pepper jack, smoked Gouda, and/or
parmesan. Tailor your cheese selection to complement
the other ingredients you plan to use. The Don also
likes to add, along with the cheeses, other
treasures as he may find such as sliced and chopped
salami or honey-ham, breakfast or Italian sausage
crumbles, and/or thin-sliced sweet onion. This will
slowly brown with the cheeses while you find a
mixing bowl and add 6 eggs and 6 egg-whites, 1
tablespoon of Dijon mustard, 1/2 cup of dry white
wine, 1 cup of milk, a couple pinches of Herbs
d'Provence, a dash of red pepper, a dash of
Worcestershire sauce, Kosher salt and white ground
pepper to taste. Beat this mixture unit well-mixed
and bubbly. By now the layer of cheeses, etc.,
should be browned on the bottom of the pan. Gently
pour in the egg mixture over the browned cheese. If
you are going to add additional treats from the
garden such as sliced Roma or cherry tomatoes,
asparagus, broccoli, fresh spinach or other fresh
herbs, now is the time. Cover with a heavy lid
and reduce heat to between "low" and "medium low".
Let cook for about 15 minutes without disturbing.
Ok, you might be disturbing but don't bother the
food. The finished product is revealed when you lift
the lid and find that under the escaping cloud of
steam the cooked frittata has risen soufflé-like in
the pan. Let cool for 5 minutes, cut into pie wedges
and serve. Great with a dry white wine, hash
browns or 0'Brien potatoes.
Family
Sausage and Peppers
To contrast the sometimes searing temperatures of
late summer and early fall, Ojai can be downright
chilly in the winter months with frost, ice and even
occasional snow -the perfect climate for
Regalo's vibrant and hearty
European olive trees. The Don's Sausage and Peppers
is a farm favorite on such days, warming the hearts
of the family to even the Don's absurd
eccentricities. The following should serve
six: Generously cover the bottom of a large heavy
soup pot with Regalo extra
virgin olive oil. Bring to temperature brown over a
medium high flame and 8 sweet Italian sausages, one
chopped onion, 4 sliced green bell peppers
and, for that little added extra warmth, about 1/2
teaspoon of red chili flakes and 1/4 teaspoon of
ground black pepper. The Don prefers
Westridge Market's own extraordinary
house-made sausages for their freshness, quality and
leanness. Brown the sausages and sauté' until
the onions are clarified. Add 3-4 cloves of
crushed garlic and continue to sauté' until the
garlic begins to clarify. Then, before the garlic
browns, reduce heat to medium-low and add: 2-3 cups
of dry red wine, 2 regular size cans of Del Monte Italian style
stewed tomatoes and one of tomato sauce, one large can of crushed Roma
tomatoes,
1/2 teaspoon of crushed fennel
seeds, a healthy dash of ground cloves, two pinches
of dried Mexican oregano, 2 bay leaves and Mary
Poppins. Oops. I mean a "spoon full of sugar".
Cover with a heavy lid and simmer over medium-low heat
for at least 4 - 6 hours. Salt to taste. For best
results, refrigerate over night and re-heat for
serving the following day. The Don prefers to
serve his Sausage and Peppers over fresh al dente
spaghetti. This always popular dish is easily
expanded to accommodate larger parties of extended
family and friends.
The Don's Summertime Tortilla Soup
Omaggio Farm was, some 400 years ago, part of a
large Spanish land grant. It was through the first
Spanish colonists that the noble olive came to Ojai
centuries ago. In honor of the Farm's Hispanic
heritage, the Don offers his favorite springtime
fare: Tortilla Soup. No two tortilla soups are
the same, and the Don's, as you might imagine, is no
exception. Cover the bottom of a tall heavy soup pot
generously with Regalo extra virgin olive oil and bring to medium-high
temperature. Sauté one chopped onion, 4 sliced
carrots, 4 chopped stalks of celery, 1/2 teaspoon of
red chili flakes, 1/4 teaspoon of ground black
pepper, 3 cloves of crushed garlic, 6-8 sliced
small yellow summer squash, 1 - 2 cups of summer
corn freshly cut from the cob, and 2 thinly sliced
whole limes (Note: The Don's family wants you
to know that the addition of the lime slices
at this point results in a uniquely tart and
slightly bitter flavor to the soup. The Don
finds this wonderful, working well with the
mellowing effects of the shredded pepper Jack cheese
and sour cream to finish. For those less manly,
leave out the lime slices at this point and simply
squeeze on fresh lime juice to finish). When the onions have clarified
add 32 oz of chicken broth, 16 oz of red enchilada
sauce, 2 bay leaves, one bunch of chopped fresh
Cilantro, a manly pinch of dried Mexican oregano, a
shake of Worcestershire Sauce, and a dash each of
ground cloves, allspice, and nutmeg. Dilute with
water to desired consistency. Simmer for 2 hours,
then add 8 - 12 oz. drained and rinsed black beans
and 2 lbs of shredded boiled chicken breast (or even
better if you have it- carnitas). Cook
until heated. Serve in broad bowls over shredded
Monterrey Jack cheese and crushed tortilla chips,
with a dollop of light sour cream, a squeeze of lime and sprinkle of
chopped cilantro on top. And for those
as sturdy as the Don, don't forget a through
application of Tabasco. This rendering should
serve 6 - 8. Viva la Don!
Emily's Favorite Regalo Risotto
Our college girl, namesake for our Amelia Tuscan-style blend extra virgin olive oil, always
requests The Don's famous risotto when on a break
from academe′. This
version is one of her favorites: In a large shallow
pan heat 1/3 cup of Regalo
Amelia extra virgin olive oil. Add one
chopped white onion, 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes,
fresh sage leaves, one or two cloves of crushed
garlic, and 1 1/2 lbs of skirt steak (top sirloin
good, too) chopped into bite-sized pieces. Sauté
until steak is cooked through then add enough
risotto to thickly cover the bottom of the pan
(about one standard package). Stir risotto until
well coated by the oil and heated and check the clock. Now add one
14 oz can of chicken or vegetable broth and two cups of dry white
wine and stir continuously. From this point on the
dish will be finished in 15 minutes. Continue to add
water or broth (or wine!) slowly as fluid is
absorbed by the risotto with continual slow
stirring. By 15 minutes, the risotto should have a
creamy texture. Turn off heat, add salt and ground
white pepper to taste and mix in 4 oz of crumbled
Gorgonzola cheese until thoroughly melted into the
risotto. Viola! Serves six. (The Lutrelli's
like to drizzle a little additional
Regalo extra virgin olive oil and some good
Balsamic vinegar over each plated serving. An offer no one can refuse!)
Miles' Tomato Bread Soup
One of The Don's most popular cold-weather dishes is
also one of the quickest and simplest to make:
Italian Tomato Bread Soup. This is a
particular favorite of Regalo assistant head bottler, Miles. It is hearty,
delicious and almost impossible to "screw up". (The
Don's unfortunate words, not mine. Sorry.) Anyway...here's how you do it: In a medium sized
heavy soup pan heat approximately 1/4 cup of
Regalo's Amelia Tuscan-Style extra virgin olive oil. Add 2
cloves of crushed garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of chili
flakes, and 2 - 4 oz. of finely chopped Italian
style salami. Sauté until garlic is clarified. Then
add 2 cups of dry white wine, a dash of crushed
fennel seed and ground cloves, and 4 cans of Italian-style stewed tomatoes. With a potato masher or
hand-held blender, blend or crush the tomatoes.
Bring to boil, then reduce heat and add 5 - 10
chopped leaves of fresh basil and 4 - 6 oz of cubed
and toasted crusty sourdough bread. Simmer for 5
minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with
chopped fresh basil. Serves 4 - 6. (Geez, I'm
starting to write like Hemingway!) The Don, who can
whip up his Tomato Bread Soup in under 10 minutes if
pushed by a demanding fall olive pressing schedule,
likes to serve this gem with grilled Italian
sausages, good cheese and crusty Italian bread on
the side (make sure to have plates of additional Regalo Amelia extra virgin olive oil at the table for
bread-dipping!). "Now get back to work!
Olive oil doesn't make itself!"
James' Bruchetta
Assistant bottling technician James is all about
getting to the point and keeping it simple. That's
why he loves The Don's bruchetta. Now
simplicity, says The Don, requires that each element
be excellent, of the best available ingredients.
James, a chip of The Don's block, agrees. So, The
Don likes to start with a fresh dry crusty baquette
of Italian or sourdough bread. Cut slices about 1/2
inch thick and brush each side lightly with
Regalo's Amelia extra virgin
olive oil. Place on cookie sheet and bake at
350 degrees until toasty brown at the edges. While
the bread is toasting, take a sip of your favorite
Chianti and coarsely chop two vine ripe tomatoes
(this should serve about 4) and place into a bowl.
Add 2 cloves of crushed / diced garlic, 3-4 leaves
of fresh basil (torn or diced), and - of course!
-about 1/2 cup of Regalo Amelia
extra virgin olive oil. Salt and pepper to
taste. Gently mix with a wooden spoon.
(Sometimes The Don will even add a few drops of
lemon juice or balsalmic vinegar for "zip"). Spoon
the tomato and olive oil mixture generously over the
toasted bread slices and serve! James likes
The Don's bruchetta as a festive opener to almost
any meal, or just by itself. It's that good.
Ojai Asada
The truth be told, if we are what we eat the Don
would be as thoroughly Mexican as the equally
perplexing but always entertaining El Tri striker
Cuahatemoc "The Bull" Blanco. The Don loves his
Mexican food, and the more authentic, the better.
One of his family's favorites is the Don's Carne
Asada tacos. Uniting good Mexican and Italian
cuisine is the Don's axiom: "The simpler, the
better." The Don likes to pre-heat his 30 lb
cast iron Dutch oven from Ojai Surplus for this one.
He generously coats the bottom with
Regalo Caterina extra virgin
olive oil. For the family on Omaggio Farm (7
of us) the Don chooses 3 lbs of fine skirt steak and
chops this into bite-size pieces with his best
Japanese steel cleaver and adds to the Dutch oven
with one large chopped sweet onion, 1 clove of
crushed garlic, a pinch of dried Mexican oregano,
salt and black pepper to taste. Add 1/2 cup of
Yoshida's Japanese marinade (can substitute Kikkoman
Teriyaki sauce) and 1/2 tablespoon of
Worchestershire sauce. Stir to mix thoroughly,
cover and let cook for about 30 minutes over a
medium to medium low heat. Then remove lid
until juices reduced / cooked off. Serve on fresh
steamed corn tortillas with garnish of chopped sweet
onion and cilantro, and dab of sour cream. Good
salsa and a first rate taco sauce a must. Add
Jalapeños and a frosty Bohemia or glass of Roija
(milk for you, kids!) and you've got an
unsurpassable meal! Ole'!
Spaghetti Carbonara for a
cold winter's night
As the chronicler of the Don's culinary exploits and
a resident of Omaggio Farm where it was, once again
this week, 110 degrees in the shade, it strikes me
with curious irony that I find myself once again
depicting yet another of the Don's flourishes
tailor-made to take the chill of a frosty Ojai
winter. Tired of pasta with red stuff on it
but still want real food? Here's your dish (which
should serve 6): Think of preparing this dish like a
3 ring circus. Like any good 3 ring circus, the
Ringmaster (on the Farm, the estimable Don himself,
in top hat, crimson tails and fox-hunting boots. No
kidding) is careful to have action in all three
rings at once to keep his audience enrapt. With
this dish, timing is everything, culminating in a grand finale'. In
Ring One begin heating 4 quarts of salted water to a
boil. While heating, add one egg and 3-4 egg yolks
to a large heavy mixing bowl. (That's right. That's
the Second "Ring"). In Ring Three brown 1 lb
of Italian pancetta (sliced about 1/8 inch thick
then chopped into small pieces) with 1 chopped sweet
onion, 2 crushed cloves of garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of
dried red chili flakes, a pinch of Mexican oregano,
salt and pepper in a skillet well coated with Regalo Amelia extra virgin olive oil. When the water in Ring
One comes to full boil, add 1 1/2 lbs of dried
spaghetti and cook until al dente'.
Now you're going to begin moving quickly - like one
of those frenetic acrobats performing from the back
of a galloping pony. And the Don is yelling at me
(what's new?) that not only do you have to move
quickly now, but the sequence of the following
events is critical: Don't change the order! (OK,
Don, you can put a "lid" on it now....geez.)
Drain and immediately add the cooked hot spaghetti
to mixing bowl with egg and egg yolks. Immediately
toss vigorously to mix thoroughly. Don't worry - as the egg and
yolks coat the pasta, the hot pasta cooks the egg.
Next, take the browned pancetta and onion mixture
from Ring Three (keeping track?? - it's the skillet
on the stove!) and toss in to pasta and mix. Then
add 2 tablespoons of grated fresh Parmesan cheese
and salt to taste, tossing to mix again. By
now your forearms should be blazing and mouth
watering. But you're not done yet! Now add one can
of sweet baby peas and mix in. OK, NOW you're done!
If you have done this operation with the frankly
frightening frenzy typically exhibited by the "Ring
Maestro" Lutrelli commanding (or is it
"commandeering"?) his kitchen,
your finished Carbonara should still be piping hot
and ready to serve. Plate and drizzle with more
Regalo Amelia extra virgin
olive oil. If you're like the Don (!), you'll add a
generous sprinkling of additional dried red chili
flakes as well! Serve with your favorite
crusty Italian bread, sliced tomatoes or salad, and
plenty of your favorite wine - white or red!
Then throw another log on the fire and cozy-up,
"'cause it's cold outside"....
Green Beans even your kids will love.
Regalo-style
As hard as it may be to believe, the Don has been
known to resort to various threats and inducements
(offers "difficult to refuse"...) to encourage the
junior members of Team Regalo
to eat their vegetables. Here's one green dish
that delights even the surliest and most world-weary
pre-teen: Snap the ends off fresh green beans
(about 8 ounces) and rinse thoroughly. Chop 2
-3 slices of cold thick cut bacon and place into
heated Sauté pan well-coated with
Regalo Amelia extra virgin
olive oil. Over a high heat Sauté the green beans
until the bacon pieces are browned and the beans are
browned , "blistered", and a little crenated
(shrunken, dehydrated). At this point add 2
dashes of Worcestershire Sauce and about 1 teaspoon
of good Balsamic vinegar, quickly stirring and
coating the green beans with the mixture. Remove
from heat and salt and pepper to taste. And don't
tell the kids its vegetables (a harmless deception
in a sometimes Hobbesian world). Bon Courage to
parents everywhere!
Regalo Risotto Carbonara
Bacon makes its appearance yet again in this new
creation by the ever adventurous and intrepid Signor Lutrelli. And so does Risotto. And... At any
rate, the origin of this dish can be best, and
really only, described in the Don's own words, now
burned into my psyche' by the Don's inescapable
"logic" for reasons which will become immediately
clear: "Everybody has favorite foods, favorite
dishes that they love. For instance, let's say your
favorite things are tacos al pastor and Grandma
Lutelli's famous green lime jello mold packed with
various fruits and vegetables. What, then, could be
better than to combine these two unforgettable taste
treats into a single rapturous dish: "Tacos al
pastor with Grandma's green lime Jell-O mold
salsa"? Such, in the Don's sometimes twisted
culinary mind, is the origin of Regalo Risotto Carbonara: an arranged marriage of Emily's
beloved risotto to the family's beloved spaghetti
carbonara that rivals The
Namesake in a heart-warmingly
successful union.
Begin by Sautéing 8 ounces of chopped thick-sliced
bacon (or, if gas has dropped below $3.00 a gallon
and you can afford it, good lean Italian panceta)
and one chopped large white onion over a high heat
in a large, shallow pan generously coated with Regalo Caterina extra virgin olive oil until the onion is clarified.
Now add one box (32 oz) of dry Italian risotto and
stir until coated with the olive oil. Next add 2
cups of dry white wine and 32 oz of chicken broth.
From the moment the first fluid is added to the
risotto stir slowly but continuously until the dish
is done, which will be in 15 minutes. As the fluid
is absorbed by the risotto, slowly add water to keep
moist. After about 5 minutes of stirring add a pinch
of Mexican oregano and about a half teaspoon of
fresh Thyme. For this version of risotto, you'll
want to keep the risotto a little more moist than
unusual at the end, because at 15 minutes you're
gong to turn off heat and add and quickly stir into
the risotto 4 egg yolks. If the risotto is not
fairly saucy (!!) prior to adding the egg yolks it
may become to thick and clumpy. Once mixed, add one
tablespoon of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and
finally, one 12 oz can of drained baby peas. Feel free to drizzle with additional Caterina and a few drops of Balsamic vinegar on each serving.
Despite a skepticism naturally provoked by the Don's
kitchen careening and Mary Shelly-ish i"creativity",
Sr. Lutrelli's Risotto Carbonara is quite good - better, possibly, than even tacos al pastor
con Jell-O mold salsa. Tuna casserole with hot
fudge anyone?
College Girl Veggie Crostini
I don't know about you, but it seems like an
inevitable post-pubescent right of passage in
contemporary culture is the "vegetarian phase."
Particularly vulnerable appear to be those of our
variously hued race sporting more than a single X
chromosome. Despite an almost constitutional
disquiet and even suspicion of vegetarianism, we
think come honorably by via genes inherited from a
unrivaled catalogue of heroic and noble ancestors,
The Don, like good fathers everywhere, makes every
reasonable effort to accommodate the passing
culinary fancies of his otherwise perfect progeny.
Fortunately, so as not to tax The Don's vaunted and
oft-praised forbearance, his recipe for "College
Girl Veggie Crostini" is very simple, very good, and
ideal for a quick summer meal. Thoroughly
rinse 2 cans each of cannelli beans and garbanzo
beans. Add one each of chopped sweet white
onion, green bell pepper, yellow pepper, red pepper,
a bunch of Italian parsley, and 1/2 cup of marinated
sun dried tomatoes to beans. Add 1/2 teaspoon red
chili flakes, a couple of pinches of dried Mexican
oregano, freshly ground black pepper and salt to
taste, and two cloves of crushed garlic. Drench mixture with Regalo
"Amelia" tuscan-style extra virgin olive
oil and mix thoroughly in a large bowl. (If
your college girl is not standing too near, now
would be an good time to toss in that generous
handful of chopped Italian dry salami as well!)
Toast slices of good sourdough bread to a golden
brown and pile the bean/veggie mixture high on top
of each piece of toast (crostini), the number of
crostini per serving dictated by the appetite of
recipient and the size of the toast slices.
Garnish each crostini with shaved parmesan or romano
cheese, and sliced fresh tomato on the side. Along
with an excellent chilled dry white wine, omnivores
among us also enjoy the addition of lean grilled
sweet Italian sausages (provided the college girl's
sensibilities are not impugned by the proximity of
such horrors!). Phi Beta Eta Lotta! Salud.
Regalo Olive Oil Ice Cream
With all due respect to our friends of The Iron Chef
/ Food Network, the Don - of the old world and old
school - considers ("consider" is to put it kindly,
mildly, generously. Actually, when the idea of olive
oil ice cream was suggested to him the Don's
typically serene and thoughtful visage precipitously
transformed, reddening and swelling like a 40 lb
grape with the veins of his temples and
bulging eyes seeming to literally explode into the
room with shock, rage and sense of violation. On the one hand, we had no idea. On the other hand,
we should not have been surprised. "What next?" he literally choked out, gasping: "Iced coffee?
Is nothing sacred?" With all care we were
able to coax him into his favorite easy chair after
some water and a glass of good Chianti and, after
sometime, he regained his imperious self) the idea
of olive oil ice cream not to be a good one. Apologies. May we suggest spumoni?
Jaime’s Italian Steak Sandwiches
The Don’s young and rapidly growing son James likes to eat, and eat heartily. These Italian steak sandwiches are quick, easy, and really good and thus right up his alley. Perfect for watching Fulham upset Chelsea on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The Don recommends you give these a try, even if you’re an Inter fan:*
*As usual, we recommend reading through the recipe completely before beginning, as we are as yet still unable to convince the Don to organize his thoughts (and ingredients) before launching into his culinary stream of consciousness. But we agree completely with the Don on this: What’s the deal with Jose Maurino, anyway?
In a large frying / sauté pan pre-heat ½ cup of Regalo Amelia Tuscan-style extra virgin olive oil. As the oil warms, add ½ teaspoon of red chili flakes. Slice one onion, two – three bell peppers (one red, one green, and one yellow makes a delicious and very colorful combo!), and 2 lbs of thinly sliced skirt steak into thin strips. Add the sliced onion, bell peppers and steak to the pan and sauté in olive oil over a medium-high flame. While cooking add a couple dashes of Worcestershire sauce and two tablespoons of Yoshida sauce. As the fluid in the pan begins to cook off, add two cloves of crushed garlic, a couple pinches of Mexican oregano, and one cup of chopped pepperoncini and / or pickled yellow banana peppers, mixing thoroughly with the steak, onions, and peppers until done. Add salt and ground black pepper to taste.
Split 8 inch sourdough Italian rolls and brush with Regalo Amelia Tuscan-style extra virgin olive oil. Brown on a hot griddle.
Prepare a vinaigrette with Regalo Amelia Tuscan-style extra virgin olive oil, garlic, Italian herbs, salt and pepper, and red wine vinegar.
Heap Jaime’s Italian steak onto each roll until it’s falling off the sides (the Don insists on this. We don’t know why.), sprinkle with your Regalo vinaigrette, and – while still hot, cover with slices of provolone or the Don’s favorite pepper Jack cheese.
The Don likes to enjoy Jaime’s Italian steaks with Lay’s Classic potato chips, and nice glass (or two) of vino rosso. For Jaime, Diet Coke. Go You Cottagers!
The World’s Best Eggplant Parmesan
The other night the Don and sous chef Miles (home on winter break) decided to make Eggplant Parmesan. And we’re glad they did. The result surprised everybody but The Ever and Effusively Self-Congratulatory Don, who declared upon tasting, this to be the best Eggplant Parmesan he had ever enjoyed (and he’s enjoyed a lot…). Here’s how they did it:
In a large wok, the prepared the Don’s favorite red sauce with Regalo’s Amelia Tuscan-style extra virgin olive oil. While simmering, they took two large eggplant and sliced the long way in ¼ inch thick slices. Now The Don has been paying dearly for the higher education of young Miles at Occidental college, and in recognition of Miles’ maturity, hard work and success, The Don has made it a point to give a listen to the young man’s ideas. In this he, and we all, were well rewarded when young Miles said: “Let’s use Panko crumbs and deep fry the eggplant.” Pure genius. (One, in fact, suspects a new Don in the making…).
So the Don added Regalo Amelia Tuscan-style extra virgin olive oil about 4 inches deep to a large and heavy pot, heating the oil to about 350 F. The Don and Miles then drenched each piece of sliced eggplant in an egg wash (3 eggs beaten with about a tablespoon of milk and some salt), and then coated each slice with Panko crumbs. After breading in this fashion, the eggplant slices were deep-fried about 4 – 5 slices at a time to a golden brown and then set on paper towels to drain.
Next, they coated a deep heavy Pyrex or ceramic baking dish with Regalo Amelia Tuscan-style extra virgin olive oil. They added a layer of the fried eggplant followed by a layer of The Don’s red sauce, followed by a layer of thinly sliced fresh mozzarella and provolone cheese. They continued alternating layers of eggplant, sauce, and cheese until just below the top of the baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 325 F for about 30 minutes. Then remove foil and bake another 15 minutes or until the top layer of cheese and sauce browns. Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving. You will never eat any other Eggplant Parmesan again. Ever. Anywhere.
Thank you, Don. Thank you, Miles. Thank you for listening to young Miles, Don.
...Stay
Tuned For additional Regalo Recipes...
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