Eggplant Croques Monsieurs

Name: Eggplant Croques Monsieurs
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Cuisine: french
Ingredients: 1 eggplant, about 1 1/2 pounds; Kosher or sea salt; 4 to 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; Freshly ground black pepper; 4 tablespoons black olive tapenade; 1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley leaves; 6 ounces Gruyère cheese; 1/2 round-loaf country bread in 12 thin slices or 6 flat oblong rolls split horizontally

By Florence Fabricant

Total Time: 30 minutes
Rating: 4(23)
Comments: Read comments

Featured in: Eggplant Croques Monsieurs Time: 30 minutes, plus 30 minutes for salting

or to save this recipe.
Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone
As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.
Subscribe
Share
Print Options
Include recipe photo

Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings

1eggplant, about 1½ pounds
Kosher or sea salt
4 to 5tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
4tablespoons black olive tapenade
1tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley leaves
6ounces Gruyère cheese
½round-loaf country bread in 12 thin slices or 6 flat oblong rolls split horizontally

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Preparation

Step 1
Trim bottom inch and top 2 inches off eggplant. Cut widest portion of eggplant into 6 slices, each about ½-inch thick. Set remainder of eggplant aside for another use. Salt eggplant slices on both sides and set aside for 30 minutes, then rinse and dry.
Step 2
Heat 2 tablespoons oil to very hot in a large, heavy skillet. Fry eggplant slices until lightly browned. Turn slices, lower heat to medium and fry until eggplant is lightly browned on second side and cooked through. Place on paper towels. Season with pepper. Mix tapenade with parsley. Spread on one side of each eggplant slice. Cut cheese into thin slices.
Step 3
Place an eggplant slice, tapenade-side down, on each of 6 slices of bread. Top with cheese, then second slice of bread.
Step 4
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in skillet. Cook sandwiches, cheese side up, over medium heat, pressing down with a spatula until lightly browned. Turn and cook, adding oil if necessary. Alternatively, sandwiches can be grilled in a panini press. Cut in half and serve.