Stuffed Baby Eggplant

Steps

1. 1Drain tomatoes, reserving juice, then finely chop.
2. 2Heat oil in a 4 5 quart heavy pot over medium heat until hot but not smoking, then cook garlic, stirring until golden brown, about 1 minute.
3. 3Add tomatoes with reserved juice, water, tomato paste, sugar and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in basil.
4. 4Eggplants and Stuffing: Bring a 5 6 quart pot of salted water to a boil over moderately high heat. Boil eggplants, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender when pierced with a pairing knife, 20 25 minutes. (Meg note: I stood over the stove and had to use a large slotted spoon to twirl the eggplants in the boiling water to cook both sides since they decided to float. Perhaps this was unnecessary?
5. 5Let me know how you got them to sink or if you just left them alone and they turned out ok.) Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggplants to a colander to drain. Discard cooking water. When eggplants are cool enough to handle, about 15 20 minutes, halve eggplants lengthwise through the stem, but keeping the stem attached. With a small knife (Meg note: it is easier to cut around the edges of the eggplant with a pairing knife and use a spoon to scrape out the flesh), scoop out and reserve flesh, leaving 1/4-inch thick shells. Very finely chop flesh and transfer to a large bowl.
6. 6Bring rice and water to a boil in a 1-quart saucepan, uncovered, then reduce heat and simmer rice, covered, until water has be absorbed and rice is tender, about 15 minutes.
7. 7Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork and add to the chopped eggplant.
8. 8Add breadcrumbs to the rice and eggplant mixture along with the garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir to combine well.
9. 9Sprinkle inside of eggplant shells with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Firmly pack the stuffing into the eggplant shells, about 1/3-cup. (You will probably have some stuffing leftover.)
10. 10Fry and bake eggplants: Position oven rack in the middle and preheat oven to 375F.
11. 11Heat 1-inch vegetable oil in a large 3 4 quart heavy skillet over medium heat until a thermometer reaches 320F and add 4 5 eggplant halves, stuffing side up. Fry, turning over once using 2 slotted spoons until golden brown, about 3 5 minutes on each side.
12. 12Transfer stuffing side up to a paper towel lined plate to drain, then fry remaining eggplant halves in the same manner, returning oil to 320F between batches.
13. 13Spoon sauce into a 3-quart (139-inch) nonreactive baking dish.
14. 14Add eggplants, stuffing sides up and bake, covered with foil, until sauce is bubbling, 20 30 minutes.
15. 15Serve.