Herbed Crepes with Eggplant Puree
For the Crepes:
1 cup flour, sifted
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 Tablespoons melted, unsalted butter
1/4 cup of herbs, i.e. dill, chives, parsley, thyme, chopped |
For the Eggplant Puree:
1 Jersey Fresh eggplant, cut in half
1 1/2 Tblsp. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, taste
1 large or 2 small Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fines herbs
1/4 cup chopped Jersey Fresh basil
8-12 oz. aged white cheddar cheese, grated |
In med. bowl, whisk together the flour, eggs, 3/4 cup of the milk, salt and pepper. Continue whisking until you have a smooth
batter, the consistency of heavy cream. Add remaining 3/4 cup milk and stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and allow
the batter to rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 mins. before cooking. The batter will keep overnight if you want
to prepare ahead. To cook the crepes, heat an 8-inch, non-stick pan that has been coated with cooking spray. Using a 1-inch
ladle, ladle out the batter, turning the pan so that the batter evenly coats the bottom. Cook until golden brown on the
bottom and the batter is set through. Slide the crepe from the pan onto parchment paper. Repeat the process. Allow each
crepe to cool on parchment paper and then they can be stacked until ready for stuffing.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Rub the eggplant halves with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on a
cookie sheet and roast until tender, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the potatoes into large dice and cook in boiling water
until tender. Drain and mas the potatoes until fine. Remove the eggplant from the oven when doen and allow to cool. Remove
the skin and puree the flesh in a blender until a smooth consistency. In a bowl mix together the potato and eggplant. Stir
in the parmesan, herbs and basil. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Keep covered in the refrigerator until ready to
serve.
To Serve the Crepes:
Spoon 2 tablespoons. of the puree into the top quarter of the crepe. Top with 1 tablespoon grated cheddar
and fold in half. Fold the crepe in half again to create a triangle shape. Top each crepe with a tablespoon of the cheddar.
Place cookie sheet of the completed crepes in a 350 degree oven and heat until warm, about 5-6 mins.
Contributed by: Chef Bruce Lefebvre,
The Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick, NJ
(jerseyfresh.nj.gov) |
