Grilled Eggplant Towers With Tomatoes And Feta(from Eating Well

Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 10 mins

Ingredients

• 3 lbs eggplants, each cut into 9 1/2 inch thick rounds
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus
• 6 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 medium tomatoes, each cut into 6 rounds
• fresh ground pepper
• 12 large fresh basil leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
• 1 1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese (6 oz)

Recipe

• 1 .heat grill to medium.
• 2 spread eggplant slices on 2 baking sheets or trays. brush 1/4 cup oil over both sides of eggplant slices. spray another baking sheet with cooking spray and arrange tomato slices onit.
• 3 season eggplant and tomatoes with pepper.
• 4 oil the grill rack. grill the eggplant slices until browned and tender, 5 to 7 minutes per side.
• 5 set aside. place the baking sheet with tomatoes on the grill rack; cover and grill until tomatoes are bubbling and warm, about 7 minutes.
• 6 preheat oven to 350°f spray six 7-10 oz ramekins ar custard cups 9 about the sane size as eggplant slices) with cooking spray.
• 7 assemble the towers. using a wide spatula, layer an eggplant slice, a tomato slice, and a basil leaf in each ramekin. sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon of feta. repeat the layering once more, then top with an eggplant slice. press down lightly.
• 8 place ramekins on a baking sheeet and bake until heated through and juices are bubbling around the edges. 25 to 35 minute.
• 9 to serve, run a paring knife around the sides of each ramekin. invert a plate on top and, grasping ramekins and plate with oven mitts, carefully invert the ramekins onto a plate. very hot. drizzle the tower with a little oiland garnish with basil sprig. serve hot , warm or at room temperature.