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Cutty's-Inspired Eggplant Spuckie

By Jessica Rudolph

Published on April 19, 2021

Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Cutty's-Inspired Eggplant Spuckie

Ingredients

1½ pounds eggplant, sliced into ½-inch-thick rounds½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided1 teaspoon table salt, divided¾ cup pitted kalamata olives ½ cup fresh parsley leaves ½ cup jarred roasted red peppers, coarsely chopped1 teaspoon red wine vinegar 1 small garlic clove, minced¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 cup shredded carrots 4 ciabatta sandwich rolls, halved lengthwise8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into ¼-inch-thick rounds

Before You Begin

This sandwich, inspired by one at the Boston-area sandwich shop Cutty's, is a test kitchen favorite. It's OK to use the tender, thin stems at the base of the parsley leaves.

Instructions

  1.  Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with vegetable oil spray. Brush eggplant slices with 2 tablespoons oil, sprinkle with ¾ teaspoon salt, and arrange on prepared sheet. Broil eggplant until softened and beginning to brown, 10 to 14 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking. Transfer eggplant to plate and set aside.
  2.  Pulse olives, parsley, red peppers, vinegar, garlic, pepper flakes, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt in food processor until chopped, 8 to 10 pulses. Transfer to bowl and stir in carrots and 2 tablespoons oil.
  3.  Arrange rolls on now-empty sheet and brush cut sides with remaining ¼ cup oil. Broil rolls, cut sides up, until golden brown, 2 to 5 minutes. Spread carrot-olive mixture evenly on cut sides of each roll. Distribute mozzarella and eggplant evenly among roll bottoms, then cap with roll tops. Serve.

Cutty's-Inspired Eggplant Spuckie

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Time

40 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1½ pounds eggplant, sliced into ½-inch-thick rounds
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon table salt, divided
¾ cup pitted kalamata olives
½ cup fresh parsley leaves
½ cup jarred roasted red peppers, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 small garlic clove, minced
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup shredded carrots
4 ciabatta sandwich rolls, halved lengthwise
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into ¼-inch-thick rounds

Ingredients

1½ pounds eggplant, sliced into ½-inch-thick rounds
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon table salt, divided
¾ cup pitted kalamata olives
½ cup fresh parsley leaves
½ cup jarred roasted red peppers, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 small garlic clove, minced
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup shredded carrots
4 ciabatta sandwich rolls, halved lengthwise
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into ¼-inch-thick rounds

Ingredients

1½ pounds eggplant, sliced into ½-inch-thick rounds
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon table salt, divided
¾ cup pitted kalamata olives
½ cup fresh parsley leaves
½ cup jarred roasted red peppers, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 small garlic clove, minced
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup shredded carrots
4 ciabatta sandwich rolls, halved lengthwise
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into ¼-inch-thick rounds

Why This Recipe Works

The briny carrot-olive spread adds flavor and crunch while gluing the sandwich together.

Before You Begin

This sandwich, inspired by one at the Boston-area sandwich shop Cutty's, is a test kitchen favorite. It's OK to use the tender, thin stems at the base of the parsley leaves.

Instructions

  1.  Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with vegetable oil spray. Brush eggplant slices with 2 tablespoons oil, sprinkle with ¾ teaspoon salt, and arrange on prepared sheet. Broil eggplant until softened and beginning to brown, 10 to 14 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking. Transfer eggplant to plate and set aside.
  2.  Pulse olives, parsley, red peppers, vinegar, garlic, pepper flakes, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt in food processor until chopped, 8 to 10 pulses. Transfer to bowl and stir in carrots and 2 tablespoons oil.
  3.  Arrange rolls on now-empty sheet and brush cut sides with remaining ¼ cup oil. Broil rolls, cut sides up, until golden brown, 2 to 5 minutes. Spread carrot-olive mixture evenly on cut sides of each roll. Distribute mozzarella and eggplant evenly among roll bottoms, then cap with roll tops. Serve.

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