Some may consider this recipe difficult–it isn’t.
It is short on ingredients but a little long in process–it is one of the few Italian recipes that requires some time to prepare. The secret to its success is in removing as much water from the cooked eggplant as possible. Eggplants are spongy and readily absorb liquids, especially water, so the more water that can be removed after cooking, the better. I have prepared these for friends that LOVE eggplant and for friends that are vegetarians–and blew their socks off with it!

Ingredients

• 3 large eggplants, approximately 3 ½ to 4 pounds
• 2 tablespoons plus ½ teaspoon salt
• 9 slices Italian bread (½ inch-thick slices of a rustic, artisan-baked loaf or similar bread), crusts removed
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Grana Padano cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• ¼ cup chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley
• 2 large eggs, slightly beaten
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup plain dried bread crumbs, plus a little more if needed
• Sunflower oil to fry in (your favorite frying oil may be substituted)

Instructions

1. Peel the eggplant, slice into ½ inch rounds and then cut into ½ inch cubes. Place the cubed eggplant in a large 6-quart pot. Add the 2 tablespoons of salt and stir to coat all the eggplant. Pour in enough water to cover the eggplant by 2 inches. Let the eggplant soak in the salted water for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
2. After the eggplant has soaked, place the pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Boil the eggplant until thoronghly cooked, 10 minutes. Drain into a colander and remove the excess liquid by placing a plate on top of the eggplant and adding a weight to the plate (Nonna used a large can of tomatoes). Let the eggplant drain until cool.
3. Meanwhile, place the bread slices in a bowl and cover with water. Place a teacup saucer on the bread slices to help keep the bread under water. Set aside to soak for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Place the drained and cooled eggplant in a large bowl. Remove the soaking bread from the water and, using your hands, squeeze out the excess water. Tear the bread into small pieces and add to the eggplant, along with the Parmigiano-Reggiano, garlic, parsley, eggs, salt, and pepper. If the mixture is too soft, add a tablespoon of dry bread crumbs. Form the eggplant mixture between the palms of your hands into 1-inch-diameter balls, and roll each “meatball” (polpetta) in the bread crumbs to coat.
5. Heat half an inch of oil in a heavy medium-size frying pan over medium heat and, in batches, brown the polpette on an sides, about 4 to 6 minutes. Place on paper towels to drain. While still warm, sprinkle with salt to taste. May be served alone as an antipasto or covered with Nonna’s Simple Sauce and served as a second course.

Source: Beyond the Pasta by Mark Leslie