Fried Eggplant With Pesto & Plum Tomatoes

*Recipe follows story

Sangwich: also known as a sandwich  

My grandma used to do this amazing thing to slices of eggplant…
She’d fry them.

I know.  Revolutionary.
Freshly fried, slippery dippery eggplant on bread, with mozzarella, basil and tomatoes was one of my favorite after school sangwiches when I was a tubby little tot.

This sangwich thought made my somewhat shitty day a little bit more manageable.  Imagining myself in pig tails, running through a sprinkler, feet jumping on our concrete playground - because God forbid we played on the grass - sangwiches, and biting into whole leaves basil was mood altering.   

I was giving myself agita and making mental checklists all day, which is never a good thing when one is already losing it.

My list went something like this:

-annoyed at myself for having an expired Learner’s Permit
-3 written tests later, still no NY drivers license… 
-carrying a passport everywhere, so I have a valid form of age identification, is just really freaking bulky and adds to the list of things I could potentially lose in my bottomless purse
-I just don’t want to wait on line at the DMV
-Going to the laundromat is daunting, even though I pre-sort before I get there

My mom doesn’t drive.
And she loves to cook.

Great, I am my mom.

But my mom has a washing machine and dryer now.
Point, mom.

Fuck. 

Throughout the day I thought some more about a fried eggplant sangwich.
Throughout the day I thought about making my first pesto of the summer.  

Sure, I was also bloated and I was PMS-ing - which was probably contributing to my heightened crankiness and shit list making.

But I put my shit list aside.   

On my way home from work I went into the market and picked up 2 plum tomatoes - because some little old Italian lady was feeling them up like a 13 year old boy would do to some chicks knockers while playing seven minutes in heaven in a closet, and I always trust old Italian ladies groping vegetables - she had to be on to something.  Then I went in for 2 holland eggplants because they were firm and cute and compact, like a small stocky man, and a bunch of basil because for the first time in two weeks my favorite herb didn’t look dead.  Basil at my market has been looking shoddy lately, but tonight the basil looked very much alive.  Alive, unlike me.

Isn’t it ironic?  Don’t you think?

For dinner, I placed slices of fried eggplant between layers of pesto and thin slices of plum tomatoes.  I skipped the bread because I thought it would only add to my bloat.

I felt accomplished.
I ate.
I refilled my wine glass thrice.   

I also thought this nom would work well as a summer appetizer if I ever invite anyone over to my place again.  Since I can only have 3 other bodies in my house at once - max.  Clearly, I have some friend selecting to tend to.  

I was also equipped with lunchtime leftovers, so I packed three tupperwares to take to work the following day. 
At 1:30pm I plated my fried eggplant and tomatoes at my tiny desk.  I spread pesto and layered, and took bites like I was in my own home.

I made a sample for my buddy Crobin, and I walked out of my cubicle with a proud smile and a container of pesto.

I wafted the heavenly basil and garlic scent towards Crobin and said, “smell my pesto.”

He told me I’m nuts and then said it smelled lovely.
He also asked me if that’s what I say to all the boys.
I replied, “No, I usually say smell my pesto - bitch.”

Whole new level.

Yes, I’m still single. 

I don’t know that my grandmother would be too proud of the statement above, but she would be happy that I cooked - even when I was tired - and managed to share.  I think she’d enjoy my take on her bread-less sangwich.  My grandma also never drove, but she did have a washer and dryer.  I have goals, and I have time to accomplish them.  

Drivers License and Washer/Dryer 2015.
Shit, I shouldn’t have written that down.
What if I fail? 
35, no license and no washer/dryer - this could spin me into a Xanax vortex.   

But, for now, the secret to fried eggplant and a perfect summer pesto (and a bloat free substantial mock sangwich) can be found below.

2 plum tomatoes (sliced into rounds, not too thick)
2 holland eggplants (sliced lengthwise, salted and laid out between plates and paper towels so all water is released - otherwise your eggplant will not brown)
2 T. olive oil (for frying)
Extra Sharp Provolone Cheese (optional)  

For Pesto

2 c. basil leaves
2 cloves garlic  
1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil
1/3 c. parmigiano
2 T. each of toasted pignoli nuts & walnuts (optional)
Kosher salt & freshly ground pepper

-Heat olive oil over medium heat
-Add eggplant and fry until browned, about 2-2 1/2 minutes per side
-Drain on paper towel and put aside

For Pesto 

-Place the walnuts, pignolis, and garlic in a food processor and process until finely chopped
-Add basil leaves, salt, and pepper
-With the processor running, pour the olive oil (slowly) through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed
-Remove mixture from the processor and place in a bowl
-Add the parmigiano and incorporate well
-Serve, or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer 

For Assembly

-Place tomatoes, lengthwise, on a plate and drizzle with pesto
-Top layer with a very thin piece of provolone
-Place eggplant a top, repeat with drizzling pesto and thinly sliced provolone
-Finish by topping with tomato and pesto

Nom and tell someone to smell your pesto.