Melanzane Fritte

by Antonietta Scanga
(Salida, CO USA)

At 82 years old I still think back and laugh about the first meal I cooked for my wonderful husband. I was just 19 when I came from Italy to the US and I couldn't speak a word of English, let alone read or write it. Raised during WWII I worked and my mother did all the cooking. My father had warned my husband I couldn't cook but Albert married me any way. We were married upon my arrival in his home country, the United States. Challenged to prepare him our first meal I decided I could fry him some eggplants so I started looking for the ingredients and when they were done I was pretty proud of what I had accomplished. My husband arriving home from work sat down to the first meal I had cooked for him. After taking his first bite he smiled and asked where I had found the flour. I proudly went over to the closet and pulled out a bag of wall paper paste. Fortunately I didn't kill any one with my first meal and the story. . . well it will live on for many generations to come. It's still one of my children's and grandchildren's favorites.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 or 2 eggplants
  • Salt
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/8 tsp baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup milk
  • Olive oil for frying
  • Parmigiano Reggiano, grated

    PREPARATION

  • Cut the eggplant into slices 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick.
  • Place on slopping plate and sprinkle with salt, let sit for about 2 hours.
  • Blot with paper towels to remove the liquid.
  • Combine the flour, and baking powder.
  • Add egg to flour mixture, then add enough of the milk to form a batter. The batter should be thick enough to adhere to the eggplant.
  • Heat oil over medium high heat.
  • Dip eggplant and immediately fry in the hot oil.
  • Put on serving platter and sprinkle with freshly grated cheese.

    This same recipe can be used for zucchini.

  • Comments for Melanzane Fritte

    Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

    Click here to add your own comments

    Oct 01, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    Melanzane Fritte
    by: POP

    Too bad we had to compromise the integrity of the contest because of someone that doesn't even know how to spell the name of the pasta she's using.
    I would have voted for mealanzane fritte just for the story even though I don't like eggplant.

    Sep 23, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    Great recipe
    by: Christy

    Thanks for sharing your story and your recipe! Love them both!

    Sep 20, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    Wonderful Family
    by: Jo Ann Ward

    Cheers to our elders and the wonderful families they have added to our world.

    Sep 20, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    Daughter's Friend
    by: Dru McGee

    I've known Antonietta's daughter for many, many wonderful years and it's really a treat to read Antoinetta's story and get to have one of her delicious recipes, especially since eggplant parmesan is a favorite of mine. I'm enjoying a glass of red wine while typing this and thinking how well this recipe would compliment my shiraz.

    Sep 20, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    Awesome story!
    by: Anonymous

    Such a wonderful story...great memories to share with friends and family! Thank you!! I have never tried egg plant..now i am wanting to try it even more! Thank you again for the wonderful story and recipe! Good Luck!

    Sep 20, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    Excellent
    by: RE

    Eggplant, Parmigiano - I can almost taste it!

    Sep 19, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    A Classic
    by: Heather

    Both the story and the recipe are great classics.

    Sep 18, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    Love the title.
    by: Anonymous

    and enjoyed the story and recipe as well.
    This gets my vote!!!!!

    Sep 18, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    LOVE ITALIAN
    by: SHANNON DE LEO GENTILE

    WILL BE THERE SOON TO EAT YOUR ITALIAN DINNER.

    Sep 18, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    I HAVE HEARD FROM MY FAMILY WHAT A GREAT RECEIPE
    by: MADONNA CHOATE ADAMS

    I WILL BE THERE FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY AND CAN`T WAIT TO HAVE ALL THAT GREAT ITALIAN COOKING. SEE YOU VERY SOON. MADONNA AND FAMILY

    Sep 18, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    HAND in HAND
    by: LuShena Morris

    I ADORE GREAT COOKS, GREAT MEALS, & GREAT WINE ALONG WITH WONDERFUL MEMORIES!

    Sep 17, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    GREAT TRADITIONAL RECIPE
    by: Sheila

    Wonderful, traditional recipe, one of my favorites. The recipe is great and the story is definitely five stars.

    Sep 17, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    That is making me hungry!
    by: Simonette Choate

    Be home in a few days to get our Italian meal.

    Sep 17, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    I NEEDED THIS
    by: Carol Burkott

    This is such a great story....I think we've all done something crazy at one time or another, but this story takes the cake. My mother and Antoinette were first cousins, and both came from Italy around the same time, under the same circumstances...19 years old, no English spoken or written, and in love with a US soldier. She has made this recipe many times, and I watched it done often, but unfortunately it's one recipe I never completely remembered how to make, nor did she have it written down. I've tried to remember how she did it, but was stumped on the preparation of the eggplant. It is one of my favorite things she used to make and very nostalgic. NOW I KNOW. THANK YOU TONINA....THIS IS WILL NOW BE ADDED TO THE OTHER WONDERFUL MEALS I LEARNED AT HER HAND. I LOVE Y0U.

    Sep 17, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar
    We remember this story!
    by: Donald & Alissa Lee

    It's one of our favorites!!!!!!!!!!

    Click here to add your own comments

    Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to “Submit Your Recipes“.