Mario Batali's Eggplant Rollatini with Cheese and Pesto

Ingredients

Cooking Directions

Preheat a gas grill or prepare a fire in a charcoal grill.

Trim the eggplant and cut lengthwise into 1/3-inch-thick slices, discarding the first and last slices from each one; you should have about 18 slices.

Lay the slices on a baking sheet and brush on both sides with olive oil. Place over the hottest part of the grill, in batches if necessary, and cook, turning once, until soft and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes on each side; return the slices to the baking sheet as they are done.

Season the eggplant slices on both sides with salt and pepper and arrange the slices on a work surface with a narrow end of each slice toward you. In a small bowl, mix the goat cheese, pesto, and nutmeg until smooth and well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place about 1 tablespoon of the mixture on the narrow end of each slice of eggplant and roll up, not too tightly, like a jelly roll. Set aside.

Put the tomato sauce in a medium bowl and whisk in the remaining ¼ cup olive oil. Season with salt. Spoon the sauce onto a rimmed platter or into a shallow serving bowl. Arrange the eggplant rolls seam side down in the sauce and sprinkle with the marjoram leaves.

You can serve the eggplant now, or refrigerate it for at least 1 hour, or overnight, to allow the flavors to marry. If you chill it, remove it from the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to come to room temperature.

This recipe was styled by chef Karen Pickus for Good Morning America.

Recipe courtesy Mario Batali.