Farmer Cheese Stuffed Grilled Eggplant Rolls

This is a great dish to make for friends, a weeknight dinner or a cocktail party. It’s fast and easy to prepare and if you have kids, they can definitely help you with it.

Farmer cheese, “tvorog,” is a popular ingredient in Russian and Ukrainian cuisines, in sweet and savory dishes alike.

It has a ricotta-like consistency but denser. It’s very versatile. In fact, the filling in this dish can be used for fresh tomatoes or bell peppers, blintzes or just on crostini.

(Yield: about 14 rolls)

Ingredients:

1 large eggplant

1/2 lb farmer cheese

1 tbsp mayonnaise

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 scallion, chopped

2 tbsp chopped dill

Salt, pepper

Olive oil

Cut the eggplant in half widthwise then cut each piece into ¼”-thick slices lengthwise. Heat a grill pan on medium heat and drizzle with a little olive oil. Place the eggplant on the grill and sprinkle lightly with salt. Cook 3-4 minutes on each side. When done, cool completely.

In the meantime prepare the filling: combine the cheese, mayo, garlic, scallion, dill and some salt and pepper in a bowl.

When the eggplant has cooled: place a piece on a board and on one half spread 1 tsp of filling.

Then roll while pressing gently. Leave the “seam”-side facing down.

Repeat, garnish with some dill and enjoy : )