Recipe: Grilled eggplant with anchovies, garlic and rosemary

45 minutes. 6 to 8 servings

3 salted anchovies (6 fillets)

6 cloves garlic

1 cup olive oil, plus more if necessary

2 large (1½ to 1¾ pounds) round eggplants

2 long branches fresh rosemary

Salt

1. Rinse the anchovies under running water to remove excess salt and then soak in water to cover in small bowl until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove the fillets, discard the skeletons and soak another 5 minutes until flexible. Cut into approximately half-inch crosswise pieces.

2. Using a very sharp knife, slice the garlic crosswise as thin as you can. Reserve the tops, bottoms and odd-shaped pieces in a bowl and cover with olive oil.

3. Trim the tops and bottoms of the eggplants, and cut the eggplants into 1-inch-thick crosswise slices.

4. Working with one slice at a time, use a paring knife to cut 5 shallow slits into the eggplant — four at the compass points and one in the center; they should be about one-half-inch deep and should not go all the way through.

5. Insert a garlic slice in each of the slits (if necessary, widen the slit by wiggling the paring knife in it). Insert a piece of anchovy in each slit. Finally, insert a tuft of rosemary in each slit. The fillings should be as close to flush with the surface as you can make them. Repeat with the remaining eggplant slices.

6. Sprinkle both sides of each eggplant slice with salt and brush generously with the garlic olive oil. Grill over a moderate fire until browned on one side, 4 to 5 minutes.

7. Brush with more olive oil and use a spatula to turn to the other side and brush that with oil as well. Continue cooking and brushing with oil until the eggplant is browned on both sides and tender, about 3 to 4 minutes.

8. Remove to a platter, brush with any remaining oil and serve.

EACH OF 6 SERVINGS

Calories 283

Protein 2 grams

Carbohydrates 10 grams

Fiber 4 grams

Fat 28 grams

Saturated fat 4 grams

Cholesterol 2 mg

Sugar 5 grams

Sodium 59 mg