Eggplant French Bread Pizzas

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Heat a large pot of salted water to boiling on high. Trim off and discard the stems of the eggplant and beans. Halve the eggplant lengthwise, then slice crosswise into ¼-inch-thick pieces. Peel and mince the garlic. Medium dice the tomatoes. Halve the baguettes lengthwise. Thinly slice the mozzarella cheese into rounds. Peel and mince the shallot to get 2 tablespoons of minced shallot; place in bowl with the vinegar. Pick the basil leaves off the stems; discard the stems.

Place the eggplant on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; toss to thoroughly coat. Arrange in a single, even layer and roast 15 to 17 minutes, or until lightly browned and tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly, leaving the oven on. When cool enough to handle, transfer the roasted eggplant to a plate or bowl. Wipe out the sheet pan.

While the eggplant roasts, add the beans to the pot of boiling water. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until slightly tender. Drain thoroughly; rinse under cold water for 30 seconds to 1 minute to stop the cooking process. Pat the blanched beans dry with paper towels; transfer to a large bowl. Rinse and dry the pot.

While the eggplant continues to roast, in the same pot, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium until hot. Add the garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the tomatoes; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes, or until thickened and saucy. Remove from heat.

Line the sheet pan used to roast the eggplant with aluminum foil. Place the baguette slices, cut sides up, on a clean, dry work surface. Spread each slice with a few spoonfuls of the sauce. Top with alternating, overlapping slices of the roasted eggplant and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with half the Parmesan cheese; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared sheet pan. Bake 16 to 18 minutes, or until the baguettes are crispy and the mozzarella cheese is melted and lightly browned. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cutting board.

While the pizzas bake, add the mustard and remaining Parmesan cheese to the shallot-vinegar mixture; season with salt and pepper to taste. Slowly whisk in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until well combined. To the bowl of blanched beans, add as much of the dressing as you’d like (you may have extra dressing); toss to coat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving dish. Cut the baked pizzas in half; transfer to a serving dish. Garnish the pizzas and dressed beans with the basil (tearing just before adding). Enjoy!