Eggplant And Sun Dried Tomato Spread Food

ROASTED EGGPLANT & SUN-DRIED TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cut off the stem ends of the eggplants, then cut into 1-inch cubes and place in an oven-proof covered casserole dish.
• Place the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, paste and water, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes into a small food processor and pulse until blended.
• Dump the tomato mixture over the eggplant cubes and toss to coat well.
• Roast the eggplant covered for 30 minutes, then stir well and cook another 30 minutes. Stir again and return to oven until the eggplant is very soft, about 20 minutes. (Fresher, young eggplant will take longer)
• Let the eggplant mixture sit covered until it is room temperature.
• Taste, then adjust the seasonings as needed.
• Serve with slices of crusty Italian bread.

EGGPLANT AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
• Cut off and discard top of garlic head to expose cloves. Brush top of head with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Wrap garlic in foil and roast until tender, about 45 minutes. Cool to warm, then squeeze garlic cloves from skins into a small bowl, discarding skins.
• Meanwhile, cut eggplant into 1/2-inch pieces and toss with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large colander. Let drain 30 minutes. Squeeze eggplant in a kitchen towel to remove liquid.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté one third of eggplant until browned and tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Cook remaining eggplant in olive oil in same manner (in 2 batches), transferring to bowl.
• Add 1 cup cooked eggplant to garlic and coarsely mash together. Stir into remaining eggplant with sun-dried tomatoes (without tomato oil), parsley, basil, lemon juice, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Season with salt and drizzle with tomato oil.
• What to drink:
• Artezin Mendocino Zinfandel '07 or Château de Chamirey Mercurey Rouge '07

TOMATO EGGPLANT SPREAD AND PARMESAN TOASTS

Steps:

• Make Parmesan toasts:
• Preheat oven to 325° F.
• On a large baking sheet arrange bread slices in one layer and lightly brush both sides of each slice with oil. Toast slices in middle of oven 15 minutes and turn over. Sprinkle slices with Parmesan and toast 15 minutes, or until golden. Transfer toasts to a rack and cool. Toasts may be made 2 days ahead and kept in a sealable plastic bag at room temperature.
• In a large heavy skillet toast pine nuts in 3 tablespoons oil over moderate heat until golden and with a slotted spoon transfer to a small bowl. In oil remaining in skillet sauté eggplant, onion, minced garlic, and salt to taste over moderately high heat, stirring, until eggplant begins to brown. Cook mixture, covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is tender, about 10 minutes, and transfer to a bowl. Cool mixture.
• Into eggplant mixture stir garlic paste, tomatoes, basil, parsley, lemon juice, sugar, remaining 3 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Spread may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered. Keep toasted pine nuts in a sealable plastic bag at room temperature. Bring spread to room temperature before serving.
• Just before serving, stir pine nuts into spread. Serve spread with toasts.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO STUFFED BAKED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise; remove the pulp, leaving a shell about 1/2" thick.
• Butter the inside of the shell.
• Dice the eggplant pulp and set aside.
• Melt 1/2 the butter in a saucepan; stir in the onion and sautee until straw-colored, about 3-5 minutes.
• Add the diced eggplant pulp, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper; cook over moderate heat until the vegetables are browned, about 5-8 minutes.
• Spoon the mixture into the eggplant shells; sprinkle with cheese.
• Cover with the breadcrumbs, which have been lightly sauteed in the remaining butter; place stuffed eggplant in a shallow baking pan.
• Pour 1/2" boiling water into the pan; bake in a preheated 325*F.
• oven for 15-20 minutes.
• Cut and serve hot with pasta, bread, or salad.

EGGPLANT SANDWICHES WITH FONTINA CHEESE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• If desired, trim off and discard the skin of each eggplant round. Place each round on a flat surface and hold a knife parallel to the surface. Cut each round in half, splitting each sandwichlike almost but not through to the end. Leave a small hinge at one end of each round. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Fill each sandwich with a round of Fontina cheese and top each piece of cheese with a sun-dried tomato. Close each sandwich.
• Dip each sandwich in flour and shake off excess. Beat the egg with water and dredge each sandwich, bottom and sides, in the mixture. Dredge each sandwich, bottom and sides, in bread crumbs to coat thoroughly. Shake off excess.
• Fill a heavy skillet with oil to a depth of about half an inch. Heat until the temperature on a fat thermometer is about 375 degrees. Add the sandwiches in one layer and cook, turning occasionally, about three minutes or until each round is golden brown and cooked through. Drain on absorbent paper towels. Serve, if desired, with tomato sauce or garlic, oil and anchovy sauce.

EGGPLANT AND TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Brush cut sides of eggplant and tomatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Place eggplants and tomatoes, cut sides down, on the preheated grill. Cook eggplant for 4 minutes, then flip and grill until tender, about 10 minutes more. Cook tomatoes until very tender, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer eggplant to a cutting board and tomatoes to a food processor.
• Scrape eggplant pulp from the skins. Discard skins and place pulp in the food processor with tomatoes. Add tahini, parsley, and garlic; pulse until mostly smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer to a serving bowl. Top with feta cheese and sesame seeds.

EGGPLANT AND MOZZARELLA PANINI

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan or panini press.
• Brush eggpant slices with 1 t olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Grill until marked and just soft, about 4-6 minutes. If using the grill pan, turn once.
• Cut bread into 4 pieces; slice pieces in half lengthwise.
• Drain and dice sun-dried tomatoes. In small bowl, mix mayonaise with tomatoes.
• Cover one side of ciabatta with mayo mixture.
• Divide grilled eggplant slices between the four sandwiches.
• Add cheese on tops and add other slice of bread on top.
• Brush sandwiches with olive oil and grill until cheese is melting and bread is crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Serve with marinara sauce or picante sauce.