Grilled Eggplant Wgarlic Cumin Vinaigrette Sammie Food

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with paper towels; arrange the eggplant slices on top of the paper towels and sprinkle with salt on both sides. Let sit for 20 minutes, or until you can see water beads on the surface of the eggplant slices.
• Preheat the grill.
• Wipe down each eggplant slice with paper towels.
• Brush eggplant slices with olive oil on both sides.
• Lightly season with salt and fresh ground pepper.
• Grill the eggplant slices for about 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until grill marks form and eggplant is tender.
• Remove from grill and transfer to a platter; set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, combine remaining olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, and chopped fresh herbs. Taste the dressing for salt and pepper, and adjust.
• Drizzle eggplant slices with the prepared garlic dressing.
• Top with feta cheese, if desired.
• Serve.

GRILLED HERB VINAIGRETTE WITH GRILLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium-high.
• Drizzle the carrots on a baking sheet with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle evenly with salt and use a small strainer to sprinkle evenly with the cumin. Arrange the bell pepper halves cut-side up next to the carrots, then drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with salt and sift with paprika.
• Cut the outer layer off the leeks and trim and discard 2 inches off the top. Split the leeks lengthwise and rinse the dirt out from the inside layers. Wipe dry and keep them in intact halves. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
• Grill the vegetables (leeks and peppers cut-side down) in a single layer in a medium-hot area of the grill. Close the lid and cook until you see liquid emerge, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn everything on its second side, then close the lid and cook until the peppers are tender but still hold their shape, 5 to 8 more minutes.
• Move the peppers to a cooler or foiled area of the grill, then close the lid and let the carrots and leeks continue to cook until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, an additional 5 to 8 minutes.
• Season the parsley in a bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. Place the parsley on a medium-hot part of the grill and cook until fairly charred, 10 to 12 minutes. Chop the parsley finely. Drizzle the jalapeno with 1 tablespoon olive oil and grill until charred, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the jalapeno from the grill and coarsely chop.
• Combine the red wine vinegar, brown sugar and orange juice in a medium bowl until the sugar dissolves. Whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, the mustard, parsley and jalapeno. Taste for seasoning.
• Place the leeks on a flat surface and cut each half into 3 even pieces. Cut the peppers in half again. Arrange the carrots, peppers and leeks on a serving platter and top with the dressing.

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC-CUMIN VINAIGRETTE, FETA & HERBS

Steps:

• Make the vinaigrette:.
• With a mortar and pestle, pound the garlic and a pinch of salt to a paste.
• Combine the garlic paste and 1 tbs of the lemon juice in a bowl and let sit for 10 minute.
• Combine the shallot with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice and a pinch of salt in another small bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.
• Whisk the olive oil, cumin, and cayenne into the garlic mixture. Season to taste with salt or cayenne, if necessary.
• Grill the eggplant:.
• Prepare a medium-high charcoal or gas grill fire.
• Brush both sides of the eggplant slices with olive oil and season with salt.
• Grill (covered on a gas grill; uncovered on a charcoal grill), 3 to 4 minutes.
• Turn the eggplant and grill until tender and well marked on the second sides, 3 to 4 minutes more.The interior should be grayish and soft rather than white and hard.
• Top grilled eggplant slices with the shallots, feta, and herbs. Whisk the vinaigrette and drizzle it on top. Serve immediately.

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH MINT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Lay the eggplant slices in a single layer on 2 baking sheets and sprinkle both sides with salt. Set aside about 30 minutes, or until moisture beads on top of the eggplant.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Rinse the eggplant to remove the excess salt and pat dry. Brush the eggplant slices with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, coating both sides. Season with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill the eggplant about 5 minutes per side, or until char marks form and the eggplant is very tender. Transfer to a platter as you finish each batch.
• Meanwhile, grate the zest of the lemon into a small bowl. Halve the lemon and squeeze 2 tablespoons of juice into the bowl. Whisk in the vinegar, shallots, chopped mint and the remaining 5 tablespoons oil. Season the vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon the vinaigrette over the grilled eggplant and sprinkle with the mint leaves. Using a vegetable peeler, shave thin slices of feta cheese over the eggplant. Sprinkle with pepper and serve.

CUMIN VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, salt, cumin, and Dijon mustard.
• Whisk in the olive oil; add in pepper to taste.
• **Low-Fat Cumin Vinaigrette-replace the 1/3 cup olive oil with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 4 tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt or 5 tablespoons low-fat buttermilk; add 1 tablespoon water, or more to taste; combine well.

GRILLED WHOLE EGGPLANT WITH HARISSA VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal fire in a grill. Let coals cool to medium heat (coals should be covered with ash and glowing red with no black remaining).
• Grill eggplant directly on coals, turning occasionally, until skin is blackened and flesh has collapsed, 15-20 minutes. (Alternatively, grill on the grate of a gas or charcoal grill over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, 20-25 minutes.) Transfer to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet and let cool slightly.
• Carefully remove skin from eggplant, leaving stem intact. Season on all sides with 1/2 tsp. salt. Let sit on rack until excess water is drained, 20-30 minutes.
• Whisk oil, lemon juice, harissa, honey, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt in a small bowl to combine.
• Using a paring knife, make several slits down length of eggplant on each side. Transfer to a plate and pour dressing over. Top with parsley and serve with bread alongside.
• Do Ahead: Eggplant (without parsley) can be dressed 8 hours ahead. Let sit at room temperature up to 4 hours. Chill, if waiting longer, and let sit at room temperature 1 hour before serving.