Open Faced Eggplant And Tomato Sandwiches Food

OPEN-FACE GRILLED EGGPLANT SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Light a grill. Brush the bread on both sides with olive oil and grill over high heat until crisp on the outside but still soft inside, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer to a platter.
• Brush the eggplant slices with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Grill over moderate heat until charred on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Turn and grill until tender, about 3 minutes longer.
• Top the eggplant with the tomato, mozzarella and basil. Cover the grill and cook until the cheese melts, 2 minutes. Transfer the eggplant to the bread, sprinkle with sea salt and serve.

EGGPLANT AND SMOKED-GOUDA OPEN-FACED GRILLED SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Prepare grill for cooking over direct heat with medium-hot charcoal (moderate heat for gas); see Grilling Procedureepi:recipelink.
• While grill is heating, stir together tomatoes, parsley, 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar, pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
• With a cheese plane or vegetable peeler, shave half of cheese into thin slices (if using mozzarella, thinly slice half of it with a knife) and cover slices with plastic wrap, reserving remaining piece for another use.
• Brush bread on both sides with 1 tablespoon oil per slice.
• Trim off top and bottom of each eggplant, then cut 2 (1-inch-thick) slices lengthwise from center of each eggplant, discarding remainder. Brush cut sides with 3 tablespoons oil (total) and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Lightly oil grill rack, then grill eggplant slices (covered only if using a gas grill), loosening with a metal spatula and turning occasionally to avoid overbrowning, until very tender, 8 to 10 minutes. While eggplant is grilling, grill bread, turning over once, until grill marks form, 1 to 2 minutes total, and transfer to a large platter.
• Transfer eggplant to platter, then top evenly with sliced cheese and return to grill and cook, covered for charcoal or gas, without turning, until cheese begins to melt, about 1 minute. Transfer eggplant with spatula to platter.
• Transfer grilled bread to 4 plates and spoon tomato mixture on top. Drizzle evenly with remaining tablespoon oil and top with eggplant. Season with pepper to taste.

GRILLED OPEN-FACED VEGETABLE, PESTO, AND MOZZARELLA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• To make the sandwich:
• Prepare grill.
• Lightly brush bell peppers and eggplants with oil and grill on an oiled rack set about 4 inches over glowing coals about 4 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Cut peppers into strips.
• Lightly brush cut sides of bread with oil and grill, cut sides down, about 2 minutes, or until golden. Spread each piece of bread with 4 tablespoons pesto and divide peppers, eggplants, and mozzarella between them. Grill sandwiches, covered, just until cheese is melted. (Alternatively, vegetables and assembled sandwiches may be broiled.) Sprinkle each sandwich with basil and cut in half.
• To make the pesto:
• In a blender or small food processor blend together all ingredients with salt and pepper to taste until smooth. Pesto keeps, covered and chilled, up to 1 week. Makes about 2/3 cup.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND TOMATO SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Sprinkle eggplant with 2 teaspoons salt, and place in a colander set over a bowl. Let stand 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
• Arrange eggplant in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush both sides with 1/4 cup oil. Toss tomatoes with remaining tablespoon oil, season with salt and pepper, and add to sheet. Sprinkle with capers. Roast, flipping eggplant halfway through, until eggplant is golden brown and very tender and tomatoes have burst, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Brush rolls with oil from pan. Divide vegetables among rolls and top with cheese.