Roasted Eggplant And Asparagus Pasta Salad Food

ROASTED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Cut the stem and calyx off the eggplant, and cut in half lengthwise. Score large eggplants down the middle with the tip of a knife, being careful not to cut through the skin. (Japanese eggplants and other small eggplants needn't be scored.)
• Cover a baking sheet with foil and brush the foil with extra virgin olive oil. Place the eggplant on the foil, cut side down. Place in the oven and roast large, fat eggplants for 20 to 25 minutes (depending on the size). Roast small narrow Japanese eggplants (and other varieties) for 15 minutes, or until the skin has begun to shrivel, the edges and cut surface are browned, and the eggplant has softened but it hasn't collapsed.
• Remove from the oven and use a spatula to detach from the foil if the eggplant is sticking (if a thin surface of browned eggplant stays behind, don't worry). Place the eggplant halves cut side down on a rack set over a baking sheet, or in a colander. Allow to cool and drain for 15 to 30 minutes.

GRILLED EGGPLANT AND ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Toss asparagus, eggplant, and tomatoes with about 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Arrange vegetables on the preheated grill; cook until tender, 5 to 7 minutes per side.
• Whisk olive oil and vinegar in a bowl until smooth; season to taste with salt and black pepper. Toss romaine, endive, and dressing together in a large bowl.
• Serve grilled vegetables atop the dressed lettuce mixture; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOM SALAD

Steps:

• Steam the asparagus for three to five minutes, depending on how thick the stalks are. It should be tender but still have some bite. Rinse with cold water, and drain for a minute on a kitchen towel. Cut into 1-inch lengths. Place in a salad bowl, and toss with the mushrooms, herbs and arugula.
• Whisk together the lemon juice, salt and pepper, garlic and olive oil. Toss with the asparagus mixture and the slivered Parmesan, and serve.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Add pasta to a large pot of boiling salted water and cook until al dente. Drain in a colander and let cool.
• Meanwhile, slice asparagus on the bias into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Place the asparagus on a sheet tray and drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Place in oven and roast for 10 minutes, until slightly tender. Remove and let cool.
• In a small bowl, combine shallot, garlic, mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes.
• Whisk in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Add chives.
• Add pasta and roasted asparagus to a large bowl.
• Drizzle with dressing and toss.
• Add the crumbled goat cheese, toss and let sit for 30 minutes before serving.

PASTA WITH EGGPLANT AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a saucepan and add the garlic. Cook and stir without browning. Add the tomatoes, parsley, oregano, pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Stir to blend, bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile cut off the ends of the eggplant and peel. Cut it into 1-inch cubes.
• Cut the ends off the zucchini and slice into 1-inch thick slices.
• Heat the remaining olive oil in a large skillet. When the oil is very hot, add the eggplant, zucchini, salt and pepper. Cook, tossing, until nicely browned and tender. Add to the tomato sauce. Mix well and cook for 15 minutes.
• Drop the pasta into salted boiling water and cook to the desired degree of doneness. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Return the pasta to the pot, add the reserved cooking liquid, the vegetable and sauce mixture, basil and Parmesan cheese. Toss and serve hot.

PASTA SALAD ALLA NORMA

Steps:

• Put the eggplant in a colander and toss with 1 teaspoon salt. Let stand, tossing occasionally, for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse and drain well, then pat dry with paper towels.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to the package directions.
• While the pasta cooks, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the eggplant and cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender and golden brown, about 8 minutes. Add the cherry tomatoes, capers and garlic and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes start to break down, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Add the drained pasta to the bowl with the eggplant mixture and stir in the vinegar; add salt to taste. Let stand until cooled to slightly warm or room temperature, then stir in the mozzarella and basil. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.

ASPARAGUS PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Heat shallot and oil in microwave safe covered dish for 30 seconds or in a small pan on the stovetop over medium low heat for 5 minutes. Allow oil to cool back to room temperature.
• Hold a spear of asparagus at each end and snap it. The spear breaks where the tender tops meet the tough bottoms. Line the broken spear up with the bundle of cleaned asparagus. Cut the spears using the guideline of the snapped spear. Par boil the asparagus tops in 1 inch simmering water covered for 3 to 5 minutes. Cool under cold running water and drain. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces on an angle and add to a bowl. Combine chopped, cooked asparagus with shredded endive, red bell pepper, cooked pasta, green peas and chopped parsley. The peas will defrost as you toss salad. Pour vinegar into a small bowl and whisk in cooled shallot oil. Pour dressing over salad and toss. Season salad with salt and pepper, to your taste and toss again.

PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Boil water for the pasta. Cook as you are preparing the garlic/asparagus sauce. In a skillet, cook garlic, red pepper flakes and hot pepper sauce in heated oil and butter for 2 to 3 minutes. Add asparagus, salt and pepper; saute until asparagus is crisp-tender, about 8 minutes. Add Parmesan cheese, mix well. Pour over hot pasta and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND ASPARAGUS PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Place a baking rack in the top of the oven.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Spread asparagus spears and eggplant slices on the baking sheet, and drizzle vegetables with 1/4 cup olive oil; sprinkle with garlic powder.
• Roast the asparagus and eggplant in the preheated oven until tender, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool. When cool, roughly chop the vegetables; set aside.
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. Stir in penne and return to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through but is still slightly firm, about 9 minutes. Drain well.
• Transfer about 1/4 of the penne at a time into a large salad bowl, drizzling each batch with about 1 teaspoon of olive oil and a 1 teaspoon of Parmesan cheese. Stir between additions.
• Stir in roasted asparagus and eggplant, lemon juice, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce until thoroughly combined.
• Sprinkle pasta salad with salt-free seasoning and black pepper.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad until thoroughly chilled and the flavors have blended, at least 3 hours.