Roasted Eggplant With Basil Food

ROASTED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and arrange three racks evenly spaced.
• Lay the eggplant in one layer on three sheet pans and brush both sides with olive oil, using all the oil. Sprinkle with the oregano, crushing it lightly in your hands, then sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn the slices and rotate the pans in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes, until tender. Leave the oven at 400 degrees F.
• In a 10 by 14 by 2-inch ceramic baking dish, spread a third of the marinara sauce. Arrange a third of the eggplant on top in one layer. Scatter a third of the basil, a third of the mozzarella, a third of the goat cheese, and a third of the Parmesan on top. Repeat twice, starting with the marinara and ending with the Parmesan, making sure each layer is evenly distributed.
• For the topping, place the bread crumbs, garlic, and basil in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt and pulse to moisten the crumbs. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the dish.
• Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until bubbling and golden brown. Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.

ROASTED EGGPLANT WITH BASIL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 475 degrees. Cut eggplants into 1-inch cubes. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss eggplant with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until browned and tender, about 25 minutes. Toss with red-wine vinegar and basil leaves.

THAI BASIL EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add chile and garlic; cook and stir until garlic is golden, about 1 minute. Add eggplants to the fragrant garlic oil. Stir in water and cover. Cook, stirring every few minutes, until eggplants soften, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Uncover and stir in soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Stir well and continue cooking until all the water has evaporated and eggplant is coated with sauce, about 5 minutes. Add basil leaves and stir once; remove from heat.

SPICY EGGPLANT AND CAULIFLOWER WITH BASIL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F
• In a large saucepan, combine the rice, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 4 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the garlic, ginger, oil, curry paste, the remaining salt, and 1/2 cup water.
• Toss with the eggplants and cauliflower, then transfer to a roasting pan, spreading into a single layer. Roast until tender, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the chickpeas during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• Remove from oven and toss with the bean sprouts and basil.
• Serve vegetables over the rice.

THAI BASIL EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Peel eggplant if desired (I don't). Cut into irregular shapes but same sizes. That makes them easier to turn and keeps them from sticking to the pan.
• Heat wok over med-high heat. Add oil, peppers and garlic. Cook until garlic becomes lightly browned, 1-2 minutes.
• Add eggplant and stir. Add 1/2 cup water cover and simmer 5 minutes, until eggplant has soaked up most of the water and becomes translucent. You may need to add more water as it cooks.
• Add fish sauce and sugar. Stir gently. Turn off the heat and add the basil stir gently.
• Serve immediately.
• Really good with jasmine rice :O.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND TOMATO SALAD WITH BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Slice eggplant crosswise into 1/4 inch slices; cut cherry tomatoes in half.
• Place tomatoes and eggplant slices on nonstick baking sheet. Season with salt and olive oil (reserving 1/3 of the oil for the dressing) turning tomatoes and eggplant to coat evenly.
• Roast until soft and slightly brown for approximately 15 minutes, turning eggplant once.
• Remove from oven, cool, and cut eggplant in quarters. Toss gently with remaining olive oil, basil leaves and salt and pepper to taste.

TOMATO SALAD WITH SMOKY EGGPLANT FLATBREAD

Steps:

• Set the whole, unpeeled eggplant directly over a bed of hot coals, over the open flame of a gas burner at full blast or under the broiler. With a paring knife or skewer, poke a few holes into the eggplant to allow steam to escape. Let the skin of the eggplant blacken and blister, turning the eggplant continuously until it is soft, collapsed and completely charred, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Set the cooked eggplant on a chopping board, and, when cool enough to handle, cut in half from top to bottom. Let cool to room temperature (about 15 minutes), then scoop out flesh with a spoon, discarding any large seed pockets. Tear or roughly chop eggplant flesh and put in a medium bowl.
• Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, tahini, garlic, yogurt, cumin, cayenne, cinnamon, and salt and pepper. Beat mixture with a fork, leaving it somewhat rough. Set aside to let flavors meld at room temperature, then taste and adjust seasoning. Transfer to a serving dish.
• Put diced onion in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add pomegranate molasses, sumac and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Stir in 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Add chopped tomatoes and fold into onion mixture, sprinkling with a bit more salt, if necessary. Transfer to a serving dish and top with walnuts.
• Spread eggplant mixture on pieces of warm lavash or pita, keeping the edges clear, and arrange on a platter. Spoon some of the tomato mixture onto each piece. Sprinkle dill, parsley and mint liberally over it all.

EGGPLANT WITH BASIL

Steps:

• Select firm, unblemished eggplants which are rather long and thin, about 2 1/2 inches in diameter.
• Wash eggplants, trim the ends, and slice into 1/2 inch rounds.
• Toss in salt until they are thoroughly coated and place on a baking sheet (you may stack them).
• With a second baking sheet on top, pile on a heavy weight and allow to stand 30 minutes to an hour.
• Meanwhile, bring a 4 inch depth of water to boil in a saucepan.
• Drop the tomatoes into the rapidly boiling water a few at a time for about 10 to 15 seconds, depending on ripeness.
• Plunge immediately into ice water to stop the cooking and prevent the tomatoes from getting mushy.
• Slip off the skins, cut out the stem, and gently squeeze out the seeds and juice.
• Peel, crush, and very finely chop the garlic.
• Very finely chop the parsley and basil.
• Crush the thyme and oregano in a mortar and pestle to release the flavors.
• Combine garlic and the herbs in a small bowl.
• Thoroughly rinse eggplant to remove the salt and pat dry.
• Preheat a large frying pan over high heat until very hot; add 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan.
• Immediately begin cooking a few eggplant slices at a time until brown on both sides; replenish the oil a little at a time as needed without letting eggplant slices absorb too much of the oil.
• Arrange the eggplant slices on a baking sheet.
• Cut the tomatoes into 3/8 inch slices, cutting from top to bottom.
• Place a tomato slice on the eggplant; sprinkle with a pinch of sugar to counteract any acidity.
• Crumble about 1 tablespoon of feta cheese on top of each tomato and top with about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the herb mixture on the feta cheese.
• Top the herb mixture with about 1 tablespoon of the gruyere cheese; grind fresh black pepper on each slice.
• Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
• Serve immediately.