Roasted Eggplant With Garlic And Herbs Food

ROASTED EGGPLANT GARLIC SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Rub the eggplant and onion with the olive oil. Place on a baking sheet. Bake until the eggplant and onion have both softened, turning once, about 25 to 30 minutes. Add the garlic to the baking sheet with the eggplant and onions at the halfway point, after about 15 minutes. Cool until warm enough to handle.
• Peel the eggplant and the garlic and place in the bowl of a food processor. Cut the onion into quarters or large chunks, and add to food processor. Add vinegar, lemon juice, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Pulse until combined. Pulse longer if making a dip. Add cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

GARLIC AND HERB EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Toss the eggplant in a large colander with a generous sprinkle of salt. Set the colander over a bowl to drain and top with a second bowl filled with water or a few heavy cans to press the liquid out of the eggplant. Set aside for at least 1 hour or up to 3 hours.
• Spread the eggplant out onto a baking sheet or large cutting board and pat dry with paper towels.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add half of the eggplant and half of the pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally until tender and lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Add half of the garlic and continue to cook until the garlic is soft, about 1 minute. Remove from the skillet to a bowl. Repeat with the remaining oil, eggplant, crushed red pepper and garlic. Off the heat, add the reserved eggplant back to the skillet, stir in the parsley and mint and season with salt and pepper.

LONG-ROASTED EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC, LABNE, AND TINY CHILE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Using a small paring knife, make a few ½-inch slits into the cut side of each eggplant. (You can do this lengthwise, crosswise, or even diagonally. Knock yourself out with your decorative prowess!)
• Place the eggplant cut side up on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with ½ cup olive oil, distributing as evenly as possible. Season with salt and pepper and turn over so that the eggplant is cut side down.
• Place in the oven and roast, without moving or disturbing, until eggplant is completely tender, cooked through, and golden brown on the bottom (since the skin is already so dark, it can be hard to tell, but the skin will look shriveled and, when poked, the whole thing should feel tender, on the verge of collapse; you can also use a spatula to lift up the eggplant to check the underside for color), 40 to 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining ¼ cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and chile and cook, shaking the skillet occasionally, until the garlic and chile are frizzled and fragrant (but not yet browned), 1 or 2 minutes. Add the bread and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the bread is evenly toasted and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Combine the labne, preserved lemon, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a small bowl; season with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice, if you like. Smear it onto the bottom of a large serving platter or in a shallow bowl.
• Once the eggplant is good and ready to go, use a fish spatula (or regular spatula) to lift up each eggplant half in one fell swoop, preserving its lovely golden underside. Place the eggplant, cut side up, on top of the seasoned labne. Scatter with the crispy croutons and herbs before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Eggplant can be roasted a few hours ahead, then kept loosely covered at room temperature (no need to reheat- it's excellent at room temperature). The labne can be seasoned a week ahead, covered tightly, and refrigerated. The croutons can be made 2 days ahead, kept covered tightly at room temperature.

HERB AND GARLIC GRILLED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Marinating the Eggplant:.
• Lightly brush both sides of each eggplant slice with oil. Blend together the garlic, parsley, basil and pepper. Spread a little of the herb blend over each slice. Lay the slice side by side on a large platter, stacking them if necessary. Lightly cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature 2 to 4 hours.
• Cooking Eggplant on an Outdoor Grill:
• Burn down a charcoal fire (using real wood charcoal briquets if possible), until a white ash has formed on the briquets. Heat should be moderate. Sprinkle the slices with salt. Grill the undrained eggplant slices about 10 minutes, turning once, or until deep golden brown on each side and soft when pierced with a knife. Spoon any seasonings left on the platter over each slice after turning. Transfer the finished slices to a platter and serve.
• Cooking Eggplant Inside:.
• Grill undrained slices over medium heat on a gridded skillet or stove-top grill, until deep, golden brown on each side.
• Spread any seasonings left on the platter over each slice before turning. Do this in several batches unless your cooking surface is large enough to hold all the slices in a single layer. Or you may preheat broiler, placing eggplant about 4" from the flame. Spread any leftover marinade over the slices, and have them in a single layer. Broil slowly until slices are deep golden brown on each side, and eggplant is soft when pierced.
• Serve as a first course or main dish after topping the warm slices with long furls of Parmigiano-Reggiano or sheep cheese carved with a vegetable peeler. Enjoy!

EGGPLANT SAUTEED WITH OIL AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Bake the eggplant: Pierce 2 or 3 places with a sharp knife on one side and then the other.
• Place in an oiled baking dish in the middle of a 425F oven for 25- 30 minutes until thoroughly soft to the touch.
• --or-- Steam the eggplant: Place eggplant in a vegetable rack or sieve and set in a pan of boiling water, not letting the water tough the eggplant; cover tightly and steam 15 to 20 minutes or longer, depending on the size.
• Be careful not to overcook.
• When the eggplant is soft all over, cut in half lengthwise and scrape the flesh from the skin.
• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, add the garlic and cook slowly a minute; then add the eggplant.
• Beat and stir with a wooden spoon for several minutes to break the eggplant meat into a puree.
• Beat in salt and pepper to taste, then add drops of lemon juice, to taste.
• May be cooked in advance: Just before serving, reheat and fold in the parsley, and turn into a hot vegetable dish.
• Enjoy!

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.