Solar Roasted Greek Briam Food

BRIAM: TRADITIONAL GREEK ROASTED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a rack in the middle.
• Place sliced potatoes and zucchini in a large mixing bowl. Season with kosher salt, pepper, oregano, and rosemary. Add fresh parsley, garlic, and a generous drizzle extra virgin olive oil. Toss to make sure the vegetables are well coated with the EVOO and spices.
• Grab a large round pan on skillet (I used an 11-inch oven safe pan. See notes for more options.) Pour 1/2 of the canned diced tomatoes in and spread to cover the bottom of the pan.
• Arrange the seasoned potatoes, zucchini, and sliced onions in the pan in rows (simply going around the shape of the pan and alternating.)
• If you have any of the extra virgin olive oil and garlic mixture left in the mixing bowl, pour that all over the veggies, then top with the remaining diced tomatoes from your can.
• Cover the pan with foil (tent foil a bit so it is not touching the veggies). Bake in 400 degrees F heated-oven for 45 minutes. Take pan out briefly to carefully remove foil, then place back in oven, uncovered, and roast for another 30-40 minutes or until the veggies are soft and charred and most of the liquid has evaporated. (ovens do vary, so pay attention and check as needed.)
• Remove from oven. Serve warm or at room temperature with an added generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. (see suggestions for to serve along.)

DELICIOUS BRIAM RECIPE (GREEK MIXED ROASTED VEGETABLES)

Steps:

• To prepare this delicious briam recipe, start by preparing your vegetables. Peel and cut the potatoes in slices. Wash thoroughly the courgettes and aubergines and slice into 1cm slices. Alternatively you can cut the vegetables in chunks. Peel the tomatoes and cut into thin slices. (You can also use green bell peppers).
• To bake the briam use a large baking pan, approx. 30*35cm, so that the vegetables are not layered too deep.
• Layer the bottom of the pan with sliced tomatoes and season. Place on top the sliced vegetables and season well. Sprinkle with the onion and garlic and top with the rest of the tomatoes. Season well, garnish with chopped parsley and drizzle with olive oil.
• Cover the briam with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven at 200C (both top and bottom heating elements on) for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Uncover the briam halfway through cooking time, toss the vegetables and continue baking until nicely coloured.
• Serve this traditional briam dish with salty feta cheese and lots of bread. Enjoy!

BRIAMI (GREEK OVEN-ROASTED VEGETABLES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 420 degrees F.
• Put everything in a very large baking pan. Pour water, olive oil on top and add herbs. Season generously.
• Put your clean hands in the pan and give all the veggies a toss so herbs, and oil and salt and pepper go on everything.
• It looks like a lot but don't worry - it'll 'melt' down considerably during cooking.
• Roast for a couple of hours, stirring everthing up a couple of times to allow veggies on bottom to come up and brown nicely too. What you're after in terms of texture is for the vegetables to 'melt' into each other, but without losing their individual shape. NOTHING crisp-tender going on here - just meltingly, comfortingly, deliciously tender.
• This is delicious with good crusty bread (lovely juices) and feta cheese on the side- like we eat it.
• Will probably serve 6 hungry people, or maybe not. We go through it fast. It's even better the next day.

SOLAR ROASTED GREEK BRIAM

Steps:

• Make sure the eggplant, potatoes, zucchini, and tomatoes are sliced evenly.
• Combine eggplant, potatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, and tomatoes in a large bowl.
• Add garlic and parsley.
• Season with black pepper and salt to taste.
• Add bay leaf, oregano, and olive oil.
• Using clean hands, toss all ingredients together.
• Add tomato sauce and toss once again to coat all ingredients.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Transfer vegetable mixture to a solar cooking pan or pot.
• Place in solar cooker.
• Solar cook until vegetables are completely cooked (about 3 to 4 hours).
• Serve with bread or rice.

GREEK VEGETABLE BRIAM

Steps:

• Steam (or microwave) the potatoes until fairly tender.
• Bake the eggplant in a 350 degree oven until tender.
• Saute the onion for two minutes in the hot oil.
• Chop the tender eggplant and mix it with the sauteed onion and remaining ingredients, ecept for the feta cheese.
• Spread mixture into a 9x13-inch baking pan and cover with the feta cheese. Press the cheese firmly into the top of the mixtured.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 55-70 minutes until tender throughout.

GREEK BRIAM (ROAST VEGETABLES)

Steps:

• To prepare this delicious briam recipe, start by preparing your vegetables. Peel and cut the potatoes in slices. Wash thoroughly the courgettes and aubergines and slice into 1cm slices. Alternatively you can cut the vegetables in chunks. Peel the tomatoes and cut into thin slices. (You can also use green bell peppers).
• To bake the briam use a large baking pan, approximately 30*35cm, so that the vegetables are not layered too deep.
• Layer the bottom of the pan with sliced tomatoes and season. Place on top the sliced vegetables and season well. Sprinkle with the onion and garlic and top with the rest of the tomatoes. Season well, garnish with chopped parsley and drizzle with olive oil.
• Cover the briam with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven at 200C (both top and bottom heating elements on) for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Uncover the briam halfway through cooking time, toss the vegetables and continue baking until nicely coloured.
• Serve this traditional briam dish with salty feta cheese and lots of bread. Enjoy!

GREEK BAKED VEGETABLES (BRIAM)

Steps:

• If the eggplant is thin and long, slice it about 1/4-inch thick. If it's fat, halve it lengthwise, then slice in 1/4-inch-thick half-moons. Sprinkle with salt and put on paper towels for 30 minutes. Thinly slice the onions and mince the garlic. Cut the potatoes, zucchini and peppers into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Squeeze excess water from eggplant and pat dry.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the onions. Stir often, until tender and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt and stir in the garlic. Cook for another minute or two, until fragrant.
• Lightly oil a deep earthenware baking dish or a heavy Dutch oven. Put the tomatoes in a bowl and season liberally with salt and pepper. Stir in the remaining olive oil. Spread a thin layer of tomatoes in the baking dish or Dutch oven and top with one-third of the onions and garlic. Top with half the potato slices. Season with salt and pepper. Layer half the zucchini slices over the potatoes and season, then layer on half the eggplant, half the peppers and half the okra, if using. Sprinkle on half the parsley, about a third of the marjoram or oregano and some pepper. Layer another third of the onions over the vegetables and top with half of the remaining tomatoes. Sprinkle with half the remaining marjoram or oregano. Repeat the layers with the remaining vegetables, ending with a layer of onions topped with the remaining tomatoes. Sprinkle with the remaining herbs. Pour the juice from the tomatoes over the mixture.
• Cover with foil or a lid and bake for 1 1/2 hours. Press the vegetables down into the juice and bake another 30 minutes, or until all the vegetables are thoroughly tender. Cool until warm before serving, or refrigerate overnight and reheat. If there is too much liquid, strain in a colander set over a bowl, reduce the juices over medium-high heat (place a flame tamer over the burner if you're using the earthenware dish) and pour over the vegetables.

TRADITIONAL GREEK SUMMER ROASTED VEGETABLES (BRIAMI)

Steps:

• Prepare all your vegetables by slicing the eggplants, potatoes, and zucchini into ½" slices. Next, chop the onions and the garlic, cut the peppers into 1" chunks, and mince the fresh herbs.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Drizzle some of the olive oil into a large frying pan, set over medium heat. When the oil is hot, cook the eggplants for 5-6 minutes until they become soft and golden brown (you might need to add a bit more olive oil during the frying, as the eggplants absorb a good amount of olive oil as they cook). Transfer the eggplant to a large, ovenproof dish.
• To the same frying pan add some more olive oil, and, once the oil is heated, add the chopped onion and peppers. Cook for two minutes and add the garlic. Cook a few minutes more, then transfer to the baking dish.
• Add the potatoes and the zucchini to the baking dish-uncooked--and toss. Cut the tomatoes into chunks (or in half, if you are using cherry tomatoes), and add them to the dish along with the tomato passata, the dried and fresh herbs, and the remaining olive oil. Season everything generously with salt and pepper to taste and combine gently.
• Pour ¾ cup of the water into the corner of the baking dish then tilt it so the water distributes evenly.
• Bake for about 45-60 minutes, or, until the vegetables are soft and golden brown. Make sure to check the liquid in the dish (about half way through) and add the rest of the water if necessary. At the end of the cooking time, there should be just a little sauce at the bottom of the baking dish.
• Let the briam rest for 10 minutes or so to cool down slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature with some Greek Feta on the side and some delicious bread to mop up the sauce!