Spicy Eggplant Pasta by Gena Hamshaw

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2 medium eggplants
1 medium onion
3 to 4 plum tomatoes or one 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon fresh oregano or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
Fresh basil
1 pound linguine or other long pasta
Limes (1 per person)
Mint
Gin
Prosecco

We assume you have salt, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and sugar in your house. If not, add those to the list, too.

1. Stick as many glasses as you have drinkers in the refrigerator to chill. Next, cut the eggplants crosswise into 1 inch-thick slices, lay them on a baking sheet, salt well on both sides, and set aside for about 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, prepare all of your other ingredients. Chop 1 medium onion, mince 2 cloves of garlic, and, if you’re using fresh tomatoes, cut enough so that you end up with 2 cups. Chop 1/4 cup of fresh basil, then set all of these ingredients aside.

3. Next, preheat the oven to 425° F and drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the eggplant, tossing the slices to coat them. Season them with salt and pepper, then roast for 20 minutes.

4. While the eggplant roasts, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the chopped onion and the minced garlic and sautée until the onions are soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the fresh or canned tomatoes, oregano, 2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes, and the chopped basil. Cook the sauce until it thickens, another 10 to 12 minutes, and stir it occasionally. When the eggplant in the oven is tender and browning, chop it into 1-inch pieces and add it to the sauce. Continue to simmer the sauce on low low heat.

5. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes.

6. As the pasta cooks, make your drinks. Juice as many limes as you have diners. For each person, you’ll also want 4 to 6 mint leaves and a tablespoon of sugar. Muddle the lime juice, mint, and sugar. Transfer to a cocktail shaker with ice and a shot of gin per person.

7. When the pasta is finished, drain it and gently fold it in the sauce. Top with additional chopped basil and red pepper flakes to taste. Complete your meal by pouring the gin mixture into your chilled glasses and topping each with Prosecco. Serves 4 to 6

The Best Baba Ganoush from http://www.seriouseats.com/

20140225-baba-ganoush-recipe-food-lab-vegan-primary-3-thumb-625xauto-385959 3 medium Italian eggplants (about 2 pounds total)
3 medium cloves of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons juice from 1 lemon, plus more as desired
3 tablespoons tahini
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
Kosher salt

If using a gas burner or grill (recommended):
Preheat a gas or coal grill to medium heat and place eggplants directly over heat source. Cook, turning occasionally with tongs, until completely tender and well charred on all sides, 30 to 40 minutes. Wrap with foil and let rest 15 minutes.If using the broiler: Adjust rack to 6 inches below broiler element and preheat broiler to high. Place eggplant on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil, turning occasionally, until charred on all sides and completely tender, about 1 hour. Eggplants should be very, very tender when cooked. Test near the stem and bottom ends. If a toothpick or skewer meets any resistance, continue cooking. (See note above.) Remove from oven and gather up foil, crimping it around the eggplants to form a sealed package. Let the eggplants rest for 15 minutes. Continue to step

Open foil package. Working one eggplant at a time, use a sharp paring knife to slit it open lengthwise. Carefully scoop out soft flesh with a large spoon and transfer to a strainer set in a large bowl. Once all eggplant is scooped, pick out any stray bits of skin and blackened flesh and discard.

Transfer eggplant to a salad spinner, distributing it evenly around the perimeter. Spin gently until all excess moisture is extracted. Discard all drippings, wipe out bowl. and return eggplant to bowl.

Add garlic and lemon juice to eggplant and stir vigorously with a fork until eggplant breaks down into a rough paste, about 1 1/2 minutes. Stirring constantly and vigorously, add the tahini followed by the olive oil in a thin, steady stream. The mixture should become pale and creamy. Stir in parsley and season to taste with salt and more lemon juice if desired.

Transfer to a serving bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and serve with warm pita bread or vegetables for dipping. Baba ganoush can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Let baba ganoush warm to room temperature before serving.

Miso Quinoa Pilaf with Grilled Cucumber, Eggplant, and Soy Dressing

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For the Pilaf

1 large English cucumber
2 small, long eggplants, about 5 to 6 inches or 1 slender long eggplant of a larger variety)
Olive oil for grilling
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 cup quinoa
1 cup 2 % milk
1 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoon white miso (we used barley miso, which is darker)
3tablespoons chopped cilantro

Prepare a medium gas or charcoal grill.

Trim ends off cucumber and eggplants. Slice eggplants in half lengthwise. Cut cucumber crosswise into thirds, then cut each piece in half lengthwise. Place vegetables in a baking pan and drizzle cut sides with olive oil, rubbing oil with your fingertip to cover the vegetables. Set aside until grill is hot.

While you are waiting for your grill to heat up, start your quinoa by melting butter in a small saucepan. Add quinoa and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly to toast the grains. After about 5 minutes, quinoa should start to pop and smell nutty (a few grains will turn golden brown). At this point, add milk and water, and whisk in miso. Cover pot and adjust heat to maintain a simmer. Cook for 17 to 20 minutes until grains are tender and liquid has been absorbed. Remove pot from heat.

Grill cucumber and eggplant pieces cut side down until lightly charred and tender, about 5 minutes for cucumber and 7 to 8 for eggplant. Flip and grill skin side down for 2 to 3 minutes more. Cucumber skin will start to wrinkle and eggplant flesh should yield easily when poked with a knife. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool slightly. Slice cucumbers and eggplants crosswise into half moons.

Fluff quinoa and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add sliced cucumber, eggplant, and half of the cilantro. Whisk or shake dressing to re-emulsify and add to taste (note that tamari and miso can both vary widely in saltiness, so dress sparingly at first, then add more as you like). I use about half of the dressing. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold to combine components of pilaf. Taste and add more dressing if desired. Transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle with remaining cilantro. Serve warm or at room temperature. Pilaf is also delicious cold, the next day. Enjoy! Serves 4 to 6 as a side

For the Soy Dressing

1/4 cup gluten-free tamari
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Juice from 1/2 an orange (about 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup canola oil

Combine tamari and vinegar in a small saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat to a simmer and cook until mixture is reduced to 1/4 cup, about 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in orange juice and canola oil. Transfer to a glass jar with a lid. This will make more dressing than you need for this recipe. Use remaining as a dressing for other grilled vegetables or as a marinade for meat.

Ottolenghi’s ‘Very Full Tart’ From Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Timimi

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1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
about 6 Tablespoons olive oil
1 medium eggplant, cut into 2-inch dice
salt and black pepper
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch dice
1 small zucchini, cut into 1-inch dice
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
2 bay leaves
11 oz pie crust dough
8 thyme sprigs, leaves picked
1/3 cup ricotta
4 1/4 oz feta
7 cherry tomatoes, halved
2 medium eggs
1 cup heavy cream

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Use a small serrated knife to cut around the stem of the peppers and lift it out along with the seeds. Shake the peppers to remove all the remaining seeds; discard the stems and seeds. Place the two peppers in a small ovenproof dish, drizzle with a little oil and put on the top shelf in the oven.

Mix the eggplant in a bowl with 4 tablespoons of olive oil and some salt and pepper. Spread in a large baking pan and place in the oven on the shelf beneath the peppers.

After 12 minutes add the sweet potato dice to the eggplant pan and stir gently. Return to the oven to roast for another 12 minutes. Then add the zucchini to the pan, stir and roast for a further 10 to 12 minutes. At this point the peppers should be brown and the rest of the vegetables cooked. Remove all from the oven and reduce the temperature to 325 degrees. Cover the peppers with foil and cool, then peel and tear roughly into strips.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Saute the onions with the bay leaves and some salt for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they turn brown, soft and sweet. Remove from the heat, discard the bay leaves and set aside.

Lightly grease a 9-inch loose-bottomed tart pan. Roll out the pie crust dough to a circle roughly 1/8 inch thick and large enough to line the pan, plus extra to hang over the rim. Carefully line the pan with the dough, pressing it into the corners and leaving the excess hanging over the top edge. Line the dough with a large sheet of parchment paper and fill it with pie weights or dried beans. Bake the crust for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the paper with the weights, then bake for 10 to 15 minutes more, or until it turns golden brown. Remove and allow to cool a little.

Scatter the cooked onion over the bottom of the crust and top with the roasted vegetables, arranging them evenly. Scatter half the thyme leaves over. Next, dot the veg with small chunks of both cheeses and then with the tomato halves, cut-side up.

Whisk the eggs and cream in a small bowl with some salt and pepper. Carefully pour this mix into the tart; the top layer of tomatoes and cheese should remain exposed. Scatter the remaining thyme over the top. Place in the oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the filling sets and turns golden. Remove and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before releasing the tart from the pan and serving. Serves 4-6

Eggplant Mushroom Quiche Sherry Golden

1 pre-baked crust

1 small onion
4 oz. mushrooms, chopped coarse
1 garlic clove minced
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
3 eggs
3/4 c. milk or cream
1 cup seasoned eggplant puree
1/4 c, grated parm. or romano cheese
2 tbsp tomato paste
pepper to taste
a grating of fresh nutmeg
about 1/4 c. tomato sauce
grated cheese–parm and or mozzarella

Preheat the oven to 375.  Have the pre-baked crust ready
Saute the onion, mushrooms and garlic in butter.  Add the basil and oregano and saute for a few minutes more.  Let cool slightly.

Place this in a blender or food processor along with the eggs, milk or cream, seasoned eggplant puree, grated cheese, tomato paste, salt, pepper and nutmeg.  Puree then pour this mixture into the prebaked crust and bake for 40 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the pie comes out clean.

Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over the surface of the pie, sprinkle with cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.

Make a 9-10 inch quiche.

Second pie, used too much tomato sauce which made the filling soft, tasted fine but not as pretty not did it hold together.

2nd quiche

 

 

Seasoned Eggplant Puree Sherry Golden

This puree is an excellent way to process and preserve eggplants when they are abundant and beautifully firm.  Freeze the puree in 1 cup portions.  Use in sauces for pasta, as a filling for crepes, and in the superb Eggplant Mushroom Quiche.

2 medium eggplants
salt
1 medium onion
2-3 garlic cloves
3-4 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp minced fresh basil or 1 tsp dried
2-3 tbsp water, use as little as possible

Peel the eggplant and slice into 1/2 inch thick slices.  Salt both side sand lay them on paper towels for 30 min to drain. Pat them dry and cut into cubes

In a large saute pan saute the onion and garlic in olive oil until the onion is softened.  Add the eggplant cube and saute until the eggplant begins to color.  Add the basil and water.  Stir, cover and steam until the eggplant is tender.  Puree in a food processor or blender

-OR-

Peel eggplant and cook on grill under done.

In a large saute pan saute the onion and garlic in olive oil until the onion is softened.  Add Add the basil and water.  Stir and cook for a few minutes.  Puree in a food processor or blender