Roasted Red Pepper And Eggplant Dip With Pita Wedges Recipes

ROASTED RED BELL PEPPERS WITH EGGPLANT (FUNGHETTO)

Steps:

• For the peppers: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Spray a small baking dish or baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray. Arrange the peppers, cut side-up, on the baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Bake until the peppers are tender but still holding their shape, about 20 minutes.
• For the eggplant: Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Add the eggplant in batches and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
• For the filling: Combine the cooked eggplant, tomato-basil sauce, olives, capers, salt and pepper in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Spoon the filling into the bell peppers and sprinkle the topping over the filling. Drizzle with the olive oil and broil until a golden crust forms, 2 to 3 minutes.

ROASTED VEGETABLE DIP WITH BAKED PITA CRISPS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°. Spread zucchini, yellow squash, bell pepper, onion and garlic in jelly roll pan, 15 1/2x10 1/2x1 inch. Spray vegetables with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt and red pepper.
• Bake about 30 minutes, turning vegetables once, until vegetables are tender and lightly browned.
• Place vegetables in blender or food processor. Cover and blend on high speed about 1 minute, stopping blender occasionally to scrape sides, until smooth.
• Serve warm, or refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled. Serve with Baked Pita Crisps and vegetable dippers.
• Baked Pita Chips: Heat oven to 375°. Split each pita bread around edge with knife to make 2 rounds. Lightly brush oil over pita rounds. Sprinkle with basil and cheese. Cut each round into 8 wedges. Place in single layer in 2 ungreased jelly roll pans, 15 1/2x10 1/2x1 inch, or on 2 cookie sheets. Bake uncovered 6 to 8 minutes or until light brown and crisp. Cool slightly (chips will continue to crisp as they cool). Serve warm or cool. Store in tightly covered container up to 3 weeks at room temperature.

ROASTED EGGPLANT DIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place eggplant and garlic on a rimmed baking sheet and rub with 2 tablespoons oil. Roast until garlic is soft and golden, 20 minutes. Remove garlic and set aside. Continue to roast eggplant until soft and deflated, 20 to 25 minutes more. Let cool 20 minutes.
• Slice eggplant open and scrape flesh into the bowl of a food processor. Peel garlic and add to bowl, along with lemon juice, tahini, salt, and 2 tablespoons oil. Process until smooth. (To store, refrigerate, up to 2 days.) Serve drizzled with more oil and a sprinkle of paprika if desired.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND EGGPLANT DIP WITH PITA WEDGES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Coat eggplant and bell peppers lightly with additional oil and arrange in a jelly-roll pan. Roast vegetables, turning once or twice, 30 to 40 minutes, or until eggplant is very soft and bell peppers are charred. Transfer peppers to a metal bowl and let steam, covered tightly with plastic wrap, until cool enough to handle.
• Peel and seed bell peppers and pat dry between paper towels. Peel eggplant and put flesh in a food processor. Add bell peppers, remaining 4 tablespoons oil, garlic, lemon juice, jalapeño, and salt and pepper to taste and combine well.
• Transfer mixture to a heavy saucepan and simmer, stirring frequently, 15 to 20 minutes, or until thickened and reduced to about 2 cups.
• Cool dip and chill, covered, at least 1 day and up to 1 week.
• Serve dip with pita wedges.

ROASTED EGGPLANT SPREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplant, bell pepper, and onion into 1-inch cubes. Toss them in a large bowl with the garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread them on a baking sheet. Roast for 45 minutes, until the vegetables are lightly browned and soft, tossing once during cooking.
• Cool slightly.
• Place the vegetables in a food processor fitted with a steel blade, add the tomato paste, and pulse 3 or 4 times to blend. Taste for salt and pepper.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND RED PEPPER DIP

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Brush both sides of eggplant with dressing; place on rimmed baking sheet. Bake 30 min. or until tender. Cool slightly. Coarsely mash eggplant.
• Mix cream cheese and dressing with until blended. Stir in eggplant and remaining ingredients. Spoon into 9-inch pie plate.
• Bake 20 min. or until heated through.

ROASTED EGGPLANT AND RED PEPPER TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Toss vegetables with oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl, then spread in an oiled large shallow (1-inch-deep) baking pan. Roast vegetables in middle of oven, stirring occasionally, until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack, then coarsely mash with a potato masher and stir in basil.

EGGPLANT, ROASTED PEPPER AND CHICKEN PITAS

Steps:

• Sprinkle sliced eggplant with salt and allow to drain in a colander for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat a grill for medium-high heat (see Cook's Note).
• Pound chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap to a thickness of 1/4-inch. Dredge with flour, shake off excess, dip into beaten egg, then press into seasoned bread crumbs to coat.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook until golden brown. Set aside.
• Wipe eggplant dry with a paper towel. If grilling, brush slices with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Grill until tender and well marked.
• Crush garlic with a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt. Whisk together garlic, red wine vinegar, and extra-virgin olive oil. Slice grilled eggplant into strips and toss with roasted peppers and balsamic dressing; season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To assemble, heat pita breads on the grill until hot and marked. Slice chicken into strips and place into warm pitas along with marinated eggplant and red peppers.