Vegetable Stacks Recipes

VEGETABLE STACKS

Steps:

• Preheat BBQ and set on LOW. Brush vegetables with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and grill slowly until tender, turning once. They will only need about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer the vegetables to a tray, arranging them in a single layer, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. You can stack layers of the vegetables on top of each other with a layer of plastic wrap between; just be sure the vegetables have cooled first. The vegetables may be grilled a day in advance, and refrigerated after cooking. Bring the vegetables back to room temp before proceeding.
• Stir together the ricotta, thyme, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• Place one slice of eggplant on a lightly oiled baking sheet or foil pan. Spread one tablespoon of the ricotta mixture over the eggplant. Cover with 2 slices of zucchini, 1 slice of onion, 1 slice of mozzarella, 1 slice of tomato, 2 slices of zucchini, and 1 slice of onion. Spread 1 tablespoon of the ricotta mixture over the onion, and top with another slice of eggplant. Repeat this procedure with the remaining vegetables to make 5 more stacks.
• Insert a wooden skewer through the centre of each stack to create a hole from top to bottom. Remove the bottom leaves from each rosemary sprig, leaving one inch of leaves on the top. Insert 1 sprig into the centre hole in each stack and return to the BBQ. Heat for about 5 minutes on Low or until mozzarella is melted and vegetables are warmed through.

GREEK VILLAGE VEGETABLE STACKS

Steps:

• Carefully slice the brick of feta into 12 slices, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick each. Use a cheese wire or some dental floss to cut the cheese if it crumbles too easily when using a knife. Next, trim off both ends of the bell pepper and pull out the seeds and membranes. Thinly slice the pepper into 12 pieces, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Slice the cucumber even thinner, into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Trim the ends off the onion as you did the pepper. Cut the outer layer of skin off, then trim one side with a shallow cut so that the whole onion sits stable on its side. Thinly slice the onion as you did the pepper, into 12 pieces. Slice the tomatoes in the same fashion as the onion, trimming off one side to stabilize it before slicing it across. Cut the tomatoes a little thicker, 6 slices per tomato. Season the tomatoes with a little coarse salt.
• Strip the oregano leaves off the stems by holding stems at the top and gently pulling backward. Pile up the leaves on your cutting board and combine with the parsley leaves. Finely chop both, milling them together. To the chopped herbs, add the zest of the lemon. Trim the ends of the lemon and wedge it; reserve wedges. To the herb and lemon zest combination, add lots of fresh coarse black pepper-at least a full teaspoon and up to 2. Mix it in with your fingertips.
• Arrange the cheese slices in a single layer on your work surface and scatter the herb mixture over the cheese slices.
• Pour a puddle of EVOO on each plate or on a serving platter. Assemble stacks of Greek salad like this: sliced tomato, sliced onion, a layer of thin slices of cucumber, a slice of bell pepper, a slice of herb-crusted feta. Repeat twice. Each stack will have 3 layers, making a tower of Greek salad for each portion. Garnish each plate or the serving platter with olives and wedges of lemon.

PESTO VEGGIE STACKS

Steps:

• Place the first five ingredients in a food processor; cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add 1/2 cup oil in a steady stream until combined. Set pesto aside. , Place the flour, eggs and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Dip eggplant in the flour, then in eggs, then roll in crumbs. Heat remaining oil in a large skillet; fry eggplant in batches for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels., Place four eggplant slices on an ungreased baking sheet. Top each with a tomato slice, 1 tablespoon cheese, 2 teaspoons pesto and remaining eggplant. (Cover and refrigerate remaining pesto for another use). Bake at 350° for 5-8 minutes or until heated through. Serve immediately.

ROASTED VEGETABLE STACK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F, coat 2 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
• Place the vegetables on the baking sheets in a single layer, lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray and season with salt and pepper om both sides, bake for 16-20 minutes, or until tender.
• Remove from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 350°F, coat an 8 inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, place 3 slices of the roasted eggplant in the bottom of the baking dish, spread half of the ricotta cheese, half of the chopped basil,and 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese over that.
• Continue to layer with zucchini slices, yellow squash slices, and strips of red peppers, spread the remaining half of the ricotta cheese and basil, and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese on top.
• Place the remaining 3 slices of eggplant over that and top with tomato sauce and the remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, bake for 10-12 minutes, or until heated through and the cheese is melted, cut into 4 squares and serve.

GARDEN VEGETABLE STACK RECIPE

Steps:

• Place 6 tomato slices on platter; top each with 1 cheese slice. Drizzle with half the dressing.
• Top each stack with 1 onion slice, 2 cucumber slices and second tomato slice.
• Drizzle with remaining dressing; top with basil.

ROASTED VEGETABLE STACK

Steps:

• Brush vegetables and polenta with dressing; let stand at room temperature 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 425ºF. Spread vegetables into single layer on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 8 to 10 min. or until tender, turning vegetables after 5 min. Remove from oven. Place polenta in single layer on separate baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray; bake 1 min. on each side.
• Top 4 polenta slices with eggplant slices, onions, half the cheese, peppers and mushrooms; cover with remaining cheese and polenta slices.

VEGETABLE TORTILLA STACK

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute peppers and onion in oil until tender. Stir in picante sauce; set aside. Meanwhile, cook frozen vegetables according to package directions; drain. Cool slightly; coarsely chop vegetables. , Place two tortillas on an ungreased baking sheet. Spread each with 1/3 cup refried beans and sprinkle with 1/3 cup of the pepper mixture. Top each with another tortilla. Spoon 1-1/2 cups vegetables over each tortilla and sprinkle with Monterey jack cheese. Top the last two tortillas with remaining beans and pepper mixture; place one on each stack. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese., Bake at 375° for 10-15 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted. Garnish with cilantro and olives. Cut into wedges. Serve with sour cream and picante sauce.

BASIC VEGETABLE STOCK

Steps:

• Chop scrubbed vegetables into 1-inch chunks. Remember, the greater the surface area, the more quickly vegetables will yield their flavor.
• Heat oil in a soup pot. Add onion, celery, carrots, scallions, garlic, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves. Cook over high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add salt and water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Strain. Discard vegetables.
• Other ingredients to consider: mushrooms, eggplant, asparagus (butt ends), corn cobs, fennel (stalks and trimmings), bell peppers, pea pods, chard (stems and leaves), celery root parings, marjoram (stems and leaves), basil, potato parings . . . Get the idea?