Roasted eggplant and pepper salad with pita bread and sesame

1 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
2Eggplants (about 2 1/2 pounds total); cut into 3x3/4x3/4-inch strips
2largesGreen bell peppers; cut into 1/2-inch wide strips
2largesRed bell peppers; cut into 1/2-inch wide strips
8largesGarlic cloves; (unpeeled)
½cupOlive oil
¾cupRed wine vinegar
1tablespoonGround cumin
teaspoonSalt
teaspoonPepper
teaspoonCayenne pepper
8Warm pita bread rounds; cut into wedges
1cup(2 sticks) unsalted margarine; room temperature
cupToasted sesame seeds
1teaspoonSalt
8 Servings

Directions

SALAD

SESAME SPREAD

To make the salad: Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 450°F.

Spray large heavy baking sheet with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Combine eggplant, peppers, garlic and oil in large bowl. Toss well. Transfer to prepared sheet. Bake until eggplant is brown and vegetables are tender, stirring every 10 minutes, about 50 minutes. Remove garlic and reserve.

Scrape vegetables and all pan juices into bowl.

Combine vinegar, cumin, salt, pepper and cayenne in processor. Peel roasted garlic; add to processor. Puree until smooth. Toss vegetable mixture with ¼ cup garlic dressing. Cool, tossing occasionally. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill vegetables and remaining dressing separately. Bring to room temperature.)

Mound salad in center of large platter. Surround with pita wedges. Serve, passing remaining dressing and Sesame Spread separately.

To make the sesame spread: Beat margarine, sesame seeds and salt to blend in small bowl. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.) Posted to JEWISH-FOOD digest V97 #333 by BNLImp <BNLImp@...> on Dec 25, 1997