Char-Baked Tomato, Zucchini and Eggplant

Our good friends, Trevor and Meghan, gave us some eggplant and zucchini from their garden this week! I went home and searched for eggplant and zucchini recipes and found this one. We love it! We did add the andouille sausage, however. If you don’t want the dish to be spicy or you don’t like sausage, just leave it out. I also substituted basil for the thyme because I had it in my garden.

The trick to this dish is to bake it much longer than you might expect and keep pushing down the mixture with a spatula to release the moisture. From the book “Mad Hungry” by Lucinda Scala Quinn. (Artisan Books).

INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 onion, peeled and sliced
• 5 small tomatoes, thinly sliced
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 small eggplant, about 6 inches long, thinly sliced crosswise
• 2 zucchini, about 5 inches long, thinly sliced lengthwise
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• Andouille sausage, 1 package, sliced crosswise

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Pour some of the olive oil to cover the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch rectangular or 12-inch oval baking dish. Layer in half of the onion slices and one third of the tomatoes. Generously sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add a layer of eggplant and sprinkle on more salt. Add another third of the tomatoes, the zucchini, garlic, thyme, and the remaining onions. Distribute the andouille sausage evenly then top with the remaining tomatoes. Press down on the mixture with your hands. Pour over the remaining olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper. (Don’t worry. The vegetables will be piled high but collapse as they cook.)
3. Bake uncovered for 1 1/2 hours. After 45 minutes, press the mixture down firmly with a spatula. The vegetables should be reduced in height, and should be brownish black and caramelized, almost charred in places. Return to the oven to finish roasting. Let cool for at least 10 minutes, so the mixture can solidify a bit. Cut into squares and serve.

http://www.marthastewart.com/344231/char-baked-tomato-zucchini-and-eggplant

Creamy Zucchini and Basil Soup

Wow! This soup… incredible! I love it!! No dairy- the cashews provide the creaminess. Astonishing.  Read Susan’s full description for full enjoyment.

2 pounds zucchini (about 5 small to medium)
1 large Vidalia onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
3 cups vegetable broth (I use World’s Greatest Vegetable Broth)
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
3 tablespoons raw cashews
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
additional salt & pepper, to taste

Set aside one of the zucchini; trim and coarsely chop the rest.

Cook onion in a large saucepan for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in the chopped zucchini, salt, and pepper and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add the broth and simmer until zucchini is tender, about 15 minutes.

Pour into a blender (in 2 batches, if necessary) taking care to avoid burns by not filling the blender more than halfway. Add the basil, cashews, and nutritional yeast and blend until smooth.

Return soup to the pot, season with salt and pepper to taste, and keep warm. Shred the remaining zucchini with a spiral slicer, mandolin, or grater. Pour soup into bowls and sprinkle grated zucchini over top.

Servings: 6

Yield: 4-6 servings

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Nutrition Facts

Nutrition (per serving): 128 calories, 56 calories from fat, 6.7g total fat, 0mg cholesterol, 437.6mg sodium, 542.3mg potassium, 14.2g carbohydrates, 2.7g fiber, 4.5g sugar, 6.3g protein, 2.6 points.