ZACUSCA RECIPE - ROMANIAN ROASTED EGGPLANT AND RED PEPPER SPREAD
Zacusca is a Romanian vegetable spread made primarily from roasted eggplant and red peppers. It is popularly served as a spread on bread, but also as a relish for meats. Learn how to make it with Chili Pepper Madness.
Provided by Mike Hultquist
Categories Appetizer Main Course sauce
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Poke the eggplant flesh in several places with a knife (this allows steam to escape when cooking).
- Remove the stems from the peppers and core them. Slice them in half lengthwise.
- FOR GRILLING: Heat the grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grates. Set the eggplant and red peppers (skin sides uonto the grates and close the lid. Grill 20 minutes, or until the red pepper skins bubble up and char. Remove them. Continue to grill the eggplant, flipping every few minutes to get an even char on the skins and the flesh is softened up, another 20 minutes or so. Remove from heat.
- FOR BAKING: Set the eggplant and red peppers onto a large foil-lined baking sheet.
- Heat oven to 400 degrees and bake the egglplant and peppers for 20 minutes, until the pepper skins char and bubble up. Remove the peppers and flip the eggplants. Continue to roast until the eggplants soften and blacken, another 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat.
- When the peppers and eggplant are done, remove the pepper skins and discard them. Set them aside for now, covered.
- Scoop out the eggplant flesh and discard the skins. Place the eggplant flesh into a strainer and sprinkle with salt. Let the liquids drain out for 1 hour.
- Add the drained eggplant and chili peppers to a blender or food processor and process until chunky.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan and add the onion and jalapeno peppers (and/or serrano peppers, if you're using them). Cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until everything softens up.
- Add the processed eggplant and red peppers, fresh or canned tomatoes, sunflower oil, honey (if using), and salt and pepper. Bring to a quick boil, then reduce the heat. Simmer for at least 30 minutes, or until everything breaks down and combines into a thicker spread to your preferred thickness. I like to simmer 60-90 minutes to develop more flavor. If it dries out too much, add in a few tablespoons of water.
- Remove the bay leaf and adjust for salt and pepper.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 0.25 cup, Calories 69 kcal, Carbohydrate 5 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 5 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 3 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 4 g
ROASTED EGGPLANT AND RED PEPPER GRATIN
Roasting eggplant requires less oil than frying. It is important to let the roasted eggplant and roasted peppers drain in a strainer, otherwise the gratin will be watery. I recommend roasting the vegetables several hours or a day before you wish to make this. Adding cooked rice to the mixture will result in a firmer gratin.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, lunch, main course, side dish
Time 2h30m
Yield Serves 6
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut eggplant into small dice (1/2 to 3/4 inch) and toss with salt to taste. Place in a colander in the sink and let sit for 20 minutes, then drain on paper towels and blot to remove liquid that has accumulated on the surface. Transfer to a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
- Line a baking sheet with foil and oil the foil with olive oil. Lay the diced eggplant on the foil in 1 layer. Roast in the hot oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the dice are soft when pierced with a knife and browned in spots. Remove from oven and carefully fold foil up over the eggplant slices (be careful not to burn yourself!). Crimp the edges of the foil so that eggplant is hermetically sealed in a big foil packet, and allow eggplant to steam for another 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully remove from the foil. Place in a colander or strainer set over a bowl again and allow eggplant to drain for 30 minutes, or preferably, overnight (uncovered) in the refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish or gratin. Heat remaining oil over medium heat in a medium size skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, thyme and cumin and continue to cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds to a minute, until fragrant. Remove from the heat.
- If the diced roasted peppers are very moist, drain in a strainer and then place on paper towels and blot. Whisk eggs in a large bowl. Whisk in milk and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in eggplant, roasted peppers, onion mixture, chives and parsley and combine well. Stir in cheese and optional rice and combine well. Scrape into prepared baking dish.
- Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 173, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 11 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 494 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams
ROASTED PEPPER AND EGGPLANT MARINARA
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Time 2h25m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Char the skins of sweet and hot peppers to black under a broiler with oven door slightly ajar, to prevent steam build up or place directly over stovetop flame. Cover the charred peppers and cool, peel, and seed. Reserve.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Cut head garlic to expose the cloves, dress in extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Press the garlic into the chopped rosemary and coat the cut cloves. Wrap the garlic up in foil and roast 40 to 45 minutes, until soft but still moist.
- Halve the eggplant lengthwise and brush with extra-virgin olive oil. Season the eggplant with salt and pepper and place cut-side down on baking sheet and roast to very tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Cool the eggplant until easy to handle, then scoop the flesh away from skins and add to a food processor with roasted garlic and roasted sweet and hot peppers, then puree.
- In saucepan, heat the stock and tomatoes. If the tomatoes are whole, break them up. Stir in the eggplant-pepper mixture and add basil and oregano, salt, and pepper, to taste.
- Simmer sauce to combine flavors then cool and store for make-ahead meal.
- Reheat over medium heat.
- Boil long, curly pasta in salted water to al dente, toss the pasta with sauce and serve with cheese and a sprinkle fresh parsley.
ROASTED RED BELL PEPPERS WITH EGGPLANT (FUNGHETTO)
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories side-dish
Time 50m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
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 RED PEPPER AND EGGPLANT SOUP
Categories Soup/Stew Blender Tomato Vegetable Roast Lunch Basil Leek Eggplant Bell Pepper Healthy Bon Appétit Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added
Yield Makes 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Pierce eggplants all over with fork. Transfer, cut side down, to baking sheet. Roast until tender, about 45 minutes. Cool slightly. Remove peel and discard. Cut eggplants into large pieces. Rinse eggplant pieces under running water. Drain well. Set aside.
- Char bell peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose in paper bag 10 minutes. Peel, seed and coarsely chop peppers.
- Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and leek and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Stir in eggplant, peppers, chicken stock, and tomato paste. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered until vegetables are tender, about 45 minutes. Stir in basil and thyme. Cool slightly.
- Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return soup to pot. Season with salt and pepper. Add butter and lemon juice; stir over low heat until soup is heated through, about 5 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to simmer before continuing.) Transfer to large bowl; garnish with Parmesan.
ROASTED EGGPLANT AND RED BELL PEPPER SALAD
After making revisions to an Italian recipe for antipasto, I came up with this eggplant salad dish. It is not as time intensive as it appears; many of the steps can be performed simultaneously.
Provided by cheilan
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Eggplant
Time 2h25m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly oil a foil-lined baking sheet. Place bell peppers, cut-sides down, on the baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven until beginning to char, about 45 minutes.
- While peppers roast, score eggplant flesh deeply in a diamond cross-hatch pattern with the tip of a knife. Press on the edges of the halves to open the cuts and sprinkle salt over the surface and into the cuts. Set aside, cut-sides up, for 30 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Gently squeeze the eggplant over the sink to extract the salty juice and wipe them dry with a paper towel. Brush each half with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Arrange each half, cut-side down, on the lined baking sheet.
- Remove bell peppers from the oven and cover with a dish towel. Let stand for 5 minutes. Leave the oven on.
- Roast eggplant in the preheated oven until tender, about 45 minutes. Peel, seed, and slice the peppers while eggplant is roasting.
- Whisk 3 tablespoons olive oil, balsamic, garlic, and chili sauce together in a separate bowl. Slice 4 artichoke hearts; reserve any remaining artichoke hearts for another use.
- Let eggplant cool for at least 20 minutes before handling. Turn flesh-side up. Use a kitchen knife to scrape the flesh from the skin. Divide the flesh along the score lines into cubes. Discard skin.
- Combine eggplant, bell peppers, artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl. Sprinkle with pepper. Pour dressing over vegetables and mix together. Garnish with basil leaves.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 314.6 calories, Carbohydrate 39.3 g, Fat 16.6 g, Fiber 17.4 g, Protein 7.5 g, SaturatedFat 2.3 g, Sodium 336.2 mg, Sugar 16.2 g
EGGPLANT AND RED PEPPER BAKE
Another thing to do with eggplant.
Provided by Anthony
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes Vegetarian
Time 55m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Mix red bell pepper, onion, and garlic in a large mixing bowl; season with basil, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the pepper mixture; toss to coat the vegetables evenly.
- Brush eggplant slices with olive oil to coat thinly.
- Spread about 1/3 of the pepper mixture into the bottom of a square glass baking dish; top with a layer of about 1/3 of the eggplant. Repeat layering twice more. Top final layer with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in preheated oven until the cheese is browned and the vegetables are bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 227.4 calories, Carbohydrate 11.6 g, Cholesterol 4.5 mg, Fat 19.5 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 3.4 g, SaturatedFat 3.3 g, Sodium 51.5 mg, Sugar 5.9 g
EGGPLANT AND ROASTED-PEPPER PASTA
We love the combination of smoky roasted peppers and garlicky sauteed eggplant in this pasta dish that can be served hot, warm, or at room temperature.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dinner Recipes
Time 1h
Yield Serves 4 to 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Place peppers directly over a gas flame and cook, turning occasionally, until charred all over, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; cover with plastic wrap until cool enough to handle. Rub off charred skin with a paper towel; discard. Remove and discard seeds. Cut peppers into 1/4-inch strips.
- Meanwhile, heat 1/3 cup oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add eggplants, garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt; stir to combine. Add 1/3 cup water. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally and adding more water if needed, until eggplants are very tender but still hold shape, 10 minutes. Stir in oregano; cook 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl; add peppers, remaining 1/3 cup oil, vinegar, parsley, and cheese. Let stand while cooking pasta.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta; cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup liquid, then drain. Toss pasta with eggplant mixture until fully coated (add pasta water if needed to moisten, 1/4 cup at a time). Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with parsley leaves, and serve.
GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH RED PEPPER SAUCE
Steps:
- Slice the eggplant in pieces a half an inch thick. If using the large purple variety, sprinkle with salt and allow to drain for one hour. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Meanwhile, make the red pepper sauce. Soften the onion in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the garlic, tomatoes, peppers, garlic and herb bouquet. Add 1/2 cup water, cover, and cook slowly for about 20 minutes, or until the peppers are soft. Remove the herb bouquet and puree the peppers in a food processor until smooth. Cool to room temperature and correct seasoning.
- Preheat coals. Brush the eggplant slices with remaining olive oil and grill until charred. Arrange on a long serving dish in one or two rows, season with pepper to taste and pour the sauce along the middle of the slices. Sprinkle with basil and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 219, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 15 grams, Fat 18 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 620 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams
OVEN ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER AND EGGPLANT
Make and share this Oven Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Eggplant recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Girl from India
Categories Vegetable
Time 20m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 200C.
- Arrange the wedges of the eggplant and the red pepper in a baking pan. (A large pan is preferable to facilitate even cooking.)
- Drizzle the oil and sprinkle the seasonings over the vegetables.
- Roast in the oven for around 15 mins (turn with a spatula now and then) until the vegetables are brown around the edges.
- Sprinkle the fresh herbs if you are using them.
- Serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 78.4, Fat 3.8, SaturatedFat 0.6, Sodium 4, Carbohydrate 11.4, Fiber 5.9, Sugar 5.7, Protein 2
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