Roasted Eggplant Strips with Cilantro-Yogurt Sauce and Cilantro-Olive Gremolata

Eggplant is one of my favorite vegetables and roasting or grilling strips of it is one of the tastiest way to make it.  And definitely the quickest.  

Some people say they don't like eggplant.  My guess is that a lot of them just haven't had it cooked right.  The first time I had eggplant was as a child in a casserole, and it was not cooked enough.  And eggplant when it's not cooked enough is not very tasty, no matter what it's got going on for seasoning. 

Cutting the eggplant into fairly thin strips keeps the cooking time low, and takes away some of that "eggplanty" texture that eggplant haters don't like.  

I most often roast the eggplant in the oven, because I often don't have access to a grill, or if I do, the weather is not grill weather.  If you do have a grill and the weather isn't frightening, cut the strips the same way and grill over medium-high until tender.  If you are really short on time (or patience) you can broil the strips in the oven in under ten minutes- just keep a close eye, or you'll end up with charcoal.

Once roasted or grilled, the eggplant makes a great topper for pizza or salad, and is also great just by itself.  Or, you can fancy it up with a couple of delicious sauces like I did here.  I use cilantro in both of my sauces because I happened to have half of a bunch leftover.  I think it worked really well, but if you're not a cilantro fan, or you have half of a bunch of parsley instead, that would be a great substitute.

What you need for the eggplant:

4 small eggplant, or two medium/large

Olive oil spray or olive oil

Salt 

Pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  Slice the eggplant into ~1/4 inch thick strips or rounds. Lightly spray two baking sheets with olive oil.  Arrange the eggplant slices in a single layer on the baking sheets so that they are not overlapping.  Touching is perfectly fine.  Spray or brush with olive oil.  Season lightly with salt and pepper.  Roast for 20-30 minutes, switching the pans halfway through.  Cooking time will vary based on how thin your strips are.  The eggplant is ready when it is soft and lightly browned.

Serve with the Cilantro Yogurt Sauce and/or the Cilantro-Olive Gremolata.  I placed a small spoonful of the sauce on each strip of eggplant and then rolled them up to eat.  You could spread the sauce across and use a knife if you want to keep your hands clean. 

Enjoy!

What you need for the Cilantro Yogurt Sauce:

1 cup Greek yogurt (2-4% is best, but you can use fat free if you wish)

~1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Mix together all ingredients.  Let sit for at least 20 minutes to let flavors meld.

What you need for the Cilantro-Olive Gremolata:

~2/3 cup chopped cilantro

1/4 cup chopped green olives (I used the ones with pimientos)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1-2 teaspoons lemon juice

1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 garlic cloves, minced

Black pepper and sea salt to taste

Mix together all ingredients.  Let sit for at least 20 minutes to let flavors meld.

"Broccomole" (Creamy Broccoli Dip)

I saw a recipe for this on Pinterest and immediately went to boil some broccoli (which I conveniently had on hand and wanted to use up)  You can look at the original recipe here.  What a great idea! I changed it up a little to make it imitate my regular guacamole recipe a bit more.  It was quite tasty and I'll definitely be making more broccoli dips in the future- I'm thinking Italian-themed might be next.

What you need:

4 cups fresh Broccoli, cut into chunks
2 teaspoons Olive Oil
6 ounces fat-free Cream Cheese (or Greek yogurt)
2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
1-2 Garlic cloves
1-2 tablespoons Onion, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh Cilantro
1-2 teaspoons Chili Powder

Boil the broccoli in a large pot of lightly salted water until very tender (think the overcooked mush that is a bit appealing at the dinner table).  Drain and place in blender or food processor.  Add the rest of the ingredients and puree.  Enjoy with dippers of choice.

*After eating a good bit of this, I had the idea to stir in a bit of store bought salsa (mine was mango habanero) to add a little kick... delicious!

Pizza Hummus

After making my Pizza Dip for the first time a few weeks ago, I'm been on a major pizza-y dip kick. And now that there is no more cottage cheese to buy here for the time being (oh, the woes of Saba), I tried using chickpeas to make a pizza-y dip instead.  And then I made it again, and again. Yep, it worked well.

Every time I've made these dips (both the cottage cheese one and this hummus version here), I change things up a bit depending on my mood, my time commitment, and what ingredients I have on hand.  Below is a basic recipe with various add-in options listed.

You could even make a pizza using this dip as the sauce- it would work wonderfully for a vegan pizza as long you left out the cheese and pepperoni, of course.  I've also spread it on a baked portobello mushroom (similar to this here) for a light lunch.  Or just dip with veggies or crackers or chips or whatever you like.  Or make a "pizza" out of the dip: make a basic version of this, spread it in your serving dish and top with layers of other pizza-y ingredients (olives, chopped tomato, artichoke, pesto, cheese, etc).  However you decide to use this stuff, I'm sure it'll be a hit.

What You Definitely Need:

1 can of Chickpeas (14-19 ounces, doesn't really matter)

2-4 fresh Garlic Cloves (or a head of roasted garlic)

1 teaspoon Lemon Juice

1-2 teaspoons Red Wine Vinegar

Olive Oil/Broth/Water

1/2 cup Pizza sauce/ Marinara sauce/ Pasta sauce (some sort of tomato sauce that is pre-spiced- if you use plain canned tomatoes, you'll need to make sure to add extra spice)

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Italian Seasoning, to taste

And What Would be Great to Add:

1/2 cup roasted Eggplant, skin removed

1/2 cup canned Artichoke in brine, drained

2-3 tablespoons good quality Parmesan Cheese

1/4 cup "Broiled Pepperoni" slices (or regular, but if you broil it for a few minutes first, you can drain out the grease and it also becomes a little crispy)

1/4 cup Sun-dried Tomatoes

handful of Arugula 

Red Pepper Flakes

Just blend everything in the blender, adding your olive oil and other liquids as needed.  I start with a little olive oil and then add either water or broth to cut down a bit on the calories.  Just olive oil would be fine, of course.

Experiment and Enjoy!

Baba Ghanoush with Artichoke

This isn't the most authentic baba ghanoush recipe, but it is pretty darn good.  In fact, I think it is the best baba ghanoush I've ever made (good enough that after making it the first time, I made it again two days later).  The boyfriend gave his stamp of approval as well.  

The main differences from traditional baba ghanoush are the addition of artichokes and omission of tahini.  Both changes were circumstantial- I wanted to add a little more bulk to it and happened to have an open can of artichokes, and there is no more tahini in the grocery stores on Saba for the time being- and I'm glad that circumstances were what they were.  This is delicious! 

What you need:

1 medium/large Eggplant

Salt

1 head of Garlic

1-2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 cup artichoke hearts, canned in brine

Olive oil

Start by roasting the eggplant and garlic:  You can either roast the eggplant whole or cut it in half.  If whole, poke a few holes in it with a fork.  If cut in half, spray with olive oil and roast cut side down on a baking sheet.  Roast at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on size of eggplant and whether or not you cut it in half.  The flesh should be VERY soft and smushy.  You can roast the garlic right along with the eggplant: cut off the top of the head to expose the tips of the cloves.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.  Roast for 30 minutes.  

Allow the eggplant and garlic to cool.  Scrape the flesh (including the seeds) away from the skin.  Discard skin.  Remove garlic cloves from their papery covering.  Add eggplant, garlic, lemon juice, and artichoke to a blender or food processor.  Add a little water (or the brine from the artichoke) and a drizzle of olive oil.  Pulse to begin blending it.  Add more oil and water (or just oil, but I like to add some water to cut calories) until it can be fully blended.  Season with salt.

Healthy Pizza Dip

Dip is awesome.  There are endless possibilities of types to make and types of things to dip.

It's always fun to eat (finger food = awesome.  In fact, I like to make many non-finger foods into finger foods as well).

And it can be super healthy or super indulgent, depending on your mood/ lifestyle/ how many drinks you've had.

This particular dip (while not super-photogenic) is really pretty healthy, especially if you use vegetable dippers.  (Though I did just try it with a bagel chip and that might have to triumph over veggies at the moment)  I also made some roasted baby carrots as another dipping option.

What you need:

1 cup low fat cottage cheese (I used 1 %)
1-2 teaspoons olive oil
15 thin slices of "de-fatted" pepperoni (see below)
2 whole heads roasted garlic
3-4 tablespoons fat-free Greek yogurt
1/3 cup canned artichokes (if using oil packed, omit that olive oil above)
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (again, if using oil packed, omit that olive oil above)
2-3 anchovies
Splash of red wine vinegar
2-3 tablespoons grated good-quality Parmesan cheese
Spices: Season-All, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, and black pepper, to taste (this is what I had, Italian seasoning would be a good substitute for the Season-All if you have it)

To "de-fat" your pepperoni (this step also makes it crispy and probably better for the dip):

Place pepperoni slices in a single layer across a baking sheet or toaster oven pan.  Broil on high for 5-10 minutes, or until pieces have shrunk substantially but not burnt.  Drain fat and sop up the rest from the slices with a paper towel.

For the rest of the dip:
Blend everything in food processor or blender.  Let sit for half an hour or so in the frig.  Serve with dippers of choice, such as:

• Cucumber slices
• Red bell pepper slices
• Roasted cauliflower or broccoli florets
• Baby carrots, raw or roasted
• Bagel or pita chips
• Toasted baguette slices

Swiss and Gouda Fondue

My family always had fondue every year for New Year's Eve.  Cheese fondue first, then meat fried in oil, and then chocolate.  It was a lovely tradition, and very exciting every year as a kid.  And so special, because I really can't think of any other time I've had fondue.  All seven of us (plus boyfriends and girlfriends at times) would huddle around the table, eagerly dipping and frying, making sure to get our share.  

I don't actually have a fondue pot at the moment, nor any extension cords which would allow me to use my crockpot.  However, I made this cheese fondue on the stove and just served it into a cup for my Rob and I to dip out of, and that worked just fine.  If you have a fondue pot, use it, or try this out as a crockpot recipe. Otherwise, just do it in a pot, and I'm sure no one will complain.

I served this with beet chips and pita chips (oh, and a few slices of bacon that I was demanded to fry up... personally, I prefered the beet chips).  Chunks of lightly toasted bread or sliced apples would also work well.

What you need:

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 small onion, finely diced

5-6 cloves of garlic, finely diced

3-4 button mushrooms, finely diced

1-11/2 cups dry white wine

1/2 pound EACH gouda and swiss cheese

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon Hennessy (or other whiskey... or maybe just some chicken broth... I just used the Hennessy because it was sitting on the counter from making a drink and I remembered that some fondue recipes I had looked at had the cornstarch mixed with some sort of alcohol)

Black pepper

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Heat medium pot over medium-low heat.  Melt butter in pot and add the onion and garlic.  Cook until beginning to soften.  Add mushroom.  Cook until softened.  Add white wine and heat until simmering.  Add the cheeses and stir until melted.  Whisk together cornstarch and Hennessy.  Add to cheese mixture.  Stir in a bit of pepper and the lemon juice.  Done!

Enjoy!

Carrot-Sweet Potato Hummus

I made this using some of the leftovers from yesterday's Carrot-Sweet Potato Puree.  Tastes mostly like the regular hummus I make, with a little extra flavor.  Though that might be due to the slightly disgusting amounts of raw garlic I put in it... it's hard to taste too much of.  Anyway, it's delicious.  I also added a little tapenade-like topping for extra pizzazz, but you can skip it if you don't feel like it.  It's pretty intense, what with the extra raw garlic and red pepper flakes.  But I think it's delicious.

What you need:

1 cup Carrot-Sweet Potato Puree (or just roast enough sweet potatoes or carrots to make a cup and add those in with a little extra liquid)

1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 head of garlic, peeled and roughly chopped (or just a few cloves- the raw garlic flavor it pretty intense, so if you don't support a pretty passionate love affair with garlic, reduce it)

1-2 tablespoons lemon juice

3-4 tablespoons tahini

1-2 teaspoons chili oil

pinch of salt

1 tablespoon fat-free italian dressing (or just add olive oil... I'm just trying to cut back a bit on the calories and this works well for me)

Simply put everything into the blender or food processor and puree.  In the blender, you'll definitely have to stir it around a few times to get everything to blend.  If it still isn't working, add a little more italian dressing or olive oil.  Refrigerate for at least an hour to let it firm up and allow the flavors to meld a bit.  Top with my tapenade-y stuff (recipe below) or just leave it plain.  Enjoy!

Oh, and try making some Veggie Chips to dip with.  Awesome.  Or stick with baby carrots, cucumber slices, or the chips of your choice.

"TAPENADE" TOPPING:

Chop the following finely and mix together along with 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil and a pinch of salt:

2-3 tablespoon pecans, toasted

4-6 cloves of garlic

scant 1/4 cup dried tomatoes

2 tablespoons green olives

up to 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes

Taco Casserole or Dip

This a great weeknight dinner- it's pretty quick and could also be made ahead of time and then baked when you need it.  It would also make good party food or could be used as a hearty appetizer.

What you need:

1 pound lean ground beef (or if you are like me and on an island where you can't get lean ground beef, see my tips on de-fatting below)

1 medium onion, chopped into small pieces

2 stalks of celery

1 red bell pepper

4-5 pickled serrano or jalapeno peppers

1/2 medium zucchini

1 packet taco seasoning (I used a hot and spicy kind)

2-3 teaspoons soy sauce

2-3 fresh tomatoes

1 tablespoon garlic powder (or less if you're not a garlic person)

1 cup of your favorite salsa

3/4 cup taco sauce

1 can refried beans (I used a can of low fat refried black beans this time around)

1 cup shredded cheese (a mixture of cheddar and monterey jack is good)
Tortilla chips, for dipping

Salsa, guacamole, sour cream

Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat.  Once it is cooked through, add the onion, celery, bell pepper, serrano peppers, zucchini, taco seasoning, and soy sauce.  Cook, stirring frequently, for 3-4 minutes.  Add the tomatoes, garlic, salsa, and taco sauce.  Continue to cook, stirring occasionally  until all vegetables are cooked and the sauce is thick, between 5-10 minutes.   While this is cooking, spread the black beans in a 9x9 inch pan.  Pour beef and vegetable mixture over the beans.  Sprinkle with the cheese.  Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and LIGHTLY browned on top.

Serve with tortilla chips and your favorite taco additions, such as salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.  Or skip the chips and just use a fork.  It works well too.

GETTING RID OF THE GREASE:

If using fatty ground beef (the stuff we have here is 20 % fat), try this:  Line a largish bowl with a thick layer of paper towels- I use 8 or 9, folded on top of one another.  After the beef has cooked, dump it into this bowl and wrap the edges of the paper towels up around it.  Place a few more paper towels on top.  Now squeeze the fat out!  The beef is going to be pretty hot, so you could try wearing gloves or using a spatula to help you (though I generally just go for it and I haven't suffered any major burns yet).  Once the first set of paper towels is soaked through, repeat with another, and that should do it.  It's actually pretty satisfying to see how much fat you get out and kinda makes me want to keep buying fatty beef even when I someday don't have to.  

Favorite Low-fat Dip

In my opinion, this goes great with everything.  My favorite use of it is with roasted veggie chips, but regular chips also work, or roasted romaine lettuce, or on top of chicken, or by the spoonful...  It's delicious and really pretty healthy.  I make slightly different versions of it all of the time, but what I'm listing below is pretty typical.  Feel feel to try your own experiments by adding a little mustard, a splash or lemon juice, chopped artichokes, olives, or some different veggies sauteed with the bacon.

What you need:

1 packet Lipton Vegetable Dip/Soup Mix

2 cups lowfat or fat free plain yogurt

4 ounces fat free cream cheese 

1/4 cup light mayonnaise

Olive oil spray 

3-4 slices turkey bacon, chopped into small bits

1 leek, sliced thinly (I've also substituted a little onion for this, and have also added in celery and/or mushroom at the point I add the leek)

3/4 cup frozen spinach

1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes 

Black pepper

Garlic Powder

Season-all 

Mix together the dip/soup mix, yogurt, cream cheese, and mayonnaise.  Spray a saucepan with a little olive oil, heat to medium, and saute the turkey bacon until it just begins to brown.  Add the leeks (and other veggies if you are doing so) and saute until slightly softened and browned.  Add in a little season-all (seasoned salt) and the spinach.  Stir around until the spinach thaws.  Let cool for a few minutes and then add this to the yogurt/cream cheese/mayo mix.  Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes.  Season to taste with the pepper and garlic powder.  Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.  Enjoy!

Garlicky Hummus

A tasty hummus recipe that's easy to whip up in your blender or food processor. Bonus: WAY cheaper than store bought and yummier too!

What you need:

2 heads of garlic, roasted (you can reduce this if you aren't a huge garlic lover, but roasting makes the flavor much more mild, so it isn't quite as excessive as it seems)

         NOTE: To roast, simply snip off the very top of the heads to slightly reveal the cloves within.  Drizzle or spray with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes, or until completely softened.

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2-3 tablespoons tahini

1 Tablespoon olive oil

Small handful sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

1 jalapeno, chopped

Salt and Pepper, to taste

1/2-1 teaspoon cumin

2 teaspoons garlic powder 

Water (or more oil)

Add chickpeas, garlic, tahini, olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, jalapeno, salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic powder to blender or food processor.  Drizzle in the water (or olive oil, for a more traditional, but fattier recipe) until it blends smoothly but is still thick.

I served it with a big dollop of chile garlic hot pepper sauce in the center.  Try the same yourself or enjoy how it it is with some chips, bread, or baby carrots and cucumber if you're like me!

"Gourmet" Herb Dipping Oil

A lovely oil for bread-dipping.

What you need:
1/2-2/3 cup Olive Oil
1-2 Tablespoons EACH chopped fresh basil, parsley, rosemary, oregano (vary this depending on how much you like each herb.  You can also use dried, just reduce to 1-2 teaspoons)
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small hot pepper, cut into slices (I used a red one for the color contrast)
Large pinch of Kosher salt
Large pinch of Black Pepper

Sprinkle herbs, garlic, salt, and pepper into a smallish shallow bowl.  Place pepper slices on top- evenly districbute for nice presentation.  Pour olive oil over the top and let meld for an hour or so before serving.  Enjoy!  Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.