Veggie Napoleon

September 20, 2012 by 20 Comments
This is a savory version of a napoleon, layers and layers of your favorite vegetables all perched on top of a sturdy portobello base. These pretty bundles are the perfect side dish to any protein you make or a straight up main course served together with a salad.
This dish was inspired by something my sister in law ordered while on vacation, her portobello was filled with Yukon gold potatoes, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers and parmesan cheese.

I wanted to incorporate some autumn vegetables on mine so I added sliced sweet potatoes, kale and some nice fresh green beans I found.
Everything is precooked before you layer, I steamed the green beans and sauteed the kale but roasted everything else you see here, the eggplant, red and yellow peppers, the sweet potatoes and the onion slices all tossed with a little olive oil and placed in a 400 degree oven until golden and tender.

The portobellos, (I bought large ones) were scraped of their gills ( to give you lots of room for layering) and roasted for only 10 minutes along with everything else just to get them a little tender.
Then just start layering! In between the layers you want add some grated cheese that melts good like fontina or mozzarella, it sort of “glues” the veggies together so that when you cut into bundle, ( with a serrated knife please) they won’t fall apart.
Place them back in the oven for a couple of minutes just to let the cheese melt in between.
I think I was getting  a little over zealous here stacking them too high with too many layers in the beginning, I tend to over due it, just ask my kids!
 So I ended up making mine a little more compact with not quite as many layers as above but always ending with the sweet potato slices on top.
 Place your finished veggie napoleon in a nice big puddle of marinara and sprinkle with more cheese, delish!
Get creative here, the various veggie combinations are endless!! 

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20 Comments Filed Under: Side Dishes, Vegetables Tagged: , , , , ,

Faux Spaghetti

January 9, 2012 by 31 Comments
If you’re going easy on the carbs right now but have a craving for spaghetti, I have the perfect solution for you!
 Al’ dente strands of julienned zucchini tossed with roasted veggies of your choice flavored with shaved garlic, olive oil, basil, red pepper flakes and generous amounts of grated romano cheese.

You’ll love the flavor and texture and even if you’re not watching your carbs it can be the perfect meatless meal along with a salad.
I love my handy julienne slicer it works so fast, before you know it you’ll have a pile of zucchini “pasta” right before your eyes, just work the sides and when you reach the seeds, give it a turn.
 The core of the zucchini will be left which I then dice and roast up for future use.
I roasted two different color cauliflower for mine and added some cherry tomatoes, next time I’ll roast those too, I forgot, but it didn’t matter, it was so yummy anyway!
Here’s what you do:

First, roast off the veggies of your choice in a 425 degree oven tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper, then set aside.
Have your zucchini “pasta” all ready to go then heat up a large saute pan drizzled with olive oil, add shaved garlic and red pepper flakes, saute until garlic is light golden. Next, add zucchini and cook for only about 2 minutes tossing with some tongs just until wilted and still al’ dente. Remove pan from heat, add the roasted veggies, fresh basil, lots of grated romano cheese and of course another drizzle of olive oil!

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31 Comments Filed Under: Vegetables Tagged: , , , ,

Eggplant Ricotta Bake

January 2, 2009 by 59 Comments

If your looking to lighten it up after all that heavy food you’ve had lately, don’t leave! This is not your typical “Eggplant Parmigiana” Nothing breaded or fried here!! Not even mozzarella is in here! Really, trust me!

What you have instead is eggplant slices that are roasted in a hot oven, layered with a light marinara sauce, and then finished off with a very light, almost custard like, basil, cheese flavored ricotta.

The flavor of the eggplant intensifies from roasting it, and that, along with the other ingredients, gives you an end result that melts in your mouth!! You actually feel good after eating this, it’s not heavy at all. Serve a salad on the side, and you’re good to go!!


INGREDIENTS:
recipe addapted from Everyday Food
2 Large Eggplants sliced lengthwise 3/4″ thick.. Leave skin on
1LB. Ricotta
3 Eggs
1 Cup Grated Romano
Fresh Chopped Basil
About 2 Cups Marinara Sauce
Olive Oil to Brush On, along with, Salt & Pepper

1*** Preheat oven to 450F. Brush both sides of the eggplant slices with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast till tender and golden, about 20-30 minutes.
2*** In a bowl, whisk ricotta, eggs, 1/2 cup of the Romano cheese, fresh basil, salt and pepper.
3*** Brush the bottom and the sides of an 8×8″ square casserole dish. Place 1/4 of the roasted eggplant down, spread with marinara, more eggplant, half of the ricotta mixture, repeat everything ending with ricotta on top. Spread remaining Romano over top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes.
It’s important to let it cool for about 15 minutes so that everything sets and it’s not runny.

Note: I doubled the recipe and put it in a 9×12 baking dish, adding more basil and cheese. I really don’t measure those things.

Buon Appetito!!
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59 Comments Filed Under: Vegetables Tagged: , ,