A NY Foodgasm Quickie: Roasted Garlic Eggplant

Take regular roasted eggplant to the next level with the magic of garlic. This eggplant can stand alone as a side, main part of the dish or can be used on a panini.

So here is something you should know about me, I leap without looking most of the time. Like I would be making shit up as I went along in the kitchen, while that is sometimes fun I realize I really don't know enough about technique to be free-ballin' in the kitchen. So I used to just figure out temperatures on gut instinct. Well now-a-days people actually make my recipes so I have figured out to google proper technique.

When doing such research for roasting vegetables in the best way possible, I stumbled across a Mario Batali recipe for eggplant roasted with garlic. Of course I had a spark and NEEDED to try it STAT! Mario's recipe has a lot more oil, so I dialed it down a bit for you guys! I wanted all that magical garlic FLAVA without a bajillion grams of fat. At least in this case it is good fat from EVOO.

What you need

1 large eggplant, sliced vertically
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and pepper

How to make it

1- Preheat oven to 450º
2- Mix together olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.
3- Brush on both sides of eggplant.
4- Place on foil lined baking pan.
5- Roast for 10 minutes on each side.

Roasted Vegetable Polenta Lasagna

A creative vegetarian twist on lasagna with freshly roasted eggplant and a simple homemade marinara.

If you follow me on Facebook you will know I asked what you guys wanted for a recipe this week and this dish won! Roasted Vegetable Polenta Lasagna, yeah it is as awesome as it sounds. You got your basic food groups: grains, veggies and cheeeeeeese! What would lasagna be without cheese? Why can't I quit you cheese?

THIS is why I run! Cheese and beer!

Roasted Vegetable Pizza

Vegetables remind you of Spring right?! Spring is looooong overdue here in NY and I needed some Spring inspiration mixed with a heartier cold weather food. So this pizza is just what I needed. I am sure I have told you about the magic of roasted vegetables- they are so so sweet. Some of you may be like a 2 year old and pouting with your arms crossed and your face all scrunched up saying, "Ewwwww." Well don't be a baby and put them arms down. Have I ever really steered you wrong? The magic of roasting vegetables is the flavor it adds! As the water inside the veggies evaporates out, the flavor and sugars get concentrated- similar to how caramelizing onions makes them sweeter.

So the reason this roasted vegetable pizza was born was necessity. My husband and I are trying to eat less meat. Not necessarily become vegetarian, but just cut down on animal proteins. We all have our own reasons and I don't wanna convince you this is what you must do. We all walk our own road. But since I have been blogging about food, I have learned more about all things food. Meat in this country is mass produced, has all sorts of hormones and antibiotics and I am sure you can imagine the animals are not treated too well. I was blissfully ignorant. Ignorance is not bad, I didn't wanna know. So I want to try my best to eat farm raised meat when I can and cut back in general. I just want to share with all of you since you all read this blog. This is something I am trying out and trying on for size.

Totally Roasted Eggplant Rollatini

Why is this a Foodgasm?

You may remember, not too long ago, that I made Totally Roasted Eggplant Parmesan. Well I had one more large eggplant from the garden, a straggler. So what do you think I did? I took this classic to the very next level by roasting the eggplant and making Eggplant Rollatini! That would mean that I roasted some gorgeous eggplant spooned in a cheesy magical mixture rolled it up and covered them is some lovely roasted tomatoes.

This is a beautiful and rustic looking Italian dish. It looks more rustic and beautiful than the fried version. So you not only get a prettier plate, but you are saying bye-bye to all the calories and fat involved in frying!

Win-win guys- total win win. That is what I am all about!

Totally Roasted Eggplant Parmesan

Why is this a Foodgasm?

Once again I am focusing on the simple pleasures in life. You know, those comfort classics that make you feel happy and all snuggley when you had a bad day? We all gravitate to them for several reasons. For me I am half Italian, so this sort of food was always around since my childhood. Eggplant Parmesan makes me think of this simpler time. That time where there was no mortgage or bills and someone else worried about all the day to day needs of my life. It is also incredibly delicious with that perfect balance of acidic from the marinara and the creamy and salty base of the cheese, especially the fresh mozzarella.

Comfort your taste buds without the guilt of breaded fried eggplant cutlets. I just sliced, salted and roasted my eggplant and it had so much rich flavor! Why cover it up with breading? Why add all the fat of frying when you can bring out the natural sweetness of eggplant!

The eggplant and everything in this recipe was actually locally grown and roasted in the oven. See the picture from my farmer's market post, those were some big eggplants for a buck! From the garlic to the eggplant everything was roasted to bring out the natural sugars present in everything- aka making magic happen in your mouth!

Totally Roasted Marinara

Why is this a Foodgasm?

Sometimes you have to go back to the basics and back to your roots. I was really feeling my Italian roots and I know my favorite chef Fabio Viviani would approve of this one! This recipe is a different way to get that slow cooked marinara flavor with less stove babysitting. What's an easier way to make a magically foodgasmic marinara than to throw a bunch of ingredients in the oven for about 40 minutes and throwing it all into a food processor? Then it's done! Simple! Not to mention slow roasting anything brings out the sugars and then the yum!

I saw a similar idea on some other blogs and I decided to try it myself and I am soooo glad I did! This was time consuming in the roasting but the prep is minimal. I roasted all the classic ingredients for a marinara, but used cherry tomatoes for a little extra sweet punch. To add to the ease of this recipe I lined my baking pans with non stick aluminum foil for easy clean up! My husband appreciated this since he usually does the dishes!

This is also incredibly healthy and local! I used cherry tomatoes from my own co-op garden with my neighbors and from the farmer's market. Using very little EVOO this recipe is very low in fat, but VERY high in flavor.

Great South Bay Blood Orange Pale Ale Chicken with Lemon Roasted Potatoes

 

Why is this a Foodgasm?

I took a different approach with this recipe...I let the beer decide what it wanted to be. I started with a local fave Great South Bay's Blood Orange Pale Ale. With this beer it has been love at first sip- crisp, light, just the right amount of orange flavor and so easy to drink! I wanted to make sure to get in some of my awesome local long island beer. I love the local craft beer scene. Immediately I thought orange chicken, kinda like the one you get from a Chinese place, but healthier and with local craft beer twist (seriously is there anything better??). 

I knew this recipe needed to happen, but how did I execute it. So I kinda went the route of Chicken Fracaise, but made a beer reduction syrup with this. The results were AMAZING! Sweet, but not syrupy sweet and it was light. It paired perfectly with these easy lemon roasted potatoes! You must try this recipe and please do try and get your hands on this beer- you will not be disappointed!

Roasted Sangria Pork Loin with Rosemary and Lemon

 

Why is this a Foodgasm? Mmmm Mmmm Pork add in some Sangria reduction a little lemon and rosemary and you got something amazingly sweet savory and succulent! It is so tender and sweet you will think it should be illegal!

This is a 4 point foodgasm (per 3 oz. of pork)

Roasted Vegetables and Sausage with Herbs and Balsamic Vinegar- Augmented Pinterest Recipe

Why is this a Foodgasm?

So many beautiful flavors play together- sweet, salty and savory. Fresh fennel bulb, red onions, peppers are not only a feast for the eyes, they have magic....delicious magic!

This is a 6 point foodgasm! (Recipe yields 7 servings)