I’m always trying to find new ways to use eggplant and in keeping with my motto of eating with the seasons, I thought I’d play around and see what appeased my discriminating palate. While ratatouille isn’t original, I have added just about everything from the farmers’ market (save the fruit) and cooked up two variations.

Ratatouille over Polenta

And now to mention the nutritional bennies eggplant contains: it is heart healthy, high in potassium, vitamins A, C, and B complex.  It’s also a good source of fiber and is low in calories (just 28 in 1 cup.)  I guess because eggplant seems more substantial, I would have thought that number to be higher – but that’s what makes it an ideal food for weight control.

So here’s my version of this late summer dish using those yummy tomatoes we just canned and roasted:

If you have time, sprinkle the eggplant with salt once sliced to extract some of its bitterness.  I made dishes with both soft rosemary polenta , and baked over farro pasta.

Ratatouille over Farro

(like rigatoni – only whole grain)

Ratatouille – Serves 6

2 yellow onions, diced
2 cans diced tomatoes (14 oz. ea.)
2 cups roasted tomatoes
1 medium eggplant, sliced
2 zucchini or yellow squash, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced and seeded
1 medium fennel bulb, sliced
Fresh oregano and sage or dried Italian herbs
Olive oil
Red wine vinegar
A big wedge of Parmesan or Pecorino cheese

Preheat grill. Brush eggplant, fennel, pepper and squash with olive oil and sea salt.  Grill to desired texture and set aside.  Chop once cool.
Sweat onions in olive oil, lightly salted.  Allow to cook until soft, no color. Deglaze pan with small amount of vinegar and reduce until pan is dry.  Add canned tomatoes and allow to cook until juices reduce, forming stew-like consistency.  Add herbs and season to taste.  Combine with all tomatoes and grilled veggies.

Serve over soft polenta or whole grain pasta (photo below) and top with freshly grated cheese.

It seems we wait all year for just the right time to pluck those ruby red and yellow globes from our gardens or farm stands, and then all too soon they are gone.  Goodness knows we don’t want to then depend on the grocery store for a new supply, because we are all about seasonal produce.  Do you really need a flavorless tomato in January from Chile? Methinks no.

So in the interest of preserving the fullest flavors possible from this great source of lycopene and vitamin C, I have immersed myself in the kitchen canning and roasting tomatoes for sauces and stews in the months ahead.  It’s also therapeutic and economical.

This is the first of a three-part series on prepping tomatoes for future use, and recipes to enjoy today. Its not too late to grab the last of San Marzanos, Romas or plum tomatoes from the farmers’ markets.  And they’re at a great price now. YUM.

Roasting Tomatoes

Preheat oven to 300. Cut tomatoes in half and remove seeds.  Put in bowl, drizzle with olive oil and toss with sea salt, garlic powder and fresh ground pepper to taste.  Be careful not to overdo the salt, as they become pretty concentrated when roasted.

Place cut-side up on cookie sheet or roasting pan lined with parchment.  Bake for two hours or until tomatoes are about half their original size.  You might want to check on them after 60 minutes to make sure the outer ones don’t burn.

Once cooled, you can either store them in the refrigerator in oil, or vacuum seal them and stash in the freezer.  When ready to use, add fresh garlic and herbs, and whatever meat source you desire.

Next up: late summer dishes using…uh, tomatoes!

Like many people, I subscribe to several blogs and every now and then, I actually read them:) OK seriously, I do, and today I’d like to share one of my favorites: The Daily Green.  It covers a range of my favorite topics – food, the environment, green issues, and recipes – everything except pets (a future blog.)  Inside today’s edition there’s a quiz for my fellow devotees committed to living green and ingesting organic. It tests your knowledge on a variety of food sources and briefly touches on the Slow Food movement. Even if you’re inching your way towards sustainable food (bravo!) I think you’ll find it educational and hopefully inspiring.  Afterall, that’s why we do this.  It’s delicious fun!

Cranberry beans are gorgeous for their color alone, but they also have a wonderful texture which is somewhat creamy beneath a hearty skin.  And they’re fresh right now at your local farmers’ markets. Steve Sando pairs them with my favorite green – kale- another super food, loaded with calcium and anti-oxidants from vitamins A and C.  Serve this as an appetizer or light lunch with soup or salad.

3 TB extra virgin olive oil

1/3 C chopped white or yellow onion

3 garlic cloves

1/8 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary

1 1/2 C cooked cranberry beans

2 bunches kale, tough stems removed, coarsely chopped

1/2-inch-thick slices crusty artisan bread

Grated pecorino romano cheese

Preheat oven to 400.

In large, heavy skillet over medium heat, warm 1 TB of olive oil.  Add onion, one garlic clove and rosemary. Saute until soft and fragrant, about 10 minutes.

Put sauteed vegetables and beans in food processor and blend until smooth.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Put the bean puree in a small skillet and warm over low heat.  You will have about 2 cups.

In same skillet you used for onions, etc. warm the remaining 2 TB olive oil over medium heat.  Add remaining garlic and saute for about 10 minutes.  Do not allow the garlic to brown.  Add kale and stir until it begins to wilt.  Partially cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until kale is tender – about 8-10 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.

Brush bread slices with olive oil.  Arrange on baking sheet and toast in oven until crisp, about 7 minutes.  Spread bean mixture over toasted bread and top with kale. Sprinkle with cheese and serve on a platter.

Serves 4-6

Recipe borrowed from “Heirloom Beans”