Eggplant and Potato Galette (serve 2-4)
It’s been a long and tortured winter, but today (April 2nd) we are blessed with a glorious 66 degrees and sunshine. And not one moment too soon! The upright freezer is down to about two dozen pesto cubes and four pints of homemade “convenience” foods from last year’s garden (see below). Will and I are both itching to start plant this year’s harvest. Past experience has taught us that mid-May is the earliest we dare try, so waiting requires enormous self-control.
So, tonight I am using the last jar of caponata to perform some culinary sympathetic magic eggplant and potato galette. Along with the first outdoor cocktail hour of 2014, it is FABULOUS! ~ Glyn
Eggplant and Potato Galette
2 baking potatoes
2 tbsp. olive oil
¼ tsp. each onion and garlic powder
2 c (1 pint) Caponato (below)
Heat the oven to 350. Place half the olive oil in a nonstick, lidded, ovenproof casserole.
Slice the potatoes thinly and use half to cover the bottom of the casserole. Season generously with onion powder, garlic powder, salt and crushed red pepper.
Spread the Caponato over the slices potatoes.
Top with the remaining sliced potatoes. Brush with the remaining olive oil and season with the onion powder, garlic powder, salt and crushed pepper.
Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the lid, raise the temperature to 400 and bake an additional 15 minutes or until the potatoes on top are browned and crusty.
Serve with a salad of onion, tomato, and coriander.
Caponata (Eggplant Salad) makes 4 pints
½ c olive oil
6 c peeled cubed eggplant
1 medium onion, small dice
2 c diced celery
1 c chopped sweet and/or frying peppers
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 c chopped mushrooms
6 c peeled, seeded and diced and drained tomatoes
¼ c chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tbs dried)
¼ c fresh basil, chopped
1 tbs fresh oregano, chopped
½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp ground pepper
¼ -½ c red balsamic vinegar
1 tbs capers, rinsed and drained
In the olive oil, in a very large, deep skillet or saucepan, saute the first six ingredients.
Add the tomatoes, basil, oregano, parsley, salt and pepper and simmer until veggies are just cooked and sauce is slightly thickened (20 minutes). Add the capers and ¼ c vinegar. Add additional vinegar to taste. Adjust the seasoning. Place into prepared pint jars and either process in a canner or refrigerate for use within a week.
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