Tomato Eggplant Spread and Parmesan Toasts
- For Parmesan toasts
- 1 baguette (about 15 inches long), cut diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 1 ounce)
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 firm eggplant (about 11/4 pounds), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, 1 chopped and mashed to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 minced
- 3 vine-ripened tomatoes (about 3/4 pound total), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, washed well, spun dry, and chopped
- 1/3 cup packed fresh flat-leafed parsley leaves, washed well, spun dry, and chopped
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- Make Parmesan toasts:
- Preheat oven to 325 F.
- On a large baking sheet arrange bread slices in one layer and lightly brush both sides of each slice with oil.
- Toast slices in middle of oven 15 minutes and turn over.
- Sprinkle slices with Parmesan and toast 15 minutes, or until golden.
- Transfer toasts to a rack and cool.
- Toasts may be made 2 days ahead and kept in a sealable plastic bag at room temperature.
- In a large heavy skillet toast pine nuts in 3 tablespoons oil over moderate heat until golden and with a slotted spoon transfer to a small bowl.
- In oil remaining in skillet saute eggplant, onion, minced garlic, and salt to taste over moderately high heat, stirring, until eggplant begins to brown.
- Cook mixture, covered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is tender, about 10 minutes, and transfer to a bowl.
- Cool mixture.
- Into eggplant mixture stir garlic paste, tomatoes, basil, parsley, lemon juice, sugar, remaining 3 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Spread may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.
- Keep toasted pine nuts in a sealable plastic bag at room temperature.
- Bring spread to room temperature before serving.
- Just before serving, stir pine nuts into spread.
- Serve spread with toasts.
baguette, olive oil, parmesan, pine nuts, olive oil, onion, garlic, tomatoes, basil, parsley, lemon juice, sugar
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/tomato-eggplant-spread-and-parmesan-toasts-13011 (may not work)