Spicy red peppers and eggplants have long been enjoyed in Mediterranean cuisine, and the combination of their distinct flavors creates a vibrant and unforgettable dish known as spicy red pepper and eggplant confit. This culinary gem is prepared by slow-cooking the vegetables in a mixture of olive oil, garlic, and herbs, resulting in a tender and savory spread that can be enjoyed on its own or as an accompaniment to various dishes. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook looking for a new culinary adventure, this guide will provide you with the essential steps and tips for creating the perfect spicy red pepper and eggplant confit. From selecting the freshest ingredients to finding the right balance of spices, we'll guide you through the process of crafting this delectable dish that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
SPICY RED-PEPPER AND EGGPLANT CONFIT
Categories Garlic Tomato Appetizer Side Roast Vegetarian Quick & Easy Eggplant Bell Pepper Vegan Gourmet Pescatarian Paleo Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Makes about 3 cups
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cut peppers into 1-inch pieces. Toss together all ingredients in a large roasting pan, then spread evenly. Roast, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very tender, about 1 hour. Cool before serving.
SPICY RED PEPPER & EGGPLANT CONFIT
This Mediterranean dish can be served with bread or crackers as an appetizer, and it's also great as a sandwich filling.
Provided by Juenessa
Categories Peppers
Time 1h40m
Yield 3 cups
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cut roasted peppers into 1-inch pieces.
- Toss together all ingredients in a large roasting pan, then spread evenly.
- Roast, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very tender, about 1 hour. Cool before serving.
- Cooks' note:.
- Confit can be made 1 week ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to room temperature and stir before serving.
- **Cook time does not include letting the roasted peppers steam for 15 minutes, after broiling or allowing the confit to cool before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 519.6, Fat 37.8, SaturatedFat 5.2, Sodium 978, Carbohydrate 43.5, Fiber 16.9, Sugar 24.4, Protein 7.7
STUFFED PEPPERS WITH EGGPLANT AND CHEESY RICE
Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 55m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Cut off the tops of each pepper. Pull out the ribs and seeds and discard. Discard the stems and dice the pepper tops. Set aside. Lightly trim the bottoms of each pepper so they can stand up.
- Stand the peppers up on a baking sheet or large skillet and drizzle with oil. Season with salt and pepper then roast until they begin to soften, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, jalapenos and onions and cook until the onions are translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the diced pepper tops and eggplant and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and begin to caramelize, about 3 minutes. Stir in the rice and mix to combine. Add the wine and cook until it is reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 2 cups water and the crushed tomatoes and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until the rice is creamy and al dente, 10 to 12 minutes.
- Remove the saucepot from the heat and stir in the mascarpone and basil. Taste for seasoning, adding additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Fill each pepper with the rice mixture, then stand them up on the same baking sheet or large skillet and top with the mozzarella. Bake until the cheese is melted and the peppers are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Serve topped with more torn basil and a drizzle of oil.
ROASTED RED BELL PEPPERS WITH EGGPLANT (FUNGHETTO)
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories side-dish
Time 50m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- For the peppers: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Spray a small baking dish or baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray. Arrange the peppers, cut side-up, on the baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Bake until the peppers are tender but still holding their shape, about 20 minutes.
- For the eggplant: Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Add the eggplant in batches and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
- For the filling: Combine the cooked eggplant, tomato-basil sauce, olives, capers, salt and pepper in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes.
- For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
- Preheat the broiler.
- Spoon the filling into the bell peppers and sprinkle the topping over the filling. Drizzle with the olive oil and broil until a golden crust forms, 2 to 3 minutes.
EGGPLANT AND RED PEPPER BAKE
Another thing to do with eggplant.
Provided by Anthony
Categories 100+ Everyday Cooking Recipes Vegetarian
Time 55m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Mix red bell pepper, onion, and garlic in a large mixing bowl; season with basil, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the pepper mixture; toss to coat the vegetables evenly.
- Brush eggplant slices with olive oil to coat thinly.
- Spread about 1/3 of the pepper mixture into the bottom of a square glass baking dish; top with a layer of about 1/3 of the eggplant. Repeat layering twice more. Top final layer with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in preheated oven until the cheese is browned and the vegetables are bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 227.4 calories, Carbohydrate 11.6 g, Cholesterol 4.5 mg, Fat 19.5 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 3.4 g, SaturatedFat 3.3 g, Sodium 51.5 mg, Sugar 5.9 g
SPICY ROASTED RED PEPPER AND EGGPLANT SOUP
This is one of my favorite winter soups. It's spicy and very flavorful, and makes an excellent side or appetizer soup. The most important thing when preparing it is to try not to lose the juice from the peppers when you roast them--it adds a lot of flavor to your soup! Also, all the spices at the end, including the lime juice, should be added to taste, a little at a time. The soup is fine without them, but I thought it needed something until I added them. Finally, if you are preparing this as a vegan recipe, just omit the cream garnish. Use scallions, and maybe a spoonful of olive paste instead to garnish!
Provided by Starrah
Categories Vegetable
Time 1h20m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425F/220°C.
- While the peppers and eggplant are roasting, chop your onions and fresh chili (if you are using a fresh chili). Throw away the seeds and pith of the chili, and remember to only use half. Set aside.
- Put the eggplant and the bell peppers on a baking tray. To prevent exploding, poke a few holes in the eggplant, and one small slit in each pepper, facing up (while the peppers cook, they will fill with juice, and you don't want it to leak out).
- Roast them in the oven for about 40 minutes, until the eggplant is soft. Allow to cool enough to touch.
- Carefully put the peppers in a bowl, saving as much juice as possible, and cut in half. Peel away and discard the skin, seeds and pith.
- Cut the eggplant in half, and use a spoon (a grapefruit spoon works amazing for this if you have one!) to scoop out the flesh into the bowl with the red pepper flesh.
- Put the olive oil in the soup pot on low heat, and add the onions. Cook until soft, but not browned.
- Add the hot chili or chili powder, and cook for few quick minutes.
- Add the eggplant, red peppers, thyme, and paprika, and stir.
- Add about three quarters of the stock (enough to cover the contents of the pot), and simmer for about 20 minutes.
- In a few batches, puree the soup in a blender until smooth (you need to use a second pot to keep the pureed and un-pureed soup separate).
- Add more stock to adjust the consistency if you need to.
- Add salt, black pepper, small amounts of oregano and coriander, and more of the other spices and thyme to taste. Add a small dash of lime juice as well.
- Serve hot with a spoonful or two of fresh cream on top, and a spoonful of chopped scallions.
EGGPLANT AND TOMATO CONFIT
This is one of many Provençal dishes starring eggplant and tomatoes. Unlike its cousin, ratatouille, the vegetables are cooked together for a very long time here, until they meld into a confit. The authentic dish includes a couple of finely chopped anchovies, which season the dish as it simmers. They're optional here, but worth including for a deep, rich flavor. They won't make the dish taste like anchovies.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Time 1h45m
Yield Serves 6
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Roast the eggplant, allow to cool and cut into 1-inch dice.
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet and add the onions. Cook stirring, until they soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and stir together for another minute, until the garlic begins to smell fragrant. Stir in the tomatoes, eggplant, sugar, anchovies, thyme, basil sprig (but not the slivered basil), salt, and pepper. Stir together and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to very low, cover, and cook, stirring from time to time, for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until the mixture has cooked down to a thick, fragrant mixture. Pull out the basil sprig. Taste and adjust seasonings. Sprinkle the slivered basil over the top. Serve hot or at room temperature, as a starter, a side dish, or as a topping for polenta, rice, bruschetta or pasta.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 124, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 19 grams, Fat 5 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 766 milligrams, Sugar 10 grams
ROASTED EGGPLANT AND RED PEPPER GRATIN
Roasting eggplant requires less oil than frying. It is important to let the roasted eggplant and roasted peppers drain in a strainer, otherwise the gratin will be watery. I recommend roasting the vegetables several hours or a day before you wish to make this. Adding cooked rice to the mixture will result in a firmer gratin.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, lunch, main course, side dish
Time 2h30m
Yield Serves 6
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut eggplant into small dice (1/2 to 3/4 inch) and toss with salt to taste. Place in a colander in the sink and let sit for 20 minutes, then drain on paper towels and blot to remove liquid that has accumulated on the surface. Transfer to a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
- Line a baking sheet with foil and oil the foil with olive oil. Lay the diced eggplant on the foil in 1 layer. Roast in the hot oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until the dice are soft when pierced with a knife and browned in spots. Remove from oven and carefully fold foil up over the eggplant slices (be careful not to burn yourself!). Crimp the edges of the foil so that eggplant is hermetically sealed in a big foil packet, and allow eggplant to steam for another 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully remove from the foil. Place in a colander or strainer set over a bowl again and allow eggplant to drain for 30 minutes, or preferably, overnight (uncovered) in the refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish or gratin. Heat remaining oil over medium heat in a medium size skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, thyme and cumin and continue to cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds to a minute, until fragrant. Remove from the heat.
- If the diced roasted peppers are very moist, drain in a strainer and then place on paper towels and blot. Whisk eggs in a large bowl. Whisk in milk and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in eggplant, roasted peppers, onion mixture, chives and parsley and combine well. Stir in cheese and optional rice and combine well. Scrape into prepared baking dish.
- Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 173, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 11 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 494 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams
SPICY EGGPLANT STIR-FRY
Fresh basil adds a sweet taste to balance out the peppery flavor of this quick and easy spicy eggplant stir-fry.
Provided by Marcia
Time 25m
Yield 3
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add oil and pepper flakes and allow to sizzle for 15 to 20 seconds. Add eggplant and toss in the oil. Cook, stirring every minute, until it just begins to char, about 5 minutes. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic; stir-fry for 3 minutes.
- Drizzle with soy sauce and vinegar, sprinkle with brown sugar and cornstarch, then toss to coat all of the vegetables. Cook until sauce has thickened, about 1 minute.
- Remove from the heat, add basil, and toss to combine.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 210.1 calories, Carbohydrate 29.1 g, Fat 10 g, Fiber 9.8 g, Protein 4.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Sodium 912.6 mg, Sugar 13.3 g
LEMON-RED PEPPER CONFIT
If yellow and orange bell peppers are available, mix them to make a more colorful relish. Use this to top Cornmeal-Crusted Soft-Shell Crabs.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Gluten-Free Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cut peppers into thin strips. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add shallots, and cook until they begin to brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add red peppers, wine, salt, and pepper. Cover, and cook until wine is almost absorbed, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover, and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until peppers are tender, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, remove lemon zest in long thin strips, and set aside. Use a small, sharp knife to cut away pith. Remove lemon sections by sliding the knife down one side of a section, cutting it away from the white membrane. Twist blade under section to lift it out. Remove all sections, cut them in half, and add to peppers along with zest. Toss to combine, and serve.
Tips:
- Choose the right eggplant: Japanese or Italian eggplants are best for this recipe, as they have fewer seeds and a milder flavor.
- Cut the eggplant into uniform pieces: This will help them cook evenly.
- Salt the eggplant before cooking: This will help to draw out the moisture and prevent the eggplant from becoming bitter.
- Roast the eggplant until it is tender and slightly caramelized: This will give the eggplant a delicious smoky flavor.
- Make the confit ahead of time: It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Serve the confit warm or at room temperature: It can be enjoyed on its own or used as a condiment for grilled meats, fish, or vegetables.
Conclusion:
Spicy Red Pepper and Eggplant Confit is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. It is a great way to use up extra eggplants, and it is also a good make-ahead dish. Whether you are serving it as an appetizer, a side dish, or a condiment, this confit is sure to please everyone at your table.
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