Recipe - Roasted Eggplant And Pepper Salad With Pita Bread And Sesame

SALAD
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 Eggplants (about 2 1/2
pounds total); cut into
3x3/4x3/4inch strips
2 lg Green bell peppers; cut into
1/2inch wide strips
2 lg Red bell peppers; cut into
1/2inch wide strips
8 lg Garlic cloves; (unpeeled)
One half cup Olive oil
Three fourths cup Red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Ground cumin
1 One half teaspoon Salt
1 One half teaspoon Pepper
3/8 teaspoon Cayenne pepper
8 Warm pita bread rounds; cut
into wedges

SESAME SPREAD
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted
margarine; room temperature
2/3 cup Toasted sesame seeds
1 teaspoon Salt

To make the salad: Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 450°F.
Spray large heavy baking sheet with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Combine
eggplant, peppers, garlic and oil in large bowl. Toss well. Transfer to
prepared sheet. Bake until eggplant is brown and vegetables are tender,
stirring every 10 minutes, about 50 minutes. Remove garlic and reserve.
Scrape vegetables and all pan juices into bowl.

Combine vinegar, cumin, salt, pepper and cayenne in processor. Peel roasted
garlic; add to processor. Puree until smooth. Toss vegetable mixture with
One fourth cup garlic dressing. Cool, tossing occasionally. (Can be made 1 day
ahead. Cover and chill vegetables and remaining dressing separately. Bring
to room temperature.)

Mound salad in center of large platter. Surround with pita wedges. Serve,
passing remaining dressing and Sesame Spread separately.
To make the sesame spread: Beat margarine, sesame seeds and salt to blend
in small bowl. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring
to room temperature before serving.)
8