An interesting video posted on the NPR food blog The Salt investigates How Much Does a Hamburger Cost. While a burger at a fast food restaurant may cost less than a couple of bucks, the environmental and societal costs are much higher and long lasting. In order to help reduce these long term expenses is the idea of Meatless Monday. Just eating meatless meals one day a week can help reduce the American dietary influence on the planet.
This week's Meatless Monday Recipe utilizes many of the items found in your boxes!
Grilled Eggplant, Corn & Bread Salad with Tomato Basil Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
2 large ripe tomatoes, about 1 lb. total
6 tbl thinly sliced fresh basil
2 tbl balsamic vinegar
8 tbl extra-virgin olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp sea salt, plus more, to taste
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
3 ears of corn, husks and silk removed
2 large eggplant, about 2 1/2 lb. total, cut crosswise into slices 1/2 inch thick
1 loaf (3/4 lb.) pane pugliese or other coarse country bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 4 cups)
Directions:
1. Bring a saucepan two-thirds full with water to a boil over high heat. Fill a bowl two-thirds full with ice water. Using a paring knife, score an X on the bottom of each tomato. Drop the tomatoes into the boiling water and heat until the skins loosen, 15 to 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the tomatoes to the ice water and let stand until cool. Remove the tomatoes from the ice water and pull off the skins. Core the tomatoes and halve them crosswise. Gently squeeze each half to ease out the seeds, then coarsely chop the tomato flesh. You should have about 1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes.
2. Transfer the chopped tomatoes to a nonreactive bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the basil, the vinegar, 1 tablespoons of the olive oil, the garlic, the 1/2 teaspoons of salt and several grinds of pepper. Using an immersion blender, process until a chunky vinaigrette forms. (Or, pulse the ingredients in a standing blender.) Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. Prepare a medium-hot fire in a grill.
4. Brush the ears of corn on all sides with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Brush the eggplant slices on both sides with the remaining 6 tablespoons olive oil and season both sides with salt and pepper.
5. Grill the eggplant slices, turning once, until softened and grill-marked on both sides, about 12 minutes total. Transfer to a cutting board. Grill the corn, turning frequently, until charred in spots, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to the cutting board. Cut the eggplant slices into 3/4-inch pieces. Using a chef’s knife, cut the ears of corn in half crosswise. Stand each half, flat end down, on a cutting board and cut the kernels from the cob. Alternatively, remove the kernels using a kernel cutter.
6. In a large bowl, combine the eggplant, corn kernels, the remaining 4 tablespoons basil and the bread cubes. Pour in the tomato vinaigrette and stir well. Transfer to a platter or serving bowl and serve immediately.
Serves 6 to 8.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma New Flavors for Salads, by Dina Cheney (Oxmoor House, 2009).
