Roasted Eggplant Dip
with Tomato Relish & Pita Toasts

Even if eggplant is not your favorite vegetable, you'll find this dip is a winner for dinner parties or backyard barbecues -- and perfect to serve as an appetizer for a Fourth of July party.

It has all the flavors of the Mediterranean blended into a tasty first course.

Make sure to select firm, unblemished heavy eggplants for best flavor.

Serve this creamy dip with crispy pita toasts. Pitted Greek olives could also be added to the dip if you like. This is also good as a spread on lavash topped with peeled roasted peppers and basil leaves.

To accompany the dip, serve glasses of chilled Prosecco topped off with a touch of peach nectar and a thinly sliced peach.

Roasted Eggplant Dip with Tomato Relish & Crispy Pita Toasts

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

For the garnish:

For the Pita Toasts:

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400F.

2. Lightly spray a large roasting pan and combine the leeks, garlic, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Add the eggplant to the roasting pan and toss with tongs to coat.

3. Place the eggplant mixture in the oven and roast for about 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until very soft, tossing the eggplant with a large spoon every 15 minutes so it will cook evenly.

4. Meanwhile prepare the relish: combine the tomatoes, oil, vinegar and salt and pepper and mix to combine. Taste for seasoning and reserve.

5. Remove the eggplant mixture from the oven and cool. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vinegar, basil, thyme and capers and mix well. Taste for seasoning.

6. To make the pitas toasts, preheat a broiler. Split each pita in half, and then cut each half into 8 triangles. Brush the top of each triangle with oil and then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Working in batches, spread the triangles on a baking sheet and toast in the broiler until brown and bubbly, about 3 minutes. Let cool. Repeat with the remaining pita triangles.

7. Mound the eggplant dip into a serving dish. Garnish with the tomatoes and whole basil leaves. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Serve with Crispy Pita Toasts.

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(c) 2009, Diane Rossen Worthington. Distributed by Tribune Media Services Inc.