Roasted Garlic Sun Dried Tomato Spread Recipes

GARLIC ROASTED TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Arrange tomatoes, cut side up, in a shallow baking dish; drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle garlic, oregano, sugar, and salt evenly atop.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn tomatoes over and roast until caramelized and very soft, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove from oven and set aside to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.
• Transfer tomato mixture to a blender or food processor; puree until smooth.

ROASTED GARLIC AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO DRESSING FOR GREEK SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400.
• Using a knife, slice off 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the top of unpeeled garlic head to expose cloves. Place garlic in a small dish and drizzle with 1/2 tsp oil. Cover with foil, then bake in oven until garlic feels soft when pressed, 25 - 35 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. The recipe only calls for 5 - 6 cloves. Use the rest for other dishes.
• Mash 6 cloves with a fork. Stir in oregano, salt and pepper. Whisk in remaining oil, vinegar and enough water for a dressing consistency. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes. Taste and add additional salt if needed.
• In a large bowl, toss lettuce with tomatoes and cucmber. Toss with dressing. Add olives and cheese and toss again.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, mix tomato paste, basil, olive oil, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, salt, white sugar and garlic salt. Blend to the consistency of a spreadable paste. Chill in the refrigerator until serving.

EGGPLANT AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
• Cut off and discard top of garlic head to expose cloves. Brush top of head with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Wrap garlic in foil and roast until tender, about 45 minutes. Cool to warm, then squeeze garlic cloves from skins into a small bowl, discarding skins.
• Meanwhile, cut eggplant into 1/2-inch pieces and toss with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large colander. Let drain 30 minutes. Squeeze eggplant in a kitchen towel to remove liquid.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté one third of eggplant until browned and tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Cook remaining eggplant in olive oil in same manner (in 2 batches), transferring to bowl.
• Add 1 cup cooked eggplant to garlic and coarsely mash together. Stir into remaining eggplant with sun-dried tomatoes (without tomato oil), parsley, basil, lemon juice, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Season with salt and drizzle with tomato oil.
• What to drink:
• Artezin Mendocino Zinfandel '07 or Château de Chamirey Mercurey Rouge '07