Meatless Meals, Vol 6: Eggplant and Goat Cheese Sandwiches

So, the sandwich I am about to share with you will blow your mind. It is completely sans meat, and positively scrumptious. I found the recipe thanks to my Cooking Light magazine (from a few months ago). With snow on the way, I urge you to go out, get the ingredients and MAKE THIS SANDWICH. Paired with some soup, it's a delightful meal (heck, by itself it's delightful). When we prepared it for the first time, we served it with Sweet Potato Fries. YUMMMMM.

Note - even if you are wary of vegetables, and find security in meat, I promise you that you will enjoy this sandwich. End Note.

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Meatless Meals

Eggplant and Goat Cheese Sandwiches

(from Cooking Light magazine)

Yield: 2 servings (serving size: 1 sandwich)

• 8 (1/2-inch-thick) eggplant slices
• 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 4 (1-ounce) slices ciabatta bread
• 2 tablespoons refrigerated pesto
• 1 cup baby arugula
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) soft goat cheese

1. Preheat broiler.

2. Arrange eggplant slices in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush both sides of eggplant with 1 teaspoon oil. Cut bell pepper in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membrane. Arrange bell pepper halves, skin sides up, on baking sheet with eggplant; flatten with hand. Broil 4 minutes; turn eggplant over (do not turn bell pepper over). Broil an additional 4 minutes; remove eggplant from pan. Broil bell pepper an additional 7 minutes or until blackened. Place bell pepper in a zip-top plastic bag; seal. Let stand for 15 minutes; peel and discard skin.

3. Broil bread slices for 2 minutes or until lightly browned, turning once. Spread 1 tablespoon pesto on each of 2 bread slices. Layer each bread slice, pesto side up, with 2 eggplant slices, 1 bell pepper half, and 2 eggplant slices. Toss arugula with remaining 1 teaspoon oil and black pepper; divide arugula mixture evenly between sandwiches. Spread 2 tablespoons goat cheese over each of 2 remaining bread slices; place, cheese side down, on sandwiches.

Nutritional Information

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I've seriously been eating this sandwich every other day for lunch. I'm not the biggest fan of eggplant, so I've been making it without the eggplant. Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Sandwiches are AMAZING. the NEXT big snowstorm scheduled to come tonight/tomorrow, I plan on making these sandwiches paired with some homemade Veggie Soup (recipe for soup to come!).

So seriously. Try it.

Oh, Roasted Red Pepper Sandwiches, with your goat cheese and pesto goodness. I love you.

Send me YOUR Meatless Meal recipes. I can't wait to try them! moderndaydonnareed.blogspot.com

PS - with snow on the way, I will have some time to write up some Personal Posts as promised. So check back!