Ingredients:
Yogurt Sauce:
• 2 tablespoons Zen Basil seeds
• 1 cup yogurt of choice
• 1/2 cup cheese of choice or sour cream (goat cheese recommended)
• 1-2 teaspoons crushed garlic
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (adjust according to preference)
• Optional: dry or fresh herbs
Roasted Eggplant (Serves 4):
• 3 eggplants
• 2 small cans (4oz each) of tomato sauce
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1-3 teaspoons chopped garlic
• Salt and red pepper to taste
• 1 cup water
Instructions:
1. Zen Basil Yogurt Sauce:
In a bowl, combine all sauce ingredients. Mix well and let it sit for 10 minutes. This will serve as both the base and the top sauce. Feel free to add your favorite herbs. Any leftover sauce can be refrigerated for up to a week.
Roasted Eggplant:
1. Preheat the broiler.
2. Cut the eggplants into slices about an inch thick, leaving the skin on.
3. Spray each side of the eggplant slices with olive oil and broil them on the top rack of the oven for 15 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
4. Once the eggplant slices are golden brown on both sides, evenly drizzle tomato sauce over them. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, turmeric, and fresh chopped garlic, ensuring even distribution.
5. Add one cup of water evenly across the baking dish.
6. Drizzle olive oil over the top.
7. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes, depending on your oven. Check every 20 minutes; the water should reduce to a thick sauce consistency.
To serve, layer sauce evenly over some bread or crackers. (You can find the recipe for our gluten free crackers here)
Drizzle some of the yogurt over the eggplant, and top with olive oil and herbs.
Transform humble eggplant into a nutritional powerhouse with our Roasted Eggplant topped with a creamy Zen Basil Yogurt Sauce. This dish combines the subtle flavors of eggplant with the goodness of basil seeds and yogurt, resulting in a meal that’s not only delicious but also incredibly nutritious.
Elevate your meal with the nutritional benefits of this dish. While eggplant alone may not offer many nutrients, when combined with basil seeds and yogurt, you’re getting a plethora of health benefits. Basil seeds provide fiber, prebiotics, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, and omega-3 fatty acids, and polyphenols while yogurt adds protein and probiotics to the mix. Enjoy a complete and delicious meal that nourishes your body from within.
