The Ciabatta Veggie Sandwich

The Ciabatta Veggie Sandwich

Ingredients

1 demi ciabatta bread

2 pieces of leaf lettuce

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

EGGPLANT MIXTURE

1 small eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced

1 teaspoon olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

PEPPER AND MUSHROOM MIXTURE

1/2 cup sweet red pepper

1/2 cup baby bella mushroom, sliced

1 garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 small onion, sliced

1/4 teaspoon herbs de Provence

Add additional oil to pan

TOMATO MIXTURE

6 Campari tomatoes

1/4 teaspoon chili garlic paste

Salt and pepper to taste

Add additional oil to pan

Methods

Eggplant Mixture: Season eggplant slices on both sides with wall and pepper. In a skillet, add oil, and fry eggplant on both sides until cooked. When cooked remove from pan and set aside.

Pepper and Mushroom mixture: Add mushroom, salt, pepper, pepper, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, onion, and herbs de Provence or Italian seasoning. Cook for about 6 to 8 minutes. Add additional oil if necessary. When cooked, remove from stove and set aside.

Tomato Mixture: In same or another skillet, add additional oil if necessary, tomatoes, salt, pepper and chili paste. Cook until it forms a paste. Remove and set aside.

Building the sandwich: to build the sandwich, slice bread in half. On both sides, spread tomato mixture and add eggplant mixture to the bottom of the bread followed by pepper and mushroom mixture. Add cheese, leaf lettuce and wrap bread tightly in aluminum foil and bake in a 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven set on a wire rack to cool for a few minutes’ minutes before unwrapping. Serve hot and enjoy.

I use leaf lettuce because it can hold up when you place the sandwich in the oven.

Yesterday I went food shopping and for some odd reason could not stay away from the bakery section. No matter what I did, I kept forgetting to pick up something from one of the aisles close to the bakery shop. The smell of fresh baked bread was calling my name. Remember when you’re watching a movie about ghosts and how one character always seems to be hearing his or her name called? This is how I felt. But instead, it was the smell of fresh baked bread calling my name. And this is how the Ciabatta Veggie Sandwich was created.

I always say to myself that I can survive on bread and water, and that is true. I love bread!

After finally choosing demi Ciabatta bread, my mind was full of ideas. I decided to go into the produce section and started picking up some veggies. Eggplant, mushroom, tomatoes, sweet peppers and onions. When those veggies are mixed together, you experience a burst of earthy, citrus and sweet flavor all at once. These veggies don’t require much, just a few spices to bring out their own flavors individually.

I did not want to cook all the veggies together because I had no intention of making a veggie stew. I have learned a long time ago when making a veggie sandwich; each vegetable must be cooked separately so each flavor could stand out with each bite.

The Ciabatta Veggie Sandwich was so easy to make, and only one pan was required which meant one pan to clean. Yeah! Who needs to wash tons of dishes after a long day of work? Certainly not me. Enjoy!