Balsamic Mixed Vegetable Roast

Ingredients

• 0.3 cup balsamic vinegar 
• 4 sprigs basil fresh
• 0.5 teaspoon pepper black freshly ground
• 2 medium eggplant unpeeled
• 6 large heads endive cored halved quartered
• 1 cup olive oil extra virgin extra-virgin
• 2 medium bell pepper red cored seeded cut into 3/4-inch squares
• 3 large onion red sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
• 2 teaspoons salt divided
• 2 medium bell pepper yellow cored seeded cut into 3/4-inch squares
• 1.5 pounds zucchini dried washed

Equipment

• baking sheet
• paper towels
• oven
• whisk
• baking pan

Directions

1. Place a layer of paper towels over a baking sheet. Arrange the eggplant in single layers and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt.
2. Let stand for 30 minutes. Pat dry.
3. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
4. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, remaining salt, and pepper, and set aside.
5. Divide the eggplant, zucchini, red onions, peppers, and endive between 2 large baking pans with sides. Gently toss the vegetables with 3/4 of the blended oil and vinegar.
6. Place 1 baking sheet on the bottom oven rack and the second on the middle rack. Roast the vegetables for 15 to 20 minutes, turning them once and rotating the pans between the shelves after 10 minutes. The vegetables should be crisp to the bite when they are done.
7. Arrange the vegetables in colorful bunches on round or oval platters, mixing together the different types of vegetables.
8. Sprinkle the vegetables with salt and pepper, and drizzle them with the remaining olive oil/balsamic vinegar dressing.
9. Serve at room temperature.
10. Recipe adapted from Invitation to Dinner by Abigail Kirsch, ©1998, Doubleday.