Saturday, October 23, 2010

QPC grilled vegetables in balsamic vinegar and basil - Featured in Group Recipes


I post this recipe specially for my very good friend, Seok Eng. She is the kindest person I have ever known. I am so blessed to have a friend like her. Her youngest daughter is now studying in London and like all mothers, she is always thinking of how to ensure that her children eat well and stay healthy. So, the other day, when I was with her, we talked about what food she can cook that can be frozen when she visits her daughter next week. Her love and devotion for her children led me to think of the following quote by Washington Irving.


“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”
-- Washington Irving

Although this is a common dish, everyone has their own version, and this is the QPC version. Once you make a batch of grilled vegetables, you can use it in so many ways. For example, it can be used as the filling for grilled cheese sandwiches, it can be tossed with pasta, or served simply as an anti pasto with an Italian meal. Grilled vegetables can be frozen and it will stay good for at least 3 months. A favorite of mine is a grilled vegetable omellete. It is delicious if you add some to your green leafy salad. Put it in a nice bottle and it makes a great gift. Grilled vegetables are tasty, pretty, and healthy. What more can you ask for?



Ingredients:
1 yellow squash
1 green capsicum
1 orange capsicum
2 red capsicum
4 heads of garlic with skin
1 medium white onion 3 tbs balsamic vinegar (can be more according to individual taste)
(A)
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 ts salt
½ ts freshly grinded black pepper
½ ts dried basil

Method:
Wash and dry all the vege. Grill all the capsicum in whole in a microwave oven set to grill for 20 mins. After 15 mins, put in the garlic. Leave them in the oven till they are cold enough to touch before removing the skin and seeds. Grill yellow squash in a grill pan for about 8 mins till it is soft but not mushy. On a frying pan sautee white onion till they are translucent and put them in a mixing bowl. In a sauce pan simmer the balsamic vinegar from 3 tbs to 2tbs and set aside to let it cool. Put all grilled vegetables in a big mixing bowl. In another medium bowl add reduced balsamic vinegar and (A). Whisky slightly to be ready to pour over the grilled vegetables. This dish taste better the next day. To be served at room temperature.

11 comments:

  1. This recipe is good for kids, most of the kids hate to eat veggies but this recipe of yours will surely kids eat veggies.

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  3. Hi vinquisher,
    Thanks for coming back to visit. Yes you are right, kids like colorful things. The color will entice them to eat it but may I suggest that you add some maple syrup to your the balsamic vinegar and omit the basil because most kids do not like the sour taste and the strong fragrance of basil:D

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  4. These veggies are so beautiful! They'd make such a great fall side dish. Yum!

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  5. Hi Koci,

    I wish we have fall here.. The fall scenery is so lovely!

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  6. Nice grilled veggie recipe! I love the charred grill taste on peppers and tomatoes.
    We were in Rome last month for a couple of days and I ate lots of pizza loaded with grilled veggies on top. I guess they can just go with anything, really!

    I really like your pics by the way, nice settings.

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  7. IIke,
    Thanks for dropping by. What a wonderful thing you did for your Grandma fulfilling her wish to visit Rome. My hubby and I visited Rome a few years back and love it! Please visit me often and hope you will always find something you like be a picture, a story or a recipe:D

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  8. such beautiful photos! Looks delicious and healthy! love your blog!

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  9. Hi Claire,
    So happy to see you here. I like your blog too:D I will be your regular visitor. Have a nice day!

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