Vegetable Stromboli

Photo: Jennifer McCann

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Typically, this Italian rolled sandwich is made with a filling of cheese and meat, but I like a filling of grilled eggplant and zucchini instead. Next time you pull out the grill for a vegan BBQ, you can throw on a few extra veggies and save them for stromboli. blockquote>

-Jennifer McCann Author of Vegan Lunch Box: Around the World

Servings

4 servings

Ingredients

1 large eggplant

2 medium zucchini

Kosher salt as needed

Olive oil for grilling

1⅛ cups warm water (110°F)

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

Pinch of sugar

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2½ to 3 cups all-purpose flour or white bread flour

1 head of Roasted Garlic

Italian herb seasoning mix, to taste

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

½ teaspoon poppy seeds

Preparation

Vegetable Preparation:

To make the vegetables, trim off the tops of the eggplant and zuc¬chini, then slice them lengthwise into strips, cutting them as thinly as possible (a mandolin may be helpful here). Lay the strips out in a single layer and sprinkle both sides of them with salt. Let the strips sit for 30 minutes (this will help remove some of the moisture from the vegetables).

Bread and Muffin Preparation:

1. Heat a nonstick grill or grill pan. Pat the vegetables dry and brush them lightly with olive oil. Grill, turning halfway, until the strips are soft and have brown grill marks. Set the vegetable strips aside to cool, or refrigerate until needed.

2. To make the dough, place the warm water in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle the yeast and sugar into the warm water and stir well. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to dissolve the yeast.

3. Add the olive oil, salt, and 2 cups of the flour. When the dough begins to form a ball, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead. As you knead, add just enough of the remain¬ing flour to keep the dough from sticking. Knead for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the dough is smooth, elastic, and supple.

4. Place the dough in a well-oiled mixing bowl, turning to cover the top of the dough with some of the oil. Cover with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel, and place in a warm, draft-free place to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

5. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, spray with nonstick spray, and set aside.

6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a flat rectangle, about 10 x 12 inches.

7. Squeeze all the roast garlic out into a small bowl and mash to¬gether with a fork. Spread the mashed garlic across the surface of the dough and top with one or two layers of grilled vegetables. Sprinkle with the Italian herbs, salt, and pepper.

8. Roll up the bread (like rolling up a cinnamon roll) to form a long narrow loaf, pinching the seam and ends closed. Place on the pre¬pared baking sheet. Brush the top of the loaf with a little water and sprinkle with poppy seeds.

9. Bake 30 minutes, until the loaf is nicely browned. Allow to cool before slicing.

Variations

Feel free to substitute other grilled vegetables, such as bell peppers strips, onions, or thin slices of portobello mushroom, for the eggplant and zucchini. Just make sure that all vegetables are sliced thinly and grilled well. If your filling is too thick or too wet, you’ll have a soggy Stromboli on your hands.

VARIATION 1: Use prepackaged pizza or bread dough from the store.

VARIATION 2: Substitute vegan turkey or ham deli slices and slices of vegan cheese for the grilled vegetables and roasted garlic.

Allergens Information

Soy-free, nut-free. Contains Information gluten and wheat.

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