Hypoallergenic Mediterranean Veggie Filling/Spread

     You don't have to be allergic to cheese to think this filling/spread is delicious inside an omelet; you also don't have to be allergic to eggs to discover it is delicious on bread, or with chips or rice crackers. It contains none of the eight major allergens, no yeast and, if you peel the peppers and tomatoes as described, no corn.

     1 onion, chopped
     safflower oil (See Oil in the Glossary) 
     salt (See Salt in the Glossary) 
     leaves from 1/2 batch of parsley, roughly chopped (See Produce in the 

          Glossary) 
     (optional) 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
     6-8 vine-ripened tomatoes (See Produce in the Glossary) 
     1/4 tsp. black pepper (See Spices in the Glossary) 
     1 tsp. paprika (See Spices in the Glossary) 
     peppers (2 pasilla peppers is about the right amount, and pasillas are easy 

          to peel, but use whatever peppers you like.) See Produce in the 

          Glossary 

     1 eggplant, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes   

     Heat a tablespoon or two of oil on low heat in a skillet or medium saucepan. Add the onion and 1/2 tsp. salt. Gently saute the onion until it is translucent and thoroughly soft. Do not brown it. Add the parsley and garlic and continue cooking for another minute or so, until they are softened but not browned.

     Meanwhile peel the tomatoes. (First dip them in boiling water for 10-15 seconds to loosen the peel and then in cold water to stop them from cooking.)  Chop the tomatoes. Once the onions are ready, add the tomatoes, black pepper and paprika; bring to a simmer and let the mixture cook down until it is not overly wet, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

     While waiting for the tomatoes to cook down, cook the peppers on a grill or about 6 inches under a broiler, turning as needed to cook them thoroughly on all sides. The peppers should be softened up, and their peels should be brown and bubbling up. Cover with a lid and allow to cool for a few minutes. (Steam from inside the peppers will help loosen the peels.) Peel and seed the peppers, and set aside.

     Put enough oil to cover the eggplant in a fryer or deep pot. Add one piece of eggplant to it. Eggplants are moist enough to foam up surprisingly high in hot oil, and you need to allow plenty of room for this.Turn on medium high heat. When the first piece of eggplant is golden brown and thoroughly soft, dredge it out.  Add the rest of the eggplant to the hot oil and cook until  it too it is golden brown and soft. Scoop the eggplant out of the oil with a slotted spoon, and spread it out on top of a plate covered with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Set aside.

     When the tomatoes are ready, stir in the peppers and eggplant and simmer for a couple more minutes to allow the flavors to blend together and to bring the filling up to temperature. Adjust salt to taste.


   

These are about the right proportions for the major ingredients.