Grilled Garden Pasta

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/2 cup fresh basil
• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 1 -2 garlic clove, minced
• 1 jalapeno pepper (seeded & minced)
• 2 teaspoons lemon peel, finely shredded
• 6 ounces spaghetti or 6 ounces fettuccine
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 small onion (or you can use 2 leeks)
• 1 small eggplant, sliced
• 1 medium zucchini, sliced
• 2 medium tomatoes, sliced

Recipe

• 1 in a bowl combine basil, feta cheese, pine nuts, garlic, jalapeno pepper & lemon peel.
• 2 set aside.
• 3 prepare spaghetti/fettuccine noodles according to package directions.
• 4 drain.
• 5 toss pasta with olive oil, lemon juice & salt. cover and keep warm.
• 6 meanwhile, prepare vegetables.
• 7 if using leeks, trim root end & tough green leaves; halve leeks lengthwise & wash thoroughly.
• 8 if using onions, cut into 3/4-inch slices.
• 9 if using eggplant, peel if desired, & cut into 3/4-inch slices.
• 10 if using zucchini, halve lengthwise.
• 11 brush vegetables with olive oil or cooking oil.
• 12 heat a nonstick or well-seasoned grill pan on stovetop over medium heat until hot.
• 13 add half the eggplant, onions & tomatoes to grill pan; grill about 5 minutes per side or until brown and tender.
• 14 repeat with remaining vegetables.
• 15 cut vegetables into bite-size chunks.
• 16 on a large platter, swirl pasta with a fork to make a large nest, or divide pasta among 4 plates.
• 17 transfer vegetable mixture from cutting board to pasta nests.
• 18 sprinkle feta mixture over all.
• 19 makes 4 servings.
• 20 for tabletop grill:.
• 21 preheat grill according to manufacturer’s directions.
• 22 grill leeks or onions, eggplant, and tomato slices on grill until eggplant and onion are tender and tomato is heated through.
• 23 if using a covered grill, close lid.
• 24 for covered grill:
• 25 allow 5 to 6 minutes for leeks, 4 to 5 minutes for eggplant and onion & 2 to 3 minutes for tomatoes.
• 26 for open grill:.
• 27 allow 12 to 14 minutes for leeks, 8 to 10 minutes for eggplant, and 4 to 5 minutes for tomatoes, turning once.