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Pita Hero with Eggplant, Peppers, Tomatoes and Cucumber (dairy)

Contributed by Eileen Goltz - Bon Appétit April 2000

Sauce
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1 7-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained, chopped
1/3 cup packed fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
1 large garlic clove, pressed

Sandwiches
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar or rice vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 eggs
2 tablespoons water
breadcrumbs
flour
1 medium eggplant (about 1 1/4 pounds), unpeeled, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
6 pita bread rounds
4 plum tomatoes, sliced
1 cucumber, cut diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 7-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained, cut into strips

Instructions:

For sauce: In a bowl combine the yogurt, mayonnaise, peppers, basil and garlic and whisk to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate.

For sandwiches: Preheat oven to 425. Spray 2 heavy large baking sheets with vegetable oil spray. Whisk olive oil, vinegar and oregano in small bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Whisk eggs and 2 tablespoons water in medium bowl to blend. Place breadcrumbs in shallow dish. Place flour in another shallow dish. Lightly dust each eggplant slice with flour; dip eggplant into egg mixture and then into breadcrumbs, coating completely. Place eggplant slices on prepared baking sheets. Drizzle with olive oil mixture. Let stand 15 minutes. Bake until brown on both sides and tender, turning occasionally, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven; cool eggplant on baking sheets. Place 2 or 3 eggplant slices in each pita. Stuff each pita equally with tomatoes, cucumber and red pepper strips. Drizzle 1/3 cup sauce over filling in each pita and serve.

Special InstructionsFresh Herbs and Insect Infestation:
Fresh Basil and other herbs (including cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme) are often used as spices or garnishing. Aphids, thrips and other insects may often be found on the leaves and stems of these herbs. Insects tend to nestle in the crevices between the leaves and branches of herbs. These insects can curl up and stick to the leaf once they come in contact with water.

Recommendation: In order to determine if a particular bunch of herbs is infested prior to washing, bang it several times over a white cloth. This is most important when checking oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme. If only one or two insects are found, proceed with the steps below. If three or more insects are detected in a particular bunch of herbs, it should not be used.

Inspection:
1. Soak herbs in a solution of cold water and vegetable wash. The proper amount of vegetable wash has been added when some bubbles are observed in the water. (In the absence of vegetable wash, several drops of concentrated non-scented liquid detergent may be used. However, for health reasons, thoroughly rinse off the soapy solution.)
2. Agitate the herbs in the soapy water, in order to loosen the sticking excretion of the bugs.
3. Using a heavy stream of water, thoroughly wash off the soap and other foreign matter from the herbs.
4. Check both sides of each leaf under direct light.
5. If one or two insects are found, rewash the herbs.
6. If any insects are found after repeating the agitation process twice, the entire bunch must be discarded.

>Notes: Basil Leaves tend to be infested with insects. Please check "Special Instructions" below for inspection of insect infestation.