5 Ingredient Challenge – 7/20/10

It’s been a couple of weeks since Steve and I have done a 5 Ingredient Challenge.  But this past weekend it was finally time for me to put on my creativity cap and think of 5 ingredients for my partner in crime to make a delicious meal out of.

My choices were:

- garbanzo beans

- grapefruit/grapefruit juice

- cranberries

- mozzarella cheese

- oregano (fresh from our aerogarden)

At first, these ingredients were quite a challenge for Steve.  After he spent half a day insisting that he was going to make a pizza by just piling all of the ingredients on a crust, I was quite pleasantly surprised with what he came up with.

So here is its…..

Appetizer:

Eggplant, Smoked Mozzarella & Tomato Rolls

Main Course:

Citrus-y Shrimp Skewers with Cranberry Salad and Chickpea & Corn Salsa

This was the perfect light-ish, healthy meal for a sweltering summer evening.  And to see so many vegetables appearing in a meal prepared by Steve was almost miraculous!

Here’s how he made them:

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Eggplant, Smoked Mozzarella, Tomato Rolls

Steve found the recipe for these little rolls of wonderfulness here.

Basically, it is just sliced eggplant broiled for 8-10 mins….

…then some smoked mozzarella, tomato, basil and oregano is rolled up inside the slices.  After a few more minutes under the broiler, the mozzarella begins to melt and this heavenly appetizer is complete!

I enjoyed these eggplant rolls so much I am making myself a batch for dinner tonight.  The outside got a little bit crispy in the oven and the inside was ooey-gooey perfection.  I loved them!

Here’s my official ratings:

Taste:  

Healthiness:  

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Now for the main course.

Citrus-y Shrimp Skewers with Cranberry Salad and Chickpea & Corn Salsa

The basics of this recipe came from the Food Network’s Ingrid Hoffmann.

The only alterations Steve made to the original recipes were:

- no mango was used

- cranberries were added to the salad

- chickpeas were added to the salsa

The marinade on the shrimp skewers was the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and sour.  I could have eaten about 5 more servings.   And any salad with cranberries in a friend of mine.

The use of chickpeas in the salsa was really creative…something I don’t think I ever would have thought of.  Texturally it was like a black bean/corn salsa, but with a surprising flavor.  While the salsa was good overall, it was a bit too onion-y for my personal taste.

Here is how I rated the dish as a whole:

Taste:    

Healthiness:   

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So that’s all for this 5 Ingredient Challenge!  I know that you’re dying to get in on the fun yourself, and you can!  I’m always seeking 5 Ingredient Challenge guest posters…that is, if you think you can handle the ingredients I might dish out. 

Leave a comment if you’re interested!