vegetarian – The Louisville Chef

This is a very comforting Northern Indian dish and very tasty, with so many layers of flavor. It’s a popular dish in many Indian homes. The charring of the eggplant before being baking is really key to getting that smoky flavor. If it’s more convenient, the charring and roasting can be done the day before.

Ingredients:

2- Eggplants, prepared as described below, see note.

3 – 4 Tbsp of Oil or ghee.

1- Onion

4-5 cloves Garlic, minced

3-4 inch piece Ginger, peeled and minced.

1-2 cups chopped Tomatoes, I like cherry tomatoes sliced in half.

1 tsp Coriander Seeds, freshly ground. If you don’t have a spice grinder then substitute 1/2 tsp of pre ground.

1 tsp Turmeric

1 tsp Cumin Seeds, freshly ground. If you don’t have a spice grinder then substitute 1/2 tsp of pre ground.

1 tsp Garam Masala

1-2 tsp Kashmiri Chili Powder, or sub with 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper Powder.

1 Tbsp Fenugreek Leaves

1 tsp Sugar

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. While the oven is heating, take the eggplants and prick them all over. This is essential so they will not explode when you cook them. Turn on a gas flame and brown the eggplant skin on all sides, turning them frequently. A pair of tongs makes this very easy. This will take about 5-8 minutes, but keep a close watch on them.

After they are well browned, put them onto an aluminum foil or parchment lined baking sheet and into the preheated oven for approx 45 minutes or until they are wrinkly and soft. Allow to cool and scrape out the flesh and set aside.

Two charred eggplants resting on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, showcasing their smoky exterior.

Make your paste by adding the onion, garlic and ginger into a mini blender/ food processor. Grind it in stages until it’s a smooth paste. You can also finely chop them if you don’t have a mini blender.

Sauté your onion, ginger garlic paste in 3 to 4 tablespoons of oil. Cook it until the harsh smell is gone.

Then add your ground spices and cook them gently until they smell fragrant. Add your tomatoes and cook until the mixture thickens slightly.

Adding your chopped eggplant, sugar and fenugreek and simmer until the eggplant is fully cooked. If the mixture seems too thick, just add some water. A good sign that the dish is ready is when the oil separates from the sauce.

Serve over basmati rice.

Note: If you don’t have a gas range, you can approximate the charring under a broiler by turning the eggplant until well charred and then finish baking in the oven.

This is a traditional “mezze” dish. Mezze are small dishes that can be served for either lunch or dinner and can also be starters for a larger meal. I personally like to have 3 or 4 different ones and serve them as a meal.

There are many versions popular throughout the Middle East, but fundamentally most are quite similar. I like this one because it is smoky and richly flavored.

Ingredients:

3-4 Medium Eggplants, or 2 large if the smaller ones aren’t available.

2 cloves crushed Garlic, soaked in your lemon juice. It removes the harshness.

5 Tbsp Tahini, or more to taste.

Juice of 2-3 Lemons, start with two and then add additional as needed.

2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Preparation:

After they are well browned, put them onto an aluminum foil or parchment lined baking sheet and into the preheated oven for approx 45 minutes or until they are wrinkly and soft.

Take them out and allow them to cool. Then slice them in half and take a soup spoon and gently remove the flesh. Make sure to get all of the darkly colored flesh close the skin, as this is where you will get the smoky flavor. Make sure not to get any of the skin. Put the flesh into a colander and let the juice drain off. This juice can be bitter.

Put the flesh into the food processor and pulse and then add the remaining ingredients. Begin by adding the lemon juice, garlic and then the tahini a bit at a time. Finish with one tablespoon of the olive oil and the reminder of the olive oil can be poured over the top just prior to serving.

I prefer this after it has rested in the refrigerator for a few hours. Once it has cooled, taste again for salt and serve with warm pita bread.

Note: This dish is made by tasting, as some eggplants can be bitter and some less so.

Tag: vegetarian

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