Baharat Braised Eggplant Recipes

BAHARAT BLEND

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in a spice grinder, clean coffee grinder, or mortar and pestle, and grind until fine. If you like, you can strain the mix through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any coarse bits, but this is optional. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.

GRILLED FATTOUSH WITH ZA'ATAR EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Whisk za'atar, garlic, and oil in a small bowl. Generously brush eggplant, onions and pita with za'atar oil. Season with salt and pepper; reserve remaining oil for dressing.
• Prepare a grill for high heat; thoroughly clean grates and brush with oil.
• Grill eggplant, turning occasionally, until lightly charred on all sides but just tender, about 3 minutes per side. Grill onion and pita, tuning once, until lightly charred on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and let cool. Cut large eggplant into bite-sized pieces and tear pita into large strips. Set aside until ready to assemble.
• Whisk lemon juice, honey, zest, 2 teaspoons salt, ½ teaspoon pepper and remaining za'atar oil until completely combined.
• Arrange eggplant, onion, pita, tomatoes, feta, cucumber and olives on a large platter. Drizzle dressing over top and generously coat the eggplant. Top with basil leaves and dill sprigs.

ORIENTAL BRAISED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Trim the ends of the eggplant and cut lengthwise into ½-inch thick slices.
• Arrange eggplant slices on a cookie sheet lined with paper towels and sprinkle both sides with salt.
• Let them sit 1 hour, then pat them dry and cut into 1 1/2-inch-long pieces.
• Heat a large flame-proof casserole or Dutch oven and add the oil and heat until hot.
• Add the chile paste and stir-fry for 5 seconds over high heat, then add the other seasonings and stir-fry until fragrant.
• Add the red onions and sauté about 1 ½ minutes, then add the red pepper and sauté another minute.
• Add the eggplant and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the braising liquid (broth, soy sauce,rice wine and vinegar), cover, and heat until boiling.
• Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook about 12 to 14 minutes, or until the eggplant is tender.
• Uncover, increase the heat to high, and cook until the sauce is reduced to a glaze. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with the scallion greens.

BRAISED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Chop green onion and put garlic through press; saute in hot oil for 2 minutes.
• Peel and cut eggplant in 3-inch strips. Add to skillet in single layer and cook over high heat until lightly browned on both sides.
• Add broth; cover and simmer about 10 minutes, until eggplant is tender.
• Stir in soy sauce and serve.

BAHARAT BRAISED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Trim ends off eggplant. With a vegetable peeler, cut off alternating strips of skin. Cut eggplant into 1-inch cubes, place in a colander over a large bowl and toss with salt. Let sit for 30 minutes to 3 hours, rinse well and squeeze to remove as much liquid as possible; do not break cubes up.
• In a large skillet or saucepan, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add eggplant cubes and move them around occasionally, until they are rather tender and somewhat browned, about 7 minutes. Remove from the pan with tongs, leaving as much oil as possible in the pan. Set aside.
• Add remaining oil to the pan with the onions and pine nuts and stir occasionally, until the onions are transparent and some pine nuts are lightly browned, 7 or 8 minutes.
• Return eggplant to the pan with RawSpiceBar's Baharat Spices, tomato, chickpeas, raisins and sugar. Mix well, then turn heat to low. Cover the pan and cook until the eggplant is very tender but still in distinct pieces, about 30 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking, stirring once or twice, until the liquid is somewhat thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the pan from heat and let sit uncovered until it is at room temperature, about 45 minutes. Stir in the feta, dill and parsley, adjust the seasonings to taste and serve, accompanied by yogurt and lemon wedges for squeezing.