Cumin Scented Eggplant With Pomegranate And Cilantro Recipes

HOMINY WITH POMEGRANATE AND CILANTRO

Steps:

• Rinse the hominy, then place in a large bowl and cover with twice its volume of cold water. Soak overnight. Drain when ready to use.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add the hominy and twice its volume of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the hominy kernels have split open and become tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Drain and set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, add the lime juice and zest, orange juice and zest, tequila, agave, cumin, pepper flakes, salt and black pepper. Whisk together while adding the olive oil in a slow, steady stream.
• Add the hominy, black beans, pomegranate seeds and cilantro to the vinaigrette and mix well. Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes before serving to allow the hominy and black beans to soak up some of the vinaigrette.

BROILED EGGPLANT WITH CILANTRO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Halve eggplants lengthwise. Brush cut sides with 1/4 cup oil and season with salt. Arrange as many eggplants, cut sides up, as will fit in 1 layer on rack of a broiler pan and broil 2 to 3 inches from heat until browned, about 5 minutes. Turn oven setting to 450°F. and move pan to middle of oven. Roast until tender when pierced with a fork, about 12 minutes. Repeat with remaining eggplants.
• Blend remaining 1 1/2 cups oil and remaining ingredients in a blender until emulsified.
• Serve eggplants at room temperature, drizzled with vinaigrette.
• To make 6 servings: Follow the directions above using the following ingredient amounts:
• 6 small (4-oz.) eggplants
• 8 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice

SUMAC-SCENTED EGGPLANT AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• In a deep, wide skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high until shimmering. Add half the eggplant, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned all over, about 8 minutes. Transfer the eggplant to a large baking sheet to cool and repeat with the remaining olive oil and eggplant. Transfer to the baking sheet.
• Add the tomatoes, sumac, garlic and 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper and simmer over medium-low until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in the eggplant, chickpeas, half the scallions, half the mint and 1/4 cup water. Let simmer until flavors meld, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more pomegranate molasses if you like. The eggplant mixture should be a little textural, chunky even, with an assertive, tangy finish.
• Divide the rice and eggplant mixture among wide, shallow bowls. Dollop with yogurt, sprinkle with the remaining scallions and mint, and serve with pita, if using.

CUMIN CILANTRO DUCK BREAST WITH APRICOT JUS AND JAPANESE EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat a medium saucepan with 2 tablespoons of the canola oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallots, pink peppercorns, bay leaf and 2 of the thyme sprigs. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are softened and translucent, 5 minutes. Add the sugar and 1/2 cup of the sherry vinegar. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until reduced au sec (or until there is barely anything left), a few minutes. Add the red wine and continue to reduce until almost completely dry, 5 to 6 minutes. Add 1 cup of the demi-glace and cook for 5 minutes until reduced and slightly thickened.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the apricots and cook until softened. Strain the sauce into the saucepan with the apricots a. Add the remaining 1/2 cup demi-glace and reduce for 5 minutes until thickened. Stir in the butter and remaining 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar and remove from the heat.
• Score the skin on the duck in a crosshatch pattern, being careful not to cut into the meat. Season the duck on both sides with salt and pepper. Gently heat a dry cast-iron pan over low. Place the duck skin-side down into the pan and begin to slowly render the duck fat. Very slowly and gently, cook until most of the fat has rendered, about 20 minutes. Flip the duck and cook on the flesh side for 3 to 4 minutes, basting with some of the duck fat using the remaining 2 thyme sprigs, until the duck reaches an internal temperature of 130 degrees F for medium rare. Remove from the pan and allow to rest. Reserve some of the duck fat.
• Mix together the ground cumin and cilantro stems in a small bowl. Brush the crispy duck skin with the honey. Crust the duck with the cumin and cilantro stem mixture, making sure to firmly press onto the duck to ensure it's nicely adhered. Slice the duck lengthwise.
• Season the eggplant with salt. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat with some of the reserved duck fat. Place the eggplant into the pan, flesh-side down. Cook until the flesh is golden brown and crispy, about 5 minutes.
• Serve the duck with the apricot jus alongside the eggplant. Garnish with the toasted hazelnuts and microgreens.

CUMIN-SCENTED EGGPLANT WITH POMEGRANATE AND CILANTRO

Steps:

• Stir 5 cups water and 2 1/2 tablespoons sea salt in large bowl to dissolve salt. Add eggplant slices. Place plate on eggplant to submerge; let soak 1 hour. Drain eggplant; pat dry.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, sauté eggplant until brown in spots and softened, 2 minutes per side. Transfer to large rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining eggplant, adding more oil by tablespoonfuls as needed; arrange eggplant in single layer on baking sheet.
• Mix cumin and cayenne. Sprinkle eggplant with cumin mixture. Roast until golden and cooked through, 30 minutes.
• Remove eggplant from oven; sprinkle with garlic. Arrange eggplant on platter and drizzle lightly with pomegranate molasses. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds and cilantro over. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• *A thick pomegranate syrup; available at some supermarkets, at Middle Eastern markets, and from adrianascaravan.com.

DANIEL BOULUD'S EGGPLANT WITH CUMIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Pierce the eggplants in several places so they won't explode, place in a greased baking pan and bake until soft, almost to the point of collapse, 35 to 45 minutes. Cut in half, cool for 15 minutes or so and drain the juices. Remove the skin, finely chop the flesh and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic and cumin, cover and cook for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add the eggplant and salt and pepper to taste. Cook gently for 20 minutes, or until moisture evaporates. Check for seasoning.