Eggplant Aubergine Kuku Persian Eggplant Recipes

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) KUKU (PERSIAN EGGPLANT)

Steps:

• Peel the eggplants, cut them lengthwise in quarters if they are large, and salt them to remove bitternes if necessary.
• Brush each side of the eggplant pieces with eggwhite to reduce the oil needed for frying.
• In a skillet, heat 4 tablespoons oil over medium heat.
• Add the onion and stir-fry for 10 minutes, until translucent.
• Add the eggplant and garlic and stir-fry 10 minutes longer, until all sides are lightly golden brown.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Pour 4 tablespoons of oil into an 8-inch baking dish lined with parchment paper.
• Break the eggs into a large bowl.
• Add the parsley, saffron water, lime juice, baking powder, flour, salt, and pepper.
• Beat thoroughly with a fork.
• Add the eggplant, onion and garlic and mix thoroughly.
• Pour the mixture into the dish and bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes, until the edge is golden brown.
• Serve the kuku from the baking dish or unmold it by loosening the edge with a knife and inverting the dish onto a serving platter.
• Remove the parchment paper.

PERFECT EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PARMESAN SECRETS

Steps:

• Wash eggplant, dry, trim ends.
• Slice to 1/4 inch rounds.
• Sprinkle salt on both sides.
• Spread out in strainer over sink, or in bowl for 1 hour to drain moisture.
• Rinse well and pat dry with paper towels.
• Put flour in flat dish, eggs in bowl, breadcrumbs in separate flat dish.
• Coat both sides of slices in flour.
• Dip in egg.
• Coat in breadcrumbs.
• Stack in separate dish.
• Heat oil in pan.
• Brown slices in oil a few at a time, may have to change oil if it gets too brown.
• Drain on papertowels (I just do this in layers).
• In a 9x13 baking dish, spread a couple of tablespoons of sauce on the bottom.
• Place a layer of eggplant (can be overlapped), spread sauce, sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan.
• Repeat layers till done. Takes me three layers, so divide all items in three.
• Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes until cheese melts.

EGGPLANT KUKU

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bake eggplant, cut sides down, in an oiled shallow baking pan until very tender, about 30 minutes. When cool enough to handle, scrape flesh into a food processor, discarding skin, and purée until smooth. Add egg yolks, cheese, garlic, lemon juice, pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon salt and pulse until blended. Transfer to a bowl.
• Pour melted butter into a 6-cup (1 1/2-quart) gratin dish or a 91/2-inch deep-dish pie plate and tilt to coat bottom. Beat egg whites with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt using an electric mixer at medium speed until they just hold stiff peaks. Fold one third of whites into eggplant mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Spoon into gratin dish. Bake until golden and puffed, 25 to 30 minutes.

EGGPLANT KUKU

Steps:

• Peel eggplants, reserving 4 long strips of peel to garnish top of kuku, and cut eggplants lengthwise into 1-inch-thick slices. Place on a baking sheet lined with paper towels, and sprinkle generously with salt. Turn slices over, and sprinkle again with salt. Let eggplants sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water, and pat dry.
• Heat broiler. Place eggplants on a rimmed baking sheet; brush both sides with olive oil. Broil about 6 inches from heat until golden brown on both sides,6 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer eggplant to a bowl, and mash with a fork; set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Add to bowl with mashed eggplant.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Combine eggs, parsley, saffron water, lime juice, baking powder, flour, salt, and pepper. Whisk until thoroughly combined. Add to eggplant mixture, and mix thoroughly with a fork.
• Brush 1 tablespoon oil into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet, and place in the oven for 5 minutes to heat oil. Pour eggplant mixture into pan, and place the reserved eggplant peel across the top. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove pan, and drizzle remaining tablespoon oil over the top. Return to oven, and bake until golden on top, about 20 minutes more.
• Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool slightly before unmolding. Cut in wedges; serve warm or at room temperature.

KHORESH-E BADEMJOON (PERSIAN LAMB, EGGPLANT AND TOMATO STEW)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, season lamb with turmeric, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
• Peel the eggplants but leave the green skin on the stem end intact. Trim the tips of the stems and make an incomplete lengthwise cut in each eggplant from the bottom, leaving both halves attached at the stem. Place eggplants in a colander set inside a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for 30 minutes.
• In the meantime, set a large Dutch oven or similar pot over medium-high heat. When the pot is hot, add 3 tablespoons oil. When the oil shimmers, add onion and cook, stirring regularly, until softened and browned, 16 to 18 minutes.
• Add the meat and cook, turning regularly, until it browns evenly on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes. Add 4 cups water and increase heat to high. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour.
• In the meantime, rinse the eggplants, dry thoroughly and set aside. Remove stems and halve tomatoes through their cores and set aside. Line a baking sheet with two layers of paper towels and set aside.
• Set a large frying pan over high heat. When the pan is hot, add 1/4 cup oil and carefully lay eggplants in the pan in a single layer. It's crucial to leave space between each eggplant for steam to escape, so brown in batches if necessary. Reduce heat to medium-high and cook, turning regularly, until eggplants are browned on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove browned eggplants to lined baking sheet and allow to drain.
• Use the same pan to brown tomatoes, cut-side down, in remaining 2 tablespoons oil for about 5 minutes. Flip and cook tomatoes on skin side until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes, then remove to lined baking sheet.
• Once the meat has cooked for 1 hour, stir in the tomato paste, saffron and 1/4 cup lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Carefully arrange the browned eggplants and tomatoes atop the stew and then sprinkle on the young grapes. Allow the stew to come to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer, uncovered, until meat is falling apart and stew is thick and unctuous, about 1 hour. Without jostling the eggplants too much, taste a spoonful or two of the stew. It should be pleasantly tart, so adjust the seasoning with salt and lime juice as needed.
• Serve hot, with Persian rice and mast-o khiar, as well as pickles, fresh herbs, scallions and radishes, if desired.

PERSIAN EGGPLANT STEW

Steps:

• Sprinkle 2 teaspoons salt over eggplant.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook eggplants until soft and browned, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in stew meat, beef bouillon, cumin, and saffron; cook meat until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste until well mixed.
• Pour water and tomato sauce into the saucepan. Reduce heat to low and cover; cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced by half, about 2 hours 20 minutes. Stir in eggplants. Cook until heated through, about 10 minutes.