Eggplant With Cashew Butter And Pickled Peppers Recipes

EGGPLANT WITH CASHEW BUTTER AND PICKLED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Bring vinegar, sugar, and salt to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, whisking to dissolve sugar and salt.
• Combine bell peppers and chiles in a medium heatproof bowl or container. Pour hot pickling liquid over and let cool.
• Cook shallot, garlic, cashews, olive oil, and vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, until cashews are golden brown and shallots are deep golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl; save oil for another use. Transfer cashew mixture to a medium bowl. Add sugar and salt and toss to combine. Let cool.
• Blend cashew mixture, lime juice, fish sauce, and 1/2 cup water in a blender until very smooth and pourable (it should be about the thickness of tahini).
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Heat a dry large cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Pour 3 Tbsp. oil into pan and swirl to coat. As soon as it begins to smoke, carefully add eggplants, cut side down, puzzling together to fit into a single layer. (Work in 2 batches if needed, adding another 3 Tbsp. oil to skillet between batches.) Cook, undisturbed, until cut sides are golden brown, 4-5 minutes.
• Transfer skillet to oven (if working in 2 batches, return first batch of eggplants to skillet). Roast until eggplants are tender, about 4 minutes; season with salt. Add shallot and lime juice and toss well.
• Spread 1/2 cup cashew butter on a platter. Arrange eggplants on top. Scatter basil, cilantro, chives, and 1 Tbsp. drained pickled peppers over.
• Pickles can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill.

EGGPLANT AND RED PEPPER BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix red bell pepper, onion, and garlic in a large mixing bowl; season with basil, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the pepper mixture; toss to coat the vegetables evenly.
• Brush eggplant slices with olive oil to coat thinly.
• Spread about 1/3 of the pepper mixture into the bottom of a square glass baking dish; top with a layer of about 1/3 of the eggplant. Repeat layering twice more. Top final layer with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until the cheese is browned and the vegetables are bubbling, 35 to 40 minutes.

BAKED EGGPLANT WITH CASHEWS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
• Cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish with 1/2 the eggplant slices, and season with salt. In a bowl, toss together the bread crumbs and brown sugar, and sprinkle about 1/4 cup of the mixture over the layer of eggplant slices.
• In a bowl, mix 1/2 cup bread crumb mixture, the onion, celery, tomato, red bell pepper, olives, and olive oil. Season with oregano and saffron. Spread over the layer of eggplant in the baking dish. Top with remaining eggplant. Sprinkle with remaining bread crumb mixture.
• In a blender, blend the soy milk, heavy cream, and cashews until smooth. Pour over the top of the layered dish.
• Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until crisp and golden brown.

SPICED PEPPERS AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, coriander, cumin, and saffron, if using; cook, stirring often, until garlic is softened, about 4 minutes. Add sweet peppers and eggplants; season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and add vinegar. Just before serving, add basil and toss to combine.
• DO AHEAD: Vegetables can be cooked 4 days ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before adding basil and serving.