Egyptian Eggplant Recipes

EGYPTIAN FRIED EGGPLANT WITH TOMATO SAUCE - MESA'AH

Steps:

• Wash the eggplant and slice into 1/4" thick disks.
• In a large nonstick frying pan, add enough oil to coat the pan. Set the heat to medium-high heat.
• Once the oil is hot, add enough eggplant to just cover the pan. Don't stack the eggplant on top of each other.
• Using a fork, flip the eggplant once it's a golden brown. Cook on the other side.
• Add a paper towel to a plate, and place the fried eggplant onto the towel to soak the extra oil.
• Once the eggplant is all fried, set aside.
• Chop the garlic into very fine pieces.
• In a blender, blend the tomatoes. Strain the tomatoes using a fine mesh strainer.
• Add 1 tbsp of oil to a nonstick frying pan on medium-high heat. Add the chopped garlic and cook until medium brown.
• Add the vinegar, blended and strained tomatoes, and whole spicy pepper. Cook on medium-high heat for about 15 minutes to allow all of the flavors to infuse together.
• Add the salt and pepper to taste at the very end.
• Add the fried eggplant into the garlic tomato sauce mixture. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes altogether.
• Serve with fresh pita bread.

EGYPTIAN EGGPLANT DISH (MASAA'A)

Steps:

• Fry the eggplant slices in oil until golden, set aside on paper towels to drain, and lightly salt.
• Fry potatoes until golden and set aside on paper towels to drain. Lightly salt.
• Fry pepper slices in oil until tender, set aside.
• In a pan, saute the onion until soft. Add Garlic, and saute a 1-2 min more.
• Add the spices and mustard (except salt, unless you want more- I usually think the salted veggies are salty enough. Just taste and see).
• Add in the veggies and tomato sauce and mix well.
• Cook just long enough to heat through.
• Sprinkle with chickpeas.
• Enjoy!

EGYPTIAN EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Peel eggplant if you prefer it without the skin like I do.
• Cute in cubes and mix lemon juice and water and toss together so Eggplant doesn't brown.
• Cut bell pepper into cubes.
• Saute bell pepper and eggplant in olive oil for a couple minutes.
• Add tomato sauce, chicken stock, jalapeno juice, jalapenos, chickpeas.
• Season with sea salt.
• Allow to reduce down until eggplant is soft and chickpeas are tender.
• Server Immediately
• I like mine with some pita bread, yogurt and it's a nice side dish for fish.

SPICY EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Cook and stir the eggplant cubes until they begin to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the eggplant with a slotted spoon, and set aside.
• Heat 2 more tablespoons of oil in the skillet over medium-high heat, and cook and stir the onions just until they begin to soften, about 30 seconds. Stir in the garlic, and cook and stir an additional 30 seconds. Mix in the soy sauce, water, oyster sauce, chili garlic sauce, sugar, and black pepper, and stir to form a smooth sauce. Return the eggplant to the skillet, lower the heat, and allow the vegetables and sauce to simmer until the eggplant is tender and almost all the liquid has been absorbed, about 5 minutes. Drizzle sesame oil over the dish, and give one final brief stir to combine.