Fried Eggplant With Chickpeas And Mint Chutney Recipes

FRIED EGGPLANT WITH CHICKPEAS AND MINT CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Season eggplant slices all over with salt. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat until it thins out in the pan. Add enough eggplant slices to fit in one layer without overlapping. Cook until the bottoms are browned, then flip and continue to cook until well browned and soft, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Add more oil if needed. Transfer cooked eggplant to a plate lined with paper towels, and repeat with more oil and eggplant until all the eggplant is cooked. Taste eggplant and add more salt if necessary.
• Heat another tablespoon of oil in pan, then add the onions. Cook until softened and golden, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Add spices and cook for 1 minute, then add tomatoes, chickpeas and 2 tablespoons water.
• Partly cover the pan and let the mixture simmer until tomatoes start to break down, 10 to 15 minutes. Add eggplant to the pan and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, until sauce thickens.
• While the eggplant cooks, combine all the ingredients for the chutney in a blender with 2 tablespoons water. Blend until puréed, about 1 minute. Taste and add more lemon juice or salt, or both, if needed.
• Serve the eggplant topped with the chutney and yogurt if you like.

FRIED EGGPLANT WITH HONEY, MINT, AND SESAME SEEDS

Steps:

• Place eggplant in large bowl. Add 4 cups water and 2 teaspoons salt. Let soak 30 minutes. Drain well; pat eggplant dry with paper towels.
• Mix flour, baking powder, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. Whisk in milk and eggs.
• Heat enough oil to come 1/2 inch up sides of pan in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, dip eggplant rounds in batter, then fry in oil until golden, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Warm honey in small saucepan over medium heat. Place eggplant rounds on platter. Drizzle with honey. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and mint; serve warm or at room temperature.

CHICKPEA AND EGGPLANT SALAD

Steps:

• Cover the onion with water and set aside for half an hour-this reduces the harshness of its taste when eaten raw.
• Next prepare the eggplant. Spread the half-moon slices out on a baking sheet and brush them with olive oil. Place on a high rack under the broiler for 5 minutes, then take out and brush again with a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice-you can make it quite wet, as the eggplant will absorb all the liquid. Place back under the broiler until the edges of the slices are slightly blackened and the flesh is soft. Set aside in a large bowl.
• On the same baking sheet, spread out the chickpeas and broil until they're golden. Add them to the bowl of eggplant.
• Dice the tomatoes into small cubes and add to the bowl along with the parsley, drained red onion slices, garlic oil, cayenne pepper, remaining lemon juice, zest, salt and pepper and mix well. Serve warm, with a sprinkling of slivered almonds.