Pan Seared Eggplant With Buttermilk Dressing Recipes

PAN-SEARED EGGPLANT WITH BUTTERMILK DRESSING RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Add half of shallot and cook, stirring often, until tender and slightly charred and crisp around the edges, about 5 minutes; season with salt. Remove skillet from heat.
• Whisk buttermilk, vinegar, mustard, honey, and several grinds of pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Scrape in charred shallot; reserve skillet. Add 3 Tbsp. oil and 2 Tbsp. chives and mix well. Season dressing with salt.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in reserved skillet over medium-high. Add half of eggplant slices and arrange in a single layer; season lightly with salt. Cook, without moving, until browned underneath, about 3 minutes. Turn; cook on second side until browned and tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Add remaining 2 Tbsp. oil to skillet and repeat with remaining eggplant slices.
• Let eggplant cool slightly, then add cucumbers, parsley, lemon juice, half of lemon zest, and 1 Tbsp. chives to bowl. Toss well; season with salt and pepper. Gently fold in avocado.
• Transfer to a platter and drizzle with several spoonfuls of dressing (you don't need to use all of it). Top with remaining lemon zest, shallot, and 1 Tbsp. chives.

EGGPLANT WITH BUTTERMILK SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°F. Cut the eggplants in half lengthways, cutting straight through the green stalk (the stalk is for the look; don't eat it). Use a small sharp knife to make three or four parallel incisions in the cut side of each eggplant half, without cutting through to the skin. Repeat at a 45-degree angle to get a diamond-shaped pattern.
• Place the eggplant halves, cut-side up, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush them with olive oil-keep on brushing until all of the oil has been absorbed by the flesh. Sprinkle with the lemon thyme leaves and some salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, at which point the flesh should be soft, flavorful and nicely browned. Remove from the oven and allow to cool down completely.
• While the eggplants are in the oven, cut the pomegranate into two horizontally. Hold one half over a bowl, with the cut side against your palm, and use the back of a wooden spoon or a rolling pin to gently knock on the pomegranate skin. Continue beating with increasing power until the seeds start coming out naturally and falling through your fingers into the bowl. Once all are there, sift through the seeds to remove any bits of white skin or membrane.
• To make the sauce. Whisk together all of the ingredients. Taste for seasoning, then keep cold until needed.
• To serve, spoon plenty of buttermilk sauce over the eggplant halves without covering the stalks. Sprinkle za'atar and plenty of pomegranate seeds on top and garnish with lemon thyme. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

PAN-FRIED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Shake flour, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder together in a gallon-size resealable plastic bag.
• Pour oil into a large iron skillet over medium heat. Coat a handful eggplant slices with the flour mixture. Add to the hot oil; cook until crisp and light brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook until other side is browned, 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove slices carefully and move to a plate or cooling rack; cover with paper towels. Repeat with the remaining eggplant slices.

SHEET PAN VEGAN ROASTED EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place eggplant slices in a single layer on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning.
• Roast in the preheated oven until golden and crispy, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle with salt.

PAN-ROASTED EGGPLANT WITH PEANUT-CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare two heavy skillets: One large skillet and one medium skillet that fits inside the large one. Wrap the medium skillet in foil.
• Using a vegetable peeler, peel wide strips of skin off the eggplants lengthwise, so that they are striped. Cut them crosswise into 3/4-inch thick rounds, and sprinkle them with about 1 teaspoon salt.
• Make the sauce: In a bowl, combine the peanuts, cumin, garlic, 2 tablespoons chile paste, a pinch of salt and 3 tablespoons oil. Taste and adjust the seasonings with chile paste and salt.
• Heat the oven to 200 degrees and place a large baking sheet in it to warm.
• In the large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium heat until just shimmering. Working in batches, add a single layer of eggplant slices and place the medium skillet on top to press the eggplant flat. Cook, adjusting the heat so you hear the sound of sizzling (not popping, which would indicate burning). Check the color after 3 minutes. When nicely browned all over, about 5 minutes, flip the rounds and place the medium skillet on top again. Cook the other side until lightly browned, about 4 minutes, and transfer to the hot sheet pan in the oven. Add more olive oil to the pan and repeat with remaining eggplant.
• When all the eggplant slices are cooked, lightly wipe out the large skillet and reheat over low heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil, swirl to heat through and add ginger. Let sizzle, stirring, until just beginning to brown, then scrape the cooked ginger and oil into the peanut sauce. Stir and taste again.
• To serve, arrange the eggplant slices on a platter. Use a spoon to drizzle sauce over the top (you might not use all the sauce). Scatter scallions and cilantro on top.

SPICY SEARED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Sprinkle the eggplant slices with salt, place in a colander set over a bowl, and let stand for 30 minutes. Rinse eggplant and pat dry.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat combine shallots, garlic, sugar, vinegar, red-pepper flakes, and 3 tablespoons water. Bring to a boil, cook 1 minute, and remove from heat. Stir in raisins, capers, olives, and 1/4 cup of olive oil; cool to room temperature.
• Heat grill to high and brush grates with vegetable oil. Brush eggplant with remaining 4 teaspoons olive oil. Cook eggplant until charred and tender, turning over halfway through, about 10 minutes.
• Arrange eggplant on platter and spoon shallot mixture over top. Cool to room temperature and serve.