Tunisian Eggplant Appetizer Recipes

MINI EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• For the sauce: Heat the oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium. Add the garlic, shallots and salt. Stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, basil, oregano and crushed red pepper. Simmer the sauce until the flavors blend and the sauce thickens, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Mix in the vinegar.
• For the eggplant: Mix the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Place the panko breadcrumbs in another shallow bowl. Whisk the egg whites in a medium bowl until frothy. Dip each eggplant slice in the flour mixture, then into the beaten egg whites, and then into the panko breadcrumbs to coat completely.
• Heat the oil in a heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat until hot (the surface will appear to be shimmering), 2 to 3 minutes. Add half of the eggplant slices. Cook until deep golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the eggplant to a paper-towel-lined plate. Fry the remaining eggplant. (Can be made 1 hour ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Preheat a broiler. Toss the mozzarella and Parmesan in a small bowl until well blended. Spread 1 generous teaspoon of the sauce over each eggplant slice. Top with a rounded teaspoon of the cheese mixture; spread out to cover and press lightly to adhere. Transfer the eggplant slices to a rimmed baking sheet. Broil until the cheese has melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mini eggplant parmesans to a platter and garnish each with small basil leaf. Let stand 2 to 3 minutes before serving.

BAKED TUNISIAN EGGPLANT AND PEPPER FRITTATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and rub it with olive oil. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise and score down the middle, being careful not to cut through the skin. Place the eggplant on the foil-covered baking sheet, cut side down. Place in the oven, and bake 20 minutes or until the skin has begun to shrivel and the eggplant has softened. Remove from the oven and transfer to a colander, cut side down. Allow to cool and drain for 10 minutes. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees. Cut the eggplant into small dice. Don't worry if the eggplant is so soft that it falls apart when you cut it up. If the charred edges on the cut side taste bitter, cut them away and discard them.
• While the eggplant is in the oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet, and add the onion and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Add a pinch of salt, stir in the garlic and eggplant and cook for one more minute, stirring. Remove from the heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Place the remaining tablespoon of oil in a 2-quart casserole or a 9-inch cast iron skillet, brush the sides of the pan with the oil, and place in the oven. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat the eggs and add the parsley, cheese, salt (about 1/2 teaspoon), pepper, cinnamon and cayenne. For a spicier dish, whisk in about a teaspoon of harissa or more, to taste. Stir in the eggplant mixture.
• Remove the pan from the oven, and pour in the egg mixture. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned on the top and set. Allow to cool for 10 minutes or longer before serving. Serve hot or at room temperature, cut into wedges or squares.

EGGPLANT APPETIZER

Steps:

• Place the eggplant, bell pepper, tomato, and onion into a large pot. In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, salt, oil, vinegar, and water. Pour over the vegetables. Bring to a boil and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes. Serve warm.

TUNISIAN EGGPLANT APPETIZER

Steps:

• 1. In a large skillet, saute onion and garlic in olive oil with salt over medium heat until onion is soft and translucent (5 to 8 minutes). 2. Add eggplant cubes, stir, and cover. Cook until eggplant is very well done (15 to 20 minutes), stirring occasionally. Add small amounts of additional oil, 1 T. at a time to prevent sticking. 3. Stir in tomato paste and vinegar, and heat to boiling point. Add olves and remove from heat. 4. Stir in artichoke hearts, then cool to room temperature. Taste to adjust seasonings, adding option hers, if desired. 5. Cover tightly and chill. Serve cold or at room temperature.

TUNISIAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SALAD

Steps:

• Roast eggplant in the oven until the skin is charred.
• Allow to cool and peel off charred skin; cut the eggplant into 1 inch cubes.
• Arrange with green pepper in 2-quart shallow casserole dish.
• In a glass jar with lid, combine garlic, oil, vinegar, oregano and salt; shake well.
• Pour over eggplant mixture. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Drain marinade and reserve for other use. Toss marinated vegetables with tuna and tomato.
• Spoon in to salad bowl lined with crisp greens.
• Enjoy!

TUNISIAN EGGPLANT OMELET

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Slice eggplant lengthwise. Score down the middle of the eggplant without cutting through the skin.
• Line a baking sheet with foil and rub olive oil on it. Place eggplant on it, cut side down.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until the skin starts to shrivel and the eggplant has softened.
• Turn the oven down to 350 degrees.
• Peel and dice the eggplant when cooled. If the charred edges are bitter cut off and discard.
• In a non-stick skillet heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and red bell pepper. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until vegetables are tender, stirring often. Add a pinch of salt, eggplant and garlic, cook 1 minute, stirring. Remove from heat.
• In a large bowl beat eggs, add parsley, rose water, salt, pepper, cinnamon and harissa. Stir in eggplant filling and cheese.
• Oil a 2-quart earthenware baking dish. Pour in egg mixture and bake 30 minutes, until golden and set.
• Cool for 10 minutes or longer. Serve hot or at room temperature. Cut in to squares or wedges.

TUNISIAN EGGPLANT SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Pierce the eggplant all over with a fork. Place the eggplant on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated 400°F oven for about 40 minutes, or until soft and shriveled. Set aside to cool. 2. When the eggplant is cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh and discard the skin. Chop or mash the eggplant into small pieces and place in a medium-size bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. 3. Garnish with cilantro and serve as an appetizer with Sesame, Poppy Seed, and Garlic Pita Points (page 145), or heap onto a bed of salad greens topped with feta. *Harissa is a fiery hot sauce made with chiles. It is from Tunisia and can be purchased at Middle Eastern food stores.

FATIMA'S FINGERS (TUNISIAN EGG ROLLS)

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, prepare the filling: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add the chicken and sauté until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the ras el hanout, turmeric, salt and pepper to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and set aside to cool.
• Once the water comes to a boil, add the potatoes and cook until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to another bowl to cool. Let the water continue to boil.
• Prepare the hard-boiled egg: Add 1 egg to the boiling water, reduce the heat to medium and let it cook for 10 minutes. Remove the hard-boiled egg from the water and let cool. Peel the egg and chop it into small pieces.
• To the chicken mixture in the large bowl, add the cooled potatoes, chopped egg, mozzarella, parsley and the remaining 1 uncooked egg. Stir to combine the filling.
• Prepare the rolls: Working with one at a time, place one spring roll wrapper on a flat surface. Add a scant 1/4 cup of the chicken filling in the wrapper in one corner, arranging the filling a 4- to 5-inch log. Starting from the same corner, roll the wrapper twice around the filling. Fold in the sides and continue rolling toward the furthest corner. Brush egg wash on the last corner to seal, then roll until the parcel is fully sealed and forms a tight cylinder.
• Add the vegetable oil to a medium saucepan and heat over medium-high until the oil reaches about 350 degrees. Working in batches, add about 3 rolls to the oil and cook, rotating frequently until golden brown and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. (If you prefer to avoid deep frying, you can bake the rolls on a rack-lined sheet pan at 375 degrees until golden brown, about 25 minutes, turning them halfway through.) Place cooked rolls on a paper towel for a few minutes to absorb oil before transferring to a serving platter. Serve warm with fresh lemon wedges to squeeze on top.