Tunisian Eggplant Aubergine Salad Recipes

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 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.

TURKISH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SALAD

Steps:

• With a fork, pierce skin of eggplant. Bake eggplant in a rimmed pan in a 400 degrees oven for 1 hour or until very soft; cool.
• Split in half and scoop out pulp into a bowl. Mash pulp with a fork.
• Mix in oil, lemon juice, garlic, green pepper and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill for 2 hours.
• To serve: Arrange romaine lettuce leaves on platter. Mound eggplant in center. Garnish with tomato wedges and fresh parsley.

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.

MELITZANOSALATA AGIORITIKI (ATHENIAN EGGPLANT SALAD)

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
• Pierce the eggplant a few times with the tip of a paring knife or fork. Cook eggplant on preheated grill, turning often, until the skin is charred and the eggplant is tender, about 15 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle.
• Remove the skin from the eggplant and dice the pulp. Place into a mixing bowl, and add tomato, onion, parsley, olive oil, vinegar, and feta cheese; mix well. Refrigerate for one hour, and season to taste with salt before serving.