Eggplant Fritters With Honey Recipe Epicuriouscom Recipes

EGGPLANT FRITTERS WITH HONEY

Steps:

• Peel the eggplants and cut them into slices about 1/3 inch thick. Put them in a bowl, add enough milk to cover, and put a small plate on top to hold them down. Let soak for 1 to 2 hours; drain.
• Cover a plate with plenty of flour mixed with a sprinkling of salt. Working in batches, turn the eggplant slices in this so that they are entirely covered with flour, then shake them to remove the excess. Deep-fry in sizzling but not too hot oil, turning the slices over as soon as the first side is brown. Drain on paper towels.
• Serve hot with a dribble of honey, and let people help themselves to more honey if they like.

EGGPLANT FRITTERS

Steps:

• Trim and peel the eggplant and cut it into 1-inch cubes. If the eggplants are large, sprinkle them with salt, put them in a colander, and let them sit for at least 30 minutes, preferably 1 hour. Rinse.
• Set a large pot of water to boil. Blanch the eggplant in the boiling water for about 5 minutes or until soft. Drain in a colander, pressing to get rid of as much moisture as possible. Combine in a food processor with the egg, parsley, Parmesan, garlic, and cayenne and process until smooth. Pulse in enough bread crumbs or flour to make a batter that will hold together.
• Put enough oil in a large nonstick skillet to coat the bottom to a depth of about 1/4 inch. Turn the heat to medium-high and wait until the oil is hot; when it's ready, a pinch of flour will sizzle. Drop the batter from a spoon, as you would pancake batter, and cook until nicely browned on both sides. Do not crowd the fritters, and adjust the heat as necessary so they brown without burning. Total cooking time per pancake will be about 6 minutes. Serve hot or warm, with lemon wedges.
• Somewhat easier, if anything. In step 1, grate or shred an equal amount of zucchini; wring in a towel to squeeze out as much moisture as possible (if the zucchini are salted, the resulting pancakes will have slightly better texture, but it isn't imperative). Blanching is not necessary. Combine by hand with the remaining ingredients and cook as directed.

EGGPLANT FRITTERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Cut the eggplant in half; place on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place in the oven; cook until tender, about 40 minutes. When cool enough to handle, scoop the flesh into a strainer to drain.
• Transfer the drained eggplant to a bowl; add the garlic, parsley, bread crumbs, Parmesan, egg, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper; stir to combine. Form the mixture into 2-inch patties.
• Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the patties, and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels. Place the frisée on a serving platter; drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Top with the fritters.

EGGPLANT FRITTERS

Steps:

• Beat together besan, rice flour, and water in a bowl with a handheld electric mixer at high speed 6 minutes. Beat in nigella seeds and salt, then let stand, covered, at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Test batter: Drop a teaspoon of it into a bowl of water. It should float, even though part may be submerged. If it sinks, batter should be beaten more, testing after each minute of mixing. Be careful not to overbeat, because that will produce a honeycomb texture, and then fritters will absorb too much oil.
• Preheat oven to 250°F.
• Cut eggplant lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices, then halve each slice lengthwise, forming roughly 5- by 2-inch slices.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Dip about 4 eggplant slices in batter, 1 at a time, letting excess drip off, and fry until browned and tender, about 1 minute on each side. (You will have just enough batter for all of eggplant.) Transfer to paper towels to drain. Keep fritters warm in 1 layer on a baking sheet in oven and fry remaining eggplant in batches in same manner.
• Available at Indian markets and Kalustyan's (212-685-3451).

SPLIT PEAS WITH HONEY-SWEETENED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Make purée:
• Cook onion in 1/3 cup oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add split peas and stir until well coated, then stir in water and bay leaf. Increase heat to moderately high and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and slowly simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until mixture is soupy, about 1 hour. Stir in salt and continue to cook, stirring more frequently as purée thickens, until water is absorbed and mixture is the consistency of creamy mashed potatoes, 30 minutes to 1 hour more. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and remaining 1/3 cup oil, then cool to room temperature, pot covered with a kitchen towel. (Purée will thicken as it cools.) Discard bay leaf.
• Make eggplant compote while split peas simmer:
• Toss eggplant with 3/4 teaspoon salt in a colander set over a bowl. Place a plate or bowl directly on top of eggplant to weight it down and let drain 1 hour. Rinse eggplant (discarding liquid) and pat dry.
• Cut a shallow X in bottom of each tomato with a paring knife and blanch tomatoes in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan of boiling water 10 seconds. Transfer tomatoes with a slotted spoon to a cutting board and, when cool enough to handle, peel, beginning from scored end, with knife. Halve tomatoes crosswise and seed, then cut into 1-inch pieces.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then add eggplant and sauté, stirring occasionally, until just golden, transferring to a plate. Reduce heat to low, then add remaining 3 tablespoons oil and onions to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir in honey until incorporated. Add eggplant, tomatoes, capers, basil, pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, then gently simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar (to taste) and remove from heat. Transfer to a bowl and cool to room temperature, uncovered.
• Serve purée topped with eggplant and drizzled with olive oil.

EGGPLANT FRITTERS

Steps:

• Place shredded eggplant on a paper towel and lightly sprinkle with salt and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Use another paper towel to press down on it to remove excess moisture.
• Saute eggplant for 2-3 minutes in margarine, and allow to cool.
• Place eggplant in a bowl and mix with feta, green onions, dill, parsley, eggs, flour salt & pepper.
• In deep frying pan fill with oil about 1/4" deep.
• Form small patties and fry until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels.
• Enjoy.