Egyptian Eggplant Recipes

BABA GANOUSH RECIPE

Steps:

• First, smoke or grill the eggplant. Turn one gas burner on medium-high. Place the eggplant directly over the flame. Using a pair of tongs, turn the eggplant every 5 minutes or so until it is tender and the skin is charred and crispy on all sides (20 minutes.) The eggplant should deflate and become super tender. supposed to. If you don't have a gas burner you can use a grill. You can also roast the eggplant in the oven (see notes).
• Remove the eggplant from the heat and transfer it to a large colander over a bowl. Allow it to sit and drain for a few minutes until fully cooled and all excess water has been drained (it helps if you open the eggplant up a bit and push on it with a knife or a spoon to help it release its juices).
• Once the eggplant is cool enough to touch, peel the charred crispy skin off (it should come right off). Discard the skin and the stem (don't worry if a few bits of the skin remain, that is just added flavor).
• Transfer the cooked and fully drained eggplant to a bowl. Use a fork to break it down into smaller pieces. Add the tahini paste, garlic, lemon juice, Greek yogurt (if using) salt, pepper, sumac, Aleppo pepper or crushed red pepper flakes. Mix gently with a wooden spoon or a fork until well-combined.
• Cover the baba ganoush and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour.
• To serve, transfer the baba ganoush to a rimmed serving dish or a bowl. Top with a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and toasted pine nuts, if you like. Serve with pita wedges or pita chips and veggies of your choice!

EGYPTIAN FRIED EGGPLANT WITH TOMATO SAUCE - MESA'AH

Steps:

• Wash the eggplant and slice into 1/4" thick disks.
• In a large nonstick frying pan, add enough oil to coat the pan. Set the heat to medium-high heat.
• Once the oil is hot, add enough eggplant to just cover the pan. Don't stack the eggplant on top of each other.
• Using a fork, flip the eggplant once it's a golden brown. Cook on the other side.
• Add a paper towel to a plate, and place the fried eggplant onto the towel to soak the extra oil.
• Once the eggplant is all fried, set aside.
• Chop the garlic into very fine pieces.
• In a blender, blend the tomatoes. Strain the tomatoes using a fine mesh strainer.
• Add 1 tbsp of oil to a nonstick frying pan on medium-high heat. Add the chopped garlic and cook until medium brown.
• Add the vinegar, blended and strained tomatoes, and whole spicy pepper. Cook on medium-high heat for about 15 minutes to allow all of the flavors to infuse together.
• Add the salt and pepper to taste at the very end.
• Add the fried eggplant into the garlic tomato sauce mixture. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes altogether.
• Serve with fresh pita bread.

EGYPTIAN EGGPLANT DISH (MASAA'A)

Steps:

• Fry the eggplant slices in oil until golden, set aside on paper towels to drain, and lightly salt.
• Fry potatoes until golden and set aside on paper towels to drain. Lightly salt.
• Fry pepper slices in oil until tender, set aside.
• In a pan, saute the onion until soft. Add Garlic, and saute a 1-2 min more.
• Add the spices and mustard (except salt, unless you want more- I usually think the salted veggies are salty enough. Just taste and see).
• Add in the veggies and tomato sauce and mix well.
• Cook just long enough to heat through.
• Sprinkle with chickpeas.
• Enjoy!

EGYPTIAN EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Peel eggplant if you prefer it without the skin like I do.
• Cute in cubes and mix lemon juice and water and toss together so Eggplant doesn't brown.
• Cut bell pepper into cubes.
• Saute bell pepper and eggplant in olive oil for a couple minutes.
• Add tomato sauce, chicken stock, jalapeno juice, jalapenos, chickpeas.
• Season with sea salt.
• Allow to reduce down until eggplant is soft and chickpeas are tender.
• Server Immediately
• I like mine with some pita bread, yogurt and it's a nice side dish for fish.

EGYPTIAN EGGPLANT OMELET

Steps:

• Peel eggplant; halve it lengthwise. Cut crosswise into 1/2 inch slices, then cut slices into 1/2 inch strips. You should have about 4 cups of eggplant.
• In a covered saucepan cook eggplant and onion in a small amount of boiling salted water about 5 minutes or just till tender; drain well. Pat any excess water off the vegetables with paper towels.
• In a 10 inch oven-going skillet cook beef or lamb and garlic till meat is brown; drain off the fat. Stir in eggplant mixture; spread on the bottom of the skillet.
• Combine eggs, parsley, coriander, salt, cumin, and pepper. Whisk until well combined. Carefully pour over meat and vegetable mixture. Cook over medium heat. As eggs set, run a spatula around the edge of the skillet, lifting the eggs to allow uncooked portion to flow underneath. Continue cooking and lifting until mixture is almost set. (about 10 minutes).
• Place under the broiler about 5 inches from the heat for 2-3 minutes or till set and golden.