Indian Spiced Eggplant Aubergine Recipes

INDIAN SPICED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Trim ends off eggplant and cut into 1/4" thick rounds.
• Spray cookie sheet with cooking oil.
• Place eggplant on cookie sheet and spray with cooking oil.
• Broil eggplant until tender and browned, about 3-5 minutes per side. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the first 7 spices. In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add spice mixture and cook, stirring constantly, for about 30 seconds.
• Quickly add the onion and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the tomato sauce or halved cherry tomatoes, molasses, garlic and vinegar. Cook the sauce, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer eggplant to serving dish and pour sauce over. Top with chopped cilantro.

SPICY EGGPLANT SLICES WITH VARIATION (INDIAN)

Steps:

• Make slits on the eggplant slices.
• Mix all the other ingredients ( spices) except the oil.
• Add about a tablespoon of water to wet the mix.
• Apply the spice mix on the eggplant slices.
• Add about a tablespoon of oil to the frying pan and fry a batch of the eggplant slices on one side.
• Turn over the eggplant slices and pour some more oil and fry.
• Complete with the remaining slices.
• Serve with Indian bread.
• Note: I try to use as much less oil as possible.
• Variation:.
• Cut up the eggplant into thin strips.
• Heat the oil.
• Put all the ingredients (except eggplant) and saute for 2-3 minutes.
• Add eggplant strips.
• Cook for about 15-20 minutes on fairly high heat. Stir in between so that nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan.
• Enjoy this easier version :).

INDIAN-SPICED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine spices and in a measuring cup stir together water, sugar, and vinegar. Cut eggplant into 2-inch pieces.
• In a large heavy non-stick skillet heat butter over moderate heat until foam subsides and cook spices, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add eggplant and salt and toss to coat with spice mixture. Stir vinegar mixture and add to eggplant mixture. Simmer mixture, covered, without stirring, 10 minutes, or until eggplant is just tender. Uncover skillet and cook eggplant mixture at a rapid simmer, without stirring, until liquid is almost evaporated and eggplant is slightly charred (but not burned) on bottom, about 15 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat and let eggplant stand, covered, 5 minutes.
• Serve eggplant sprinkled with fresh coriander.

WEST INDIAN SPICED AUBERGINE CURRY

Steps:

• Mix the dry spices and 1 tsp salt together in a bowl and set aside.
• Slice the aubergine into 1cm rounds, then score both sides of each round with the tip of a sharp knife. Rub with the spice mix until well coated (you should use all of the mix), then transfer to a board. Put 150ml water in the empty spice bowl with the tomato purée, chilli, ginger and sugar. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and arrange the aubergine in the pan, overlapping the rounds if needed. Fry for 5 mins on each side, or until golden. Add the liquid mix from the bowl, bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 15-20 mins, turning the aubergine occasionally until it's cooked through. If it seems dry, you may need to add up to 100ml more water to make it saucier. Season.
• Scatter over the spring onions and coriander, and serve with rice, yogurt, roti and lime wedges for squeezing over.