Poor Mans Caviar Baklazhannaya Ikra Recipes

BAKLAZHANNAIA IKRA, THE "POOR MAN'S CAVIAR"

Steps:

• Preheat the oven at 220°C (425°F).
• Wash the veggies (eggplant, bell pepper and tomatoes), and place directly on the oven rack to "grill" for about 1 hour. Place an iron baking tray, lined with parchment paper under the rack, to collect the juices (it avoids messing up your oven). Check the veggies every 25 minutes, and turn them, to allow the skin to char evenly.
• About 10 minutes before the 1 hour needed for your vegetables to char has passed, heat olive oil into a non-stick deep frying pan, then add shallots and parsley stems, and sauté for 5 minutes over medium heat. Pour 100 ml dry white wine (or water) into the pan, before adding the garlic. Stir often, to avoid burning. Add the garlic, and cook for about 3 more minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
• Remove the eggplant, tomato and bell pepper from the oven, and allow to cool off for about 10 minutes (you should be able to handle them without getting burned). Peel off their skins, then chop finely.
• Return to your frying pan, and bring it back to a boiling point, before pouring the roasted tomatoes, eggplant and bell pepper. Cook for 7-10 more minutes, allowing the flavors to blend. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, stir well, and let the dish cool off. If you like spicy foods, add a dash of Tabasco sauce, or a sprinkle of chili flakes.
• To get a true Russian dish, make sure you prepare a centerpiece while you wait for your Baklazhannaia Ikra to cool off. The picture accompanying the recipe should inspire you. Make sure that the salad, and all other raw ingredients are dry before placing the bread or the crackers onto the plate.
• You could also serve Baklazhannaia Ikra simply, as a spread, directly onto bread, without wasting time on decorating. It tastes very nice hot, but it is best enjoyed cold.

POOR MAN'S CAVIAR: EGGPLANT SPREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to highest setting, at least 500 degrees F.
• Cut 2 or 3 slits into whole eggplant. Place eggplant directly on the oven rack in the middle of the oven and roast the eggplant until it is tender, about 20 minutes. Keep the slits facing up so that the eggplant does not loose liquids as it roasts.
• The roasted eggplant will look like a flat tire when you remove it from the oven. Using a sharp utility knife, carefully peel skin away from eggplant flesh. Add cooked eggplant flesh and juice to food processor and combine with garlic, allspice, salt, and pepper and parsley. Pulse grind the eggplant into a paste, add a drizzle of olive oil. Transfer to a serving dish. The seeds of the eggplant will make the spread resemble caviar eggs, and so the name: poor man's caviar.
• To serve, surround a bowlful of spread with crusty bread rounds.
• Tidbit: Mixed olives and selections of Italian sheep's milk cheeses are suggested accompaniments to this menu to round out your buffet. They require no recipe or preparation and add something to the offering overall. Place them on the buffet near the eggplant caviar and bread.

POOR MAN'S CAVIAR

Steps:

• Stir together avocados, tomatoes, green onions, black beans, and Mexicorn. Stir in red wine vinegar, canola oil, and hot pepper sauce. Cover, and chill 1 hour.

BAKLAZHANOVAYA IKRA - EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CAVIAR

Steps:

• Pierce an eggplant with a fork in several places, put on a baking sheet and bake, about an hour to an hour and a half (for your desired tenderness), turning while baking, until soft in a 325 degree oven.
• Refrigerate until cool.
• Cut the eggplant, lengthwise, in half and scoop out the pulp.
• Chop the pulp until very fine.
• Mix onion, tomatoes, eggplant pulp, garlic, oil, and vinegar together and season with salt and pepper.
• Cover and refrigerate for several hours.
• Baklazhanovaya Ikra is served with chopped parsley.

POOR MAN'S CAVIAR

Steps:

• Toss all ingredients to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight to allow flavors to come together.
• Serve cold or at room temperature.