Smoked Spiced Eggplant Puree Recipes

BABA GHANNOUJ (SMOKED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PUREE)

Steps:

• Char grill eggplants over a direct flame or roast in the oven until skin has blackened.
• Set aside in a bowl covered with plastic wrap until cool enough to handle, then peel carefully.
• To remove the bitter flavoured juices from the eggplants, squeeze the flesh/pulp until most of the juices have been drained.
• In a food processor, blend warm eggplant, with cumin, garlic, salt, tahini and lemon juice until it is a smooth paste.
• Then while still blending the eggplant mixture slowly drizzle in olive oil.
• Season to taste and serve with your favourite bread.

EGGPLANT PUREE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Scoop out flesh of roasted eggplant into a medium sized mixing bowl.
• Add the garlic, lemon, salt, and olive oil. Mash together with a fork until loose puree forms.
• Garnish with parsley, sumac, and more olive oil.
• Enjoy!

SMOKED SPICED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Peel and dice the onion; set aside in a mixing bowl. Using tongs, roast the eggplant directly on the burner of a gas stove over medium heat, turning often, until skin is completely blackened and the flesh is soft, about 10 minutes. Alternatively, prick a few holes in the eggplant (to vent steam) and roast it on a rimmed baking sheet in a 500 F oven for about 20 minutes.
• When eggplant is charred all over, set it aside until it is cool enough to handle. Then pull off skin with your fingers or a knife (discard the skin); finely chop the eggplant with a knife or pass it through a ricer. Set aside. Finely chop green chilies, including their seeds, and set aside.
• Add oil to a skillet or kadai over medium-high heat, followed by the onion. Cook until edges are brown, but there is still a bit of texture, about 15 minutes. Add ginger and stir; if the onion mixture is sticking to the pan, add a little water to deglaze it. Add garlic and stir; then add coriander, cumin, and cayenne, deglazing as needed with more water to prevent the spices from burning.
• Add eggplant to the pan and continue cooking, stirring well to combine thoroughly. Add salt to taste, ensuring that all the flavors are balanced. Add tomatoes and stir to combine; then add the desired amount of green chili, follow by cilantro. Season again with salt. Stir in garam masala, a squeeze of lemon juice, stir and serve.

SMOKY EGGPLANT SPREAD

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal fire or heat the broiler. Pierce eggplants here and there with the point of a paring knife. Place eggplants 2 inches from heat source. Allow skins to blister and char, turning with tongs until entire surface is blackened and eggplants are completely soft, about 10 to 12 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle.
• Slice eggplants in half lengthwise and lay skin side down on a cutting board. Carefully scrape away flesh with a knife and put it in a colander. Discard burned skins. Do not rinse eggplant flesh - a few bits of remaining char is fine. Salt flesh lightly and leave for 5 to 10 minutes, then squeeze into a ball to remove liquid.
• Blitz eggplant, 1/2 teaspoon salt, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and cayenne in a food processor or blender to obtain a creamy purée. (For a more rustic spread, beat with a whisk instead.) Taste and adjust salt and lemon juice if necessary. Transfer mixture to a shallow serving bowl.
• Just before serving, stir together cumin and olive oil, and spoon over the mixture's surface. Sprinkle with paprika, parsley and mint. Serve with warm pita cut into triangles if desired.

MELANZANA (EGGPLANT PUREE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Preheat a sheet pan in oven. Generously coat eggplant with olive oil and season with salt and fresh black pepper. Carefully place eggplant on preheated sheet pan flesh down. Bake in oven 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until flesh has fully cooked. Allow the eggplant to cool. Using a soup spoon, gently scrape the flesh from the skin (including any charred or browned portion). Reserve the flesh and discard the skin. Place the eggplant and sour cream in a food processor and pulse until eggplant is slightly smooth (a chunky puree). Empty mixture into a bowl and mix in the red onion, garlic, basil, and red wine vinegar. Season with salt and fresh black pepper.

GRILLED RUMANIAN EGGPLANT PUREE

Steps:

• Place whole eggplants directly on grill directly over medium-high heat source.
• Grill for approximately 20 minutes, rotating every 5 minutes, or until all of the skin is blackened to a crisp and eggplants have popped, blown steam like a kettle, and shrunken in size by approximately 1/2.
• Let cool, then remove and discard skin. Place remaining eggplant in a bowl.
• Use a hand chopper to chop finely. Blend in oil, salt and pepper. Serve with rustic crackers or home-made crostini.

BRAISED LAMB OVER SILKY EGGPLANT PURéE ( SULTAN'S DELIGHT)

Steps:

• Braise lamb:
• Pat one third of lamb dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1/2 tablespoon butter in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then brown seasoned lamb, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate and brown remaining lamb in same manner in 2 batches, adding more butter if necessary.
• When third batch of lamb is browned, return rest of lamb with any juices to pot and add tomato, water, and salt. Cook at a bare simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until meat is very tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make eggplant purée while lamb
• Prepare grill for cooking.
• Fill a large bowl with cold water and add lemon juice.
• Prick eggplant in several places with a skewer or toothpick (to prevent bursting). Grill eggplant, turning occasionally, until charred all over and tender inside, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly (eggplant will collapse), then peel with a sharp small knife while still warm, leaving stem intact. (This makes the eggplant easier to handle-it may fall apart otherwise.)
• Soak eggplant in lemon water 15 minutes, then transfer to a colander. Discard stem and drain eggplant flesh 45 minutes.
• Melt butter in a 9- to 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, then whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly, until roux just begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add milk in a stream, whisking, and bring to a boil, whisking. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking occasionally, until thick, about 3 minutes.
• Add drained eggplant and stir, mashing with a fork, until incorporated. Stir in cheese and salt and season with pepper.
• Serve eggplant topped with braised lamb.

SMOKY EGGPLANT SOUP

Steps:

• Poke 2 or 3 holes in eggplants with a paring knife, then place on a baking sheet under hot broiler, about 2 inches from flame. Cook for 3 or 4 minutes, allowing skins to blacken and char. Turn and cook on other side until eggplants have softened completely, about 4 minutes more. Set aside to cool, then remove and discard skins and roughly chop eggplant flesh.
• Meanwhile, put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy-bottomed stainless or enameled soup pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, season generously with salt and pepper, and cook until softened and beginning to color, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic, cayenne and reserved eggplant and cook 1 minute more, then add broth and bring to a brisk simmer. Reduce heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Check seasoning of broth and adjust salt.
• Purée soup in batches in blender. Strain through fine-meshed sieve and discard solid debris and seeds. Add 3 tablespoons lemon juice to puréed soup and taste again, adding more as necessary. Soup should be well seasoned and rather lemony.
• Mix lemon zest with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil for garnish. Ladle soup into small bowls, topping each bowl with 1 teaspoon lemon oil, 1/2 teaspoon za'atar and some chopped parsley. May be served hot or cold.

SPICY LAMB WITH CHARRED EGGPLANT PURéE AND PITA

Steps:

• Char eggplants directly over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides and very tender in center, about 20 minutes. Cool; cut open. Spoon flesh into sieve set over bowl; discard skins. Drain at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours.
• Transfer eggplant to bowl and mash. Chop garlic with salt and mash to paste; mix into eggplant. Mix in yogurt. Season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.
• Heat large nonstick skillet over high heat. Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper; add to skillet in single layer. Sprinkle with dried crushed pepper. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook lamb until tender and brown, turning occasionally and adding water by tablespoonfuls if very dry, about 45 minutes. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover lamb in skillet and chill. Rewarm over low heat.
• Warm eggplant over low heat; spoon into dish. Spoon lamb and any juices over Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with pita.