Turkish Eggplant Aubergine Salad Recipes

TURKISH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PILAF (PATLICANLI PILAV)

Steps:

• Cut eggplants into large cubes with skin on. Place in a colander and sprinkle liberally with salt. Leave for 30 minutes.
• Rince and dry eggplant with paper towels.
• Half onion lengthwise and slice.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a heavy pan and fry eggplant cubes until lightly browned. Remove and set aside.
• Add the remaining oil and gently fry the onion until transparent. Add tomatoes, seasoning, herbs and fried eggplant. Bring to a boil.
• Wash rice until the water runs clear. Drain and place on top of the eggplant mixture. Add chicken stock.
• Bring to a boil without stirring. Reduce heat, cover pan and leave to simmer gently for 30 minutes.
• Turn off heat, place a few paper towels over the rim of the pan and replace the lid (This is important don't ignore this part or your pilav won't be as fluffy!).
• Stir gently and turn into a heated serving dish.
• Serve with yogurt and then enjoy the delicious taste.

TURKISH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SALAD

Steps:

• With a fork, pierce skin of eggplant. Bake eggplant in a rimmed pan in a 400 degrees oven for 1 hour or until very soft; cool.
• Split in half and scoop out pulp into a bowl. Mash pulp with a fork.
• Mix in oil, lemon juice, garlic, green pepper and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill for 2 hours.
• To serve: Arrange romaine lettuce leaves on platter. Mound eggplant in center. Garnish with tomato wedges and fresh parsley.

TURKISH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) LENTIL STEW

Steps:

• Peel eggplant in strips, then cut lengthwise into strips.
• Cut each strip into 3 pieces, salt heavily with kosher salt and let it sit in a colander for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, cover lentils with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil.
• Lower to simmer and cook 15 minutes, drain.
• In a bowl add 1 tbsp olive oil and onion, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, mint, tomato paste, and red pepper.
• Rinse the eggplant and dry.
• In a dutch oven layer half of the onion mixture.
• Top with a layer of eggplant, and a layer of lentils.
• Repeat.
• Pour remaining olive oil around sides and over the top.
• Drizzle with the pomegranate molasses.
• Bring to a boil, lower heat to simmer and cook 1 1/2 hours.

HUNKAR BEGENDI (TURKISH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CREAM)

Steps:

• Grill eggplants whole without peeling them by holding over a flame and turning slowly, or prick skin in several places and set in hot oven.
• When the skin begins to break and the inside pulp feels soft, slip off the skin; discard sacs containing seeds and chop up pulp; put pulp in a saucepan.
• Mix lemon juice with pulp and simmer until very soft, stirring often (10-15 minutes).
• Meanwhile, melt butter, add flour to it and allow flour to brown.
• Beat the butter and flour mixture into the eggplant.
• Slowly add several tablespoons of hot milk and the nutmeg and continue beating until mixture resembles mashed potatoes.
• Lastly add several tablespoons of grated cheese and cook several minutes more.
• Serve immediately.

TURKISH EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Wash and peel eggplants, leaving some skin on, and cut into 1 cm cubes.
• Heat oil in a cooking pan.
• Add eggplant, onion, pepper and garlic and saute for 10 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and simmer for about 15 minutes.
• Add thyme and season with salt and pepper.
• Simmer for a further 5 minutes.
• Serve over Turkish Pilav.

AUBERGINE SALAD

Steps:

• Soak sun-dried tomatoes in boiling water 15-30 minutes until they soften, then drain and dice; set aside until needed.
• Heat oil in a large skillet; add eggplant, red pepper, and onion along with salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, and garlic.
• Cook mixture, stirring occasionally, over medium heat, for 8-9 minutes or until lightly tender, then remove from heat and allow to cool.
• In a large bowl, mix together chopped olives, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chopped parsley, toasted almonds, lemon juice, and mint (if using).
• Mix in cooled eggplant mixture, tossing lightly (add extra-virgin olive oil, salt, or fresh lemon juice if desired to adjust consistency to your taste).
• Serve salad warm or chilled with fresh pita bread, or alone as a salad or first course.