Japanese Eggplants With Garlic Olive Oil And Tomatoes Recipes

Steps:

• On the evening before you intend to make the dish, prepare the eggplant. Cut the ends off the eggplants, and peel. Cut the peeled eggplant into long strips about as big around as shoestring french fries. Place the strips into a large bowl, and stir in 1/2 cup of coarse salt.
• Place a sturdy dinner plate upside down in a clean sink, making sure that the drain is not blocked. Place a generous handful of the eggplant strips onto the center of the plate, and cover with another upside down dinner plate to create an eggplant sandwich. Layer more eggplant and plates until all of the eggplant is sandwiched. Cap it off with one additional plate, and press down firmly. Set a sturdy stock pot on top, and fill with enough water to create some pressure on the eggplant layers. Not so much pressure that you break your dishes though. Let this pressing process stand overnight.
• The next day, fill a large bowl with ice water. Begin dismantling your stack of plates. One layer (handful) at a time, briefly swish the eggplant around in the ice water, then squeeze dry and place into a clean bowl. If your hand starts to hurt, you are swishing too long. Once all of the eggplant is rinsed and squeezed and in the bowl, mix in the vinegar. Let rest for about 15 minutes.
• Heat a splash of the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano and sea salt. Cook and stir just until fragrant. You do not want to cook the garlic. Set aside to cool.
• Your eggplants should be well rested now. Give them one last sqeeze. Make it a good one, or your melenzana is going to taste like pickles. ''Don't worry, this is the last time, I promise...'' (This is to be said to the poor little melenzana - they've been through so much!)
• Place the squeezed eggplants into a large bowl, and stir in the contents of the skillet and remaining olive oil until well blended. Transfer to sterile 1 pint or 1/2 pint jars. Make sure to fill the jars to the top, and top off with any olive oil that may be left in the bowl. Wipe the rims with a clean dry cloth, and seal tightly with new lids. Refrigerate for at least a month before opening.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F).
• Halve eggplants lengthways, leaving stems intact.
• Place eggplants in a single layer, cut-side up, in a lightly oiled roasting tin.
• Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with garlic, thyme sprigs and salt, and cover tin with foil.
• Bake for 45 minutes, or until eggplants are tender.
• Remove from oven and increase temperature to 200 C (400 F).
• Drizzle eggplants with half the extra oil and bake, uncovered, for a further 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• Arrange eggplants on a platter and top with tomatoes.
• Drizzle with remaining oil and lemon juice, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Peel the eggplant and place in a roasting pan or dish. Coat eggplant with 2 tablespoons olive oil, and season well with salt and pepper. Roast until tender and light golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• While the eggplant cooks, hand-crush the tomato in a medium bowl and add garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, remaining olive oil and thyme sprigs. Stir to combine.
• When eggplant is tender and light golden brown, add tomato mixture to the roasting pan, and roast for another 10 minutes.
• Scatter with pecorino and roast for about 5 minutes until cheese is melted.
• Transfer to a serving dish, including the pan drippings, and serve hot.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray a sheet pan with cooking spray.
• Slice eggplant into 1-inch thick slices, then quarter the slices. Chop onion in half, then quarter the halves.
• Place eggplant and onion on the prepared sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss with your hands until well coated.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and tender, about 40 minutes, tossing halfway through.