Sweet Sour Eggplant Aubergine Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler and position the rack on the top level.
• Line a baking sheet with foil and brush the foil with oil.
• If using Japanese eggplants, slice on the diagonal 1/3 inch thick.
• If using Italian eggplants, slice in half lengthwise, and then cut slices 1/3 inch thick.
• Lay as many as will fit on the baking sheet and brush with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Broil until lightly browned.
• Turn and repeat.
• If you have more slices than will fit on one baking sheet, repeat the process until all slices have been browned.
• Turn off broiler and pre-heat oven to 350°F.
• Toast the cumin seeds in a small saute pan until they darken and give off an aroma.
• Cool the seeds and place in a bowl with the rest of the seasoning ingredients.
• Lay the eggplant slices in a baking dish in slightly over-lapping rows or concentric circles. Dribble or brush over each row the seasoning mixture until all slices are used.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. (Result is a lovely casserole/gratin of eggplant to serve as a side.
• In the alternative, place slices on baking sheet, brush with seasoning mixture and bake till mixture is absorbed. (Result is a canape which can be served on its own).
• Beware--the aroma is so good you will be tempted to pick one up and eat it to the despair of your fingertips and tongue.
• As a canape or a side, the eggplant can be served hot or at room temperature.

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the water and sugar and stir over high heat until the sugar dissolves.
• Cook without stirring until a light amber caramel forms, about 2 minutes.
• Off the heat, add the vinegar.
• Cook the caramel over very low heat just until it softens, about 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes, garlic and 1/4 cup of the oil and season with salt and white pepper.
• Simmer over moderately low heat until thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400°F
• Brush a large rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons of the oil.
• Arrange the eggplant on the sheet and brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil; season with salt and white pepper.
• Roast the eggplant for 10 minutes, then flip and roast for 10 minutes longer, until tender and lightly golden.
• Arrange the eggplant slices in an 8x11-inch baking dish in slightly overlapping rows.
• Spoon two-thirds of the tomato sauce on top and bake for 20 minutes, until bubbling and browned around the edges.
• Sprinkle the cheese and mint on top and serve warm or at room temperature, passing the remaining sauce on the side.
• *WINE: Try Cusumano's plush, fruity 2005.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil, and oil it with olive oil. Lay the eggplant slices on top. Salt lightly and brush with olive oil. Place in the oven for 20 minutes until the eggplant is lightly browned and soft to the touch (the surface will be dry). Remove from the heat, and fold over the foil to make a packet around the eggplant slices. Allow them to soften and steam inside the foil for 15 minutes while you proceed with Step 2.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy lidded casserole or skillet. Add the garlic. Cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes, salt to taste, sugar and pepper. Bring to a simmer, and simmer uncovered over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell very fragrant.
• Add the eggplant, molasses and chickpeas. Cover and simmer for another 20 to 30 minutes, stirring from time to time. The mixture should be thick and the eggplant should be very tender, melting into the mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning. Sprinkle on the parsley and/or mint, and serve. Alternately, allow to cool and serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Place the eggplant cubes into a large bowl, and sprinkle with salt. Fill with enough water to cover, and let stand for 30 minutes. Rinse well, and drain on paper towels.
• In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, red wine vinegar, sugar, chile pepper, cornstarch and chili oil. Set the sauce aside.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Fry the eggplant until it is tender and begins to brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Pour in the sauce, and cook and stir until the sauce is thick and the eggplant is evenly coated. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Cover the lentils, turmeric and tamarind paste with 500ml water. Add some salt and boil for 15 mins or until very soft. Skim off any foam that forms on the top. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of the oil and cook the onion, garlic and ginger until golden, about 5 mins.
• Add the curry powder and cook for a further 2 mins. Pour in the lentil mixture and cook for another 10 mins.
• Meanwhile, heat a griddle pan until very hot. Rub the remaining oil over the aubergine slices and season. Cook for 2-3 mins each side until cooked through and charred. Eat with basmati rice, lime or mango chutney and a sprinkling of coriander, if you like.

Steps:

• The small purple Asian eggplant is best but the western dark skinned variety (large or baby) can be used be used.
• If using the western eggplant you may want to peel the skin since it has a tendency to be quite tough.
• These are called mu-er in Chinese.
• This is the fungus used in mu shu pork.
• Variously known in English as wood ears, tree ears or cloud ears, it is strictly a texture food and has no flavor at all.
• They must be soaked for 15 minutes in boiling water before use.
• The stem is very tough and must be removed.
• Mu-er increase up to four times in size when soaked so a little goes a long way.
• Chinese red vinegar is best but unseasoned rice vinegar, or plain or cider vinegar work fine.
• Have a bowl handy lined with a sieve.
• Heat oil in wok to very hot.
• Carefully stir in eggplant and cook, stirring constantly, until half done.
• Pour contents into the sieve-lined bowl to drain.
• (You may want to press down on it slightly since eggplant soaks up a lot of oil).
• The oil can be strained and reserved for other uses.
• Reheat the wok with a little more oil and stir fry the garlic, ginger and scallions for about 30 seconds- until they give off a strong aroma.
• Add the mu-er, water chestnuts and bamboo; stir fry about a minute.
• Stir in the sauce ingredients.
• When it begins to boil thicken it slightly by adding a little of the cornstarch mixture at a time.
• When it reaches the desired thickness (it takes very little time) stir in the cooked eggplant.
• Continue to stir and cook for about a minute.
• Stir in a few drops of sesame oil and serve immediately.
• Serves 3 or 4 as part of a multicourse Chinese dinner.

Steps:

• Use Japanese (long& thin lavender color) Eggplants.
• Slice them about 1/2” thick diagonal& arrange them in rows covering the entire bottom of a baking or cookie sheet.
• Brush Extra-Virgin Olive Oil on top of each slice& broil until golden.
• Turn the slices over& repeat the same brushing& broiling until golden.
• Set aside& make another batch or a few batches the same way.
• In a small pot& on a low flame, heat the honey until liquified.
• In a bowl mix extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, chopped cilantro, lemon juice, heated honey, cumin& sugar.
• In a baking dish that’s about 2” deep, arrange the slices as before, only this time slightly overlapping each slice covering the entire dish.
• Brush the sauce mixture onto each slice.
• Add another layer of eggplant slices& brush the sauce mixture over each slice as before.
• You can make as many layers as you wish.
• Place into preheated 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven& slice into whatever size squares desired& serve.

Steps:

• In a colander over a bowl, combine the eggplant with enough kosher salt to coat evenly.
• Let the eggplant sit for 30 minutes then rinse in cold water and wring out any excess moisture with your hands; pat dry.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over high heat.
• Add the eggplant and brown on all sides; remove from the heat and drain on paper towels.
• Add the remaining olive oil to the pot and then add the celery, red pepper and red onion.
• Sauté for several minutes, allowing the vegetables to soften and brown a little.
• Add the eggplant, capers, pine nuts, white wine vinegar, sugar and salt and pepper.
• Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, partially covered, for 10 minutes until the vegetables have cooked through and the liquid reduced.

Steps:

• Place eggplant cubes in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Fill bowl with enough water to cover and let stand for at least 30 minutes. Drain and rinse well.
• Stir sugar, soy sauce, hoisin, vinegar, chile oil, pepper flakes, and garlic salt together in a small bowl.
• Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry eggplant in the hot oil until tender and beginning to brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Pour in the sauce; cook and stir until sauce is thick and eggplant is evenly coated. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Cut the eggplants into cubes.
• Put them in a colander, sprinkle with salt, and let stand for 30 minutes.
• Rinse thoroughly under cold running water and drain well.
• Pat thoroughly dry with absorbent paper towels.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet and sauté the eggplant cubes, stirring constantly, for about 1-2 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and onion and cook further 2-3 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes, mint, and stock, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
• Stir in the brown sugar, red wine vinegar, and chile flakes; season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Garnish the eggplant with fresh mint sprigs and serve.

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Cook and stir the eggplant cubes until they begin to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the eggplant with a slotted spoon, and set aside.
• Heat 2 more tablespoons of oil in the skillet over medium-high heat, and cook and stir the onions just until they begin to soften, about 30 seconds. Stir in the garlic, and cook and stir an additional 30 seconds. Mix in the soy sauce, water, oyster sauce, chili garlic sauce, sugar, and black pepper, and stir to form a smooth sauce. Return the eggplant to the skillet, lower the heat, and allow the vegetables and sauce to simmer until the eggplant is tender and almost all the liquid has been absorbed, about 5 minutes. Drizzle sesame oil over the dish, and give one final brief stir to combine.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170/gas 5. Toss the aubergines and onion in the oil in an ovenproof dish or roasting tin, and season. Roast for 20 mins until starting to tenderise and brown.
• Stir in the capers, olives, tomatoes, vinegar and sugar. Cook for a further 20 mins, stirring occasionally, until everything is soft. Serve warm or at room temperature.