Broiled Eggplant With Cilantro Vinaigrette Food

BROILED EGGPLANT WITH CILANTRO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Halve eggplants lengthwise. Brush cut sides with 1/4 cup oil and season with salt. Arrange as many eggplants, cut sides up, as will fit in 1 layer on rack of a broiler pan and broil 2 to 3 inches from heat until browned, about 5 minutes. Turn oven setting to 450°F. and move pan to middle of oven. Roast until tender when pierced with a fork, about 12 minutes. Repeat with remaining eggplants.
• Blend remaining 1 1/2 cups oil and remaining ingredients in a blender until emulsified.
• Serve eggplants at room temperature, drizzled with vinaigrette.
• To make 6 servings: Follow the directions above using the following ingredient amounts:
• 6 small (4-oz.) eggplants
• 8 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice

GRILLED WHOLE EGGPLANT WITH HARISSA VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal fire in a grill. Let coals cool to medium heat (coals should be covered with ash and glowing red with no black remaining).
• Grill eggplant directly on coals, turning occasionally, until skin is blackened and flesh has collapsed, 15-20 minutes. (Alternatively, grill on the grate of a gas or charcoal grill over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, 20-25 minutes.) Transfer to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet and let cool slightly.
• Carefully remove skin from eggplant, leaving stem intact. Season on all sides with 1/2 tsp. salt. Let sit on rack until excess water is drained, 20-30 minutes.
• Whisk oil, lemon juice, harissa, honey, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt in a small bowl to combine.
• Using a paring knife, make several slits down length of eggplant on each side. Transfer to a plate and pour dressing over. Top with parsley and serve with bread alongside.
• Do Ahead: Eggplant (without parsley) can be dressed 8 hours ahead. Let sit at room temperature up to 4 hours. Chill, if waiting longer, and let sit at room temperature 1 hour before serving.

MARINATED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat your oven broiler.
• Arrange eggplant in 1 layer on a large baking sheet and brush both sides with 2 tablespoons oil (total). Broil about 4 inches from heat, turning once, until golden, 8 to 12 minutes total.
• Stir together vinegar, mint, capers, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and remaining 3 tablespoons oil and toss with warm eggplant. Marinate at least 20 minutes.

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC-CUMIN VINAIGRETTE, FETA & HERBS

Steps:

• Make the vinaigrette:.
• With a mortar and pestle, pound the garlic and a pinch of salt to a paste.
• Combine the garlic paste and 1 tbs of the lemon juice in a bowl and let sit for 10 minute.
• Combine the shallot with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice and a pinch of salt in another small bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.
• Whisk the olive oil, cumin, and cayenne into the garlic mixture. Season to taste with salt or cayenne, if necessary.
• Grill the eggplant:.
• Prepare a medium-high charcoal or gas grill fire.
• Brush both sides of the eggplant slices with olive oil and season with salt.
• Grill (covered on a gas grill; uncovered on a charcoal grill), 3 to 4 minutes.
• Turn the eggplant and grill until tender and well marked on the second sides, 3 to 4 minutes more.The interior should be grayish and soft rather than white and hard.
• Top grilled eggplant slices with the shallots, feta, and herbs. Whisk the vinaigrette and drizzle it on top. Serve immediately.

ROASTED EGGPLANT SALAD WITH LEEKS AND CILANTRO LEAVES

Steps:

• Make the dressing: stir soy sauce, sugar, water and vinegar together until sugar dissolves. Stir in chile sauce and lime juice, taste and adjust the seasonings. There should be a good balance of sweet, salty, tangy and hot.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly oil a large baking sheet, preferably nonstick. Trim dark green tops off leeks (or scallions) and discard. Leaving stem ends intact, cut leeks in half lengthwise with the tip of a sharp knife. Place cut side down on prepared pan, drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until soft and charred in spots, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and set aside to soften.
• Trim stem ends off eggplants and discard. Cut eggplants into bite-size pieces. In a large bowl, toss pieces with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Oil the baking pan again. (Use 2 if needed to prevent crowding.) Spread eggplant on pans and roast, turning pieces once or twice, until soft, browned and charred in spots, about 15 minutes total.
• When eggplant is cool enough to handle, transfer to a serving bowl. Cut leeks crosswise into 1-inch pieces, discarding stem ends, and add to eggplant. Lightly chop cilantro and add.
• Stir dressing and pour half over the salad, tossing gently until evenly coated. Taste and add more dressing, salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and chopped peanuts, if using.

TWICE-COOKED EGGPLANT WITH CILANTRO-SESAME PESTO

Steps:

• 1. To roast the eggplant: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• 2. Toss the eggplant with the oil in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Spread on an 18-by-13-inch half-sheet pan. Roast, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely. (The eggplant can be covered and stored at room temperature for up to 4 hours.)
• 3. To make the pesto: With the machine running, drop the garlic through the feed tube of a processor to mince it. Add the cilantro, lemon juice, sesame oil, and sesame seeds and process until pureed. With the machine running, pour the olive oil through the feed tube to make a smooth sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (The pesto can be covered tightly and stored at room temperature for up
• to 4 hours.)
• 4. To make the mayonnaise: Whisk all of the ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside for up to 1 hour.
• 5. To finish the eggplant: Heat a large wok or skillet over high heat. Add the oil and swirl the wok to coat the sides. Add the eggplant and spread it out in a single layer. Let cook until the underside is seared, about 1 minute. Stir-fry until hot, about 1 minute more. Remove the wok from the heat. Add 3 tablespoons of the pesto, the pine nuts, the cilantro leaves, and the sesame seeds. Transfer to a serving bowl, drizzle with the mayonnaise, and serve hot, with the remaining pesto passed on the side. (Leftover pesto is delicious stirred into plain steamed rice or used to flavor vinaigrette.)