Browned Eggplant Aubergine With Yogurt Food

EGGPLANT WITH YOGURT AND DILL

Steps:

• Toss 1 pound chopped eggplant, 3 unpeeled shallots and 3 unpeeled garlic cloves with 1/4 cup olive oil, salt and pepper on a baking sheet. Roast at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Add some walnuts; bake for 8 more minutes. Cool slightly, then squeeze the shallots and garlic from their skins and chop; toss with the eggplant, nuts, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, fresh dill and salt and pepper.

BROWNED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) WITH YOGURT

Steps:

• Wash eggplant, cut off stem and peel it into stripes.
• Cut crosswise into 2 parts, then cut each part lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces.
• Soak eggplant pieces in warm salted water for about 1/2 hour.
• Put a heavy plate on the pieces to keep them submerged.
• Drain eggplant pieces.
• Brush pieces lightly with olive oil, and arrange them in a cookie sheet in one layer.
• Broil them in the oven, turning once.
• About 10 minutes.
• Mix together yogurt, garlic, salt, cumin and coriander.
• On a flat big platter, arrange eggplant pieces in a single layer (pieces may overlap a little).
• Spoon yogurt mixture all over the eggplant.
• Sprinkle with chili, and garnish with parsley and tomato.
• Serve with warm bread.
• If the amount is more than you can consume in one sitting, refrigerate eggplant pieces and yogurt in two separate containers.
• Combine and garnish just before serving.

FIRE-ROASTED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) WITH YOGURT

Steps:

• Smoke the eggplant.
• This can be done under the broiler, on an open flame or on an outdoor grill.
• First wash the eggplant and dry thoroughly.
• Using a small knife, pierce the skin all over and rub lightly with the 1 tbsp of oil.
• Place the eggplant on an open flame or under the broiler.
• Turn frequently so it blackens evenly on all sides.
• It is ready when soft and collapses on itself when touched (in 20 to 25 minutes.) Remove in a bowl and set aside.
• While the eggplant is cooling, prepare the yogurt.
• In a serving dish, lightly beat the yogurt with a pinch of sugar and salt to taste.
• Then stir in the chopped onion and cilantro and the (optional) green chili.
• When completely cool, skin the eggplant.
• The skin should peel off easily, leaving the wonderful smoky flesh behind.
• Do not discard the juices that have collected in the bowl.
• Add the juices and the skinned eggplant to the yogurt mixture and combine well.
• Do not mash the eggplant; the naturally lumpy texture is desirable.
• Now make the hot oil dressing.
• Place the chili powder or paprika in a small pile on the eggplant-yogurt mix.
• Heat the oil in a small skillet or butter warmer.
• (Keep a spatter-screen or lid handy.) When the oil just begins to smoke, add the mustard seeds, cover immediately and remove from heat.
• The seeds will pop wildly; do not panic!
• When they stop sputtering, uncover and pour this hot oil dressing directly on the chili powder.
• Do not blend the dressing into the yogurt-instead, swirl it in decoratively just before serving.
• Serve cold or at room temperature.

BAKED AUBERGINES WITH CORIANDER YOGURT DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Leaving the stem on, cut the aubergine in half lengthways and score the flesh deeply with a sharp knife in a criss-cross fashion. Place in a shallow baking dish. Mix the olive oil and lemon juice then brush over the scored surface of the aubergine. Season with freshly ground black pepper and bake uncovered for 25-30 mins, until the flesh is tender.
• Meanwhile, put the couscous in a large bowl, pour over the boiling stock and leave to soak for 10 mins until all the stock is absorbed. Fluff up with a fork, then stir the apricots, tomatoes, spring onions and pine nuts into the couscous. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and toss well together.
• Remove the aubergine from the oven and scoop out the flesh, taking care to keep the skins intact. Chop the flesh and toss into the couscous mixture. Place the aubergine skins back in the baking dish and spoon the couscous mix into them, piling it up to hold a generous amount in each. Scatter any left over couscous mix around the edge of the dish.
• Return to the oven for 10 mins to heat through while you mix all the dressing ingredients together - add a drop of water if the dressing is too thick. To serve, heap the loose couscous mix under the stuffed aubergines so they're propped up on a slant. Drizzle over dressing and serve with mixed leaf salad.

EGGPLANT, LAMB AND YOGURT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/240 degrees Celsius.
• Add the eggplant, lamb, onion, oregano, oil, tomato paste, garlic, cinnamon, allspice, red-pepper flakes, 1 3/4 teaspoons salt and a good grind of pepper to a 10-by-13-inch/26-by-34-centimeter (or similar) roasting pan (tin) and mix well to combine. Bake until the mixture is well browned, stirring twice throughout and breaking apart the meat with a spoon, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and continue to break apart the meat very well (don't worry if you break apart some of the eggplant, too). Add the canned tomatoes with their juices, lightly crushing the tomatoes by hand. Stir in the chicken stock and parsley then return to the oven and bake for another 35 minutes, stirring twice throughout, until the sauce is thick and rich and the eggplant is very soft. Remove from the oven and turn the oven temperature up to 475 degrees Fahrenheit/250 degrees Celsius.
• While the casserole is in the oven, prepare the topping: Whisk together the yogurt, yolks, flour, garlic and half the Parmesan with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper. Once ready, spoon the yogurt mixture over the lamb and eggplant, gently spreading to cover. Top evenly with the remaining Parmesan, feta, pine nuts, parsley and red-pepper flakes.
• Bake until golden and bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for about 15 minutes before serving.

GRIDDLED AUBERGINES WITH YOGURT & MINT

Steps:

• Drizzle the aubergine slices with olive oil and a little salt and pepper, and toss in a bowl. Heat a griddle pan until hot and cook the slices on both sides until soft and lightly charred; you'll need to do this in batches. Leave to cool slightly on a serving plate.
• Meanwhile, mix the yogurt with the lemon juice, garlic and mint in a bowl. Season the mixture to taste. Drizzle the yogurt mixture over the griddled aubergine and serve at room temperature.