Cumin Scented Eggplant With Pomegranate And Cilantro Food

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ROASTED EGGPLANT AND CINNAMON-CUMIN DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Place eggplant cubes on sheet; drizzle with 3 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Roast until tender, turning occasionally, about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook couscous in boiling salted water until just tender, about 8 minutes. Drain. Rinse under cold water until cool; drain again. Place in large bowl.
• Toast cumin seeds in small skillet over medium-high heat until slightly darkened, about 4 minutes. Grind seeds in spice mill; place in small bowl. Add vinegar, cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons oil. Whisk to blend; season with salt and pepper. Mix in onion.
• Add raisins, cilantro, eggplant cubes, and dressing to couscous. Toss to coat.

SUMAC-SCENTED EGGPLANT AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• In a deep, wide skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high until shimmering. Add half the eggplant, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned all over, about 8 minutes. Transfer the eggplant to a large baking sheet to cool and repeat with the remaining olive oil and eggplant. Transfer to the baking sheet.
• Add the tomatoes, sumac, garlic and 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper and simmer over medium-low until thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in the eggplant, chickpeas, half the scallions, half the mint and 1/4 cup water. Let simmer until flavors meld, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more pomegranate molasses if you like. The eggplant mixture should be a little textural, chunky even, with an assertive, tangy finish.
• Divide the rice and eggplant mixture among wide, shallow bowls. Dollop with yogurt, sprinkle with the remaining scallions and mint, and serve with pita, if using.

DANIEL BOULUD'S EGGPLANT WITH CUMIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Pierce the eggplants in several places so they won't explode, place in a greased baking pan and bake until soft, almost to the point of collapse, 35 to 45 minutes. Cut in half, cool for 15 minutes or so and drain the juices. Remove the skin, finely chop the flesh and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic and cumin, cover and cook for 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add the eggplant and salt and pepper to taste. Cook gently for 20 minutes, or until moisture evaporates. Check for seasoning.

SPICY ROASTED EGGPLANT WITH TOMATOES AND CILANTRO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Oil rimmed baking sheet; place eggplant halves, cut side down, on sheet. Roast eggplant until flesh is soft, about 1 hour. Cool slightly. Using spoon, scoop pulp from eggplant halves into medium bowl; mash. Discard skins.
• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add ginger and stir 1 minute. Add tomatoes and next 4 ingredients; sauté 5 minutes to blend flavors. Add eggplant and stir until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm before serving.)

ROASTED RED ONIONS WITH POMEGRANATE, ORANGE, AND PARSLEY GREMOLATA

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 425°F. Line large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Whisk first 6 ingredients in large bowl. Add onions; toss gently. Arrange onions close together, 1 cut side down, on baking sheet; spoon juices from bowl over. Roast 30 minutes. Using small spatula, carefully turn onions over. Continue to roast onions until tender and thickly coated with glaze, watching to prevent overbrowning, 25 to 28 minutes longer. Remove from oven. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 hours ahead. Let stand on baking sheet at room temperature. Rewarm in 350°F oven before serving, if desired.
• Mix pomegranate seeds, parsley, and orange peel in small bowl.
• Arrange warm or room-temperature onions on platter. Sprinkle gremolata over and serve.

CUMIN-SCENTED EGGPLANT WITH POMEGRANATE AND CILANTRO

Steps:

• Stir 5 cups water and 2 1/2 tablespoons sea salt in large bowl to dissolve salt. Add eggplant slices. Place plate on eggplant to submerge; let soak 1 hour. Drain eggplant; pat dry.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, sauté eggplant until brown in spots and softened, 2 minutes per side. Transfer to large rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining eggplant, adding more oil by tablespoonfuls as needed; arrange eggplant in single layer on baking sheet.
• Mix cumin and cayenne. Sprinkle eggplant with cumin mixture. Roast until golden and cooked through, 30 minutes.
• Remove eggplant from oven; sprinkle with garlic. Arrange eggplant on platter and drizzle lightly with pomegranate molasses. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds and cilantro over. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• *A thick pomegranate syrup; available at some supermarkets, at Middle Eastern markets, and from adrianascaravan.com.