Curried Aubergine Eggplant Food

SRI LANKAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CURRY

Steps:

• Wash the eggplants, remove the stalk, and slice lengthwise into quarters.
• Cut each quarter lengthwise into 1" wide strips and then crosswise into 1" cubes.
• Heat 1-2 inches of peanut oil in a wok to medium-high heat (375F) and deep-fry the eggplant cubes in batches until golden brown (this takes around three to five minutes for each batch, adjusting oil temperature as necessary).
• Drain thoroughly on kitchen paper.
• In a medium-sized pan, heat the extra oil and saute and stir the onion until golden brown.
• Add the turmeric, cumin, coriander and mustard and stir for a couple of seconds before adding the garlic, ginger, chillies and curry leaves.
• Stir and saute for 30 seconds.
• Add the vinegar, coconut milk, salt to taste and the sugar and stir until well mixed.
• Bring slowly to the boil before adding the deep-fried eggplant cubes.
• Stir, then simmer gently on low heat until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.
• Taste and season with a little more sugar and/or salt as desired.

BAINGAN BHARTA (CURRIED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE))

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Place eggplant on a medium baking sheet and bake for 20 to 30 minutes until tender.
• Remove from heat; cool, peel, and chop.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Mix in the cumin seeds and onion.
• Cook and stir until onion is tender.
• Mix in ginger and garlic pastes, curry powder, and tomato into the saucepan and cook for 1 minute.
• Stir in the yogurt.
• Mix in eggplant and jalapenjo, and season with salt.
• Cover and cook 10 minutes on high heat.
• Remove the cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for about 5 more minutes.
• Garnish with 1/4 bunch of chopped cilantro if desired and serve.

CURRIED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) DIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Prick eggplants and roast for 35-40 minutes until colapsed and wrinkled. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a small pan and add onion over medium heat and cook 3-4 minutes. Add next 6 ingredients and saute until onions are soft and mixture is fragrant.
• Pour mixture in food processor and cool slightly. Add yogurt, cilantro and tomato paste and process until smooth.
• Remove the pulp from the roasted eggplant and put into processor and process until smooth. Add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Process again for 30 seconds. Serve hot, cold or room temp with pita chips.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) -SPINACH CURRY

Steps:

• Put eggplant cubes in colander over large bowl, sprinkle with kosher salt, and let stand for 30 minutes to sweat. Pat dry and remove excess salt with paper towels or clean dishcloth. (Careful, this juice stains!).
• Toast mustard seeds in a small dry non-stick pan over medium-low heat until they turn grey and begin to pop. Remove from heat and reserve in a small bowl.
• Place eggplant in a mid-sized steamer and cook for about 10 minutes, until eggplant is soft and tender but not mushy. Remove from heat and reserve.
• Heat canola oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until golden. Stir in garlic, ginger, and all other spices, being careful to avoid scorching.
• After 1 minute, add spinach and tomatoes. Raise heat to high and boil for 2 minutes, stirring often. Turn heat down to low and simmer with lid on for 20 minutes to allow flavours to blend.
• Stir in reserved mustard seeds and eggplant. Once eggplant is hot, stir in yogurt and chopped cilantro. Remove from heat.
• Serve alone on a bed of rice, or with a beef curry and naan bread.

CURRIED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) IN TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cut thin slice off top of each tomato and scoop out insides, leaving 1/4" shell.
• Saute onion in butter.
• Add tomato pulp and simmer until pulp is softened.
• Peel eggplant and dice into 1/4" cubes and add to pulp mixture.
• Season with salt, oregano, curry powder,thyme and black pepper.
• Taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• Cook, stirring gently, until eggplant is tender and sauce is thickened.
• Salt tomato cups, fill with hot mixture.
• Place in baking pan or casserole and top with buttered breadcrumbs.
• Bake in 350°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until tomatoes are tender and crumbs browned.

CURRIED (AUBERGINE) EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Toss eggplant with 1 teaspoon salt in a colander set over a bowl, then let drain 30 minutes; Rinse eggplant, then drain, pressing gently on eggplant to extract any excess liquid.
• While eggplant drains, mash garlic, ginger, and jalapeno to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt, using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a large heavey knife and transfer to a cup), Then stir in mustard seeds, cumin seeds and turmeric.
• Heat oil in a 5-quart heavy pot, over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then saute onion, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add spice paste and cinnamon stick, then reduce heat to moderate and cook, stirring for 1 minute.
• Add eggplant and cook, stirring until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes; Stir in water, brown sugar, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and simmer covered, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is tender, BUT NOT falling apart, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Season eggplant with more salt IF needed, discard cinnamon stick and serve eggplant sprinkled with cilantro and cashews.