Egyptian Eggplant Dish Masaaa Food

EGYPTIAN EGGPLANT DISH (MASAA'A)

Steps:

• Fry the eggplant slices in oil until golden, set aside on paper towels to drain, and lightly salt.
• Fry potatoes until golden and set aside on paper towels to drain. Lightly salt.
• Fry pepper slices in oil until tender, set aside.
• In a pan, saute the onion until soft. Add Garlic, and saute a 1-2 min more.
• Add the spices and mustard (except salt, unless you want more- I usually think the salted veggies are salty enough. Just taste and see).
• Add in the veggies and tomato sauce and mix well.
• Cook just long enough to heat through.
• Sprinkle with chickpeas.
• Enjoy!

EGYPTIAN FRIED EGGPLANT WITH TOMATO SAUCE - MESA'AH

Steps:

• Wash the eggplant and slice into 1/4" thick disks.
• In a large nonstick frying pan, add enough oil to coat the pan. Set the heat to medium-high heat.
• Once the oil is hot, add enough eggplant to just cover the pan. Don't stack the eggplant on top of each other.
• Using a fork, flip the eggplant once it's a golden brown. Cook on the other side.
• Add a paper towel to a plate, and place the fried eggplant onto the towel to soak the extra oil.
• Once the eggplant is all fried, set aside.
• Chop the garlic into very fine pieces.
• In a blender, blend the tomatoes. Strain the tomatoes using a fine mesh strainer.
• Add 1 tbsp of oil to a nonstick frying pan on medium-high heat. Add the chopped garlic and cook until medium brown.
• Add the vinegar, blended and strained tomatoes, and whole spicy pepper. Cook on medium-high heat for about 15 minutes to allow all of the flavors to infuse together.
• Add the salt and pepper to taste at the very end.
• Add the fried eggplant into the garlic tomato sauce mixture. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes altogether.
• Serve with fresh pita bread.

MIHEE'S EGYPTIAN MASA'A

Steps:

• preheat oven to 325°F.
• cut vegetables into 1 inch pieces.
• heat oil.
• cook garlic just until browned (do not overcook!).
• add onion & spices, stir, cook until tender.
• add vegetables, potatoes & chickpeas, stir to coat.
• transfer to deep, covered baking dish, add tomatoes and stir to combine.
• cover and bake on middle rack for 1-1.5 hours, stirring occasionally.
• serve alone or on brown rice.

MASHED EGGPLANT WITH CAPERS, SCALLIONS AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Put the capers in a bowl and rinse off salt thoroughly with lukewarm water. Soak rinsed capers in lukewarm water for 20 minutes. Drain and rinse again, then blot dry. Chop roughly and set aside.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Peel eggplants and cut into 1-inch cubes. Toss cubes in a mixing bowl with salt and pepper, then drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil and toss to coat. Place on a baking sheet in one layer and roast uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden and tender when pierced with a fork. Cool.
• Put cooked eggplants in a food processor and pulse briefly. Add capers, scallions, parsley, garlic, lemon zest and juice, pomegranate molasses, yogurt, cayenne and 2 tablespoons olive oil and blend until well combined. Transfer to a bowl. (May be prepared and stored at cool room temperature, covered, up to 2 hours in advance, or refrigerated for up to a week.)
• Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning. Serve eggplant spread on toast, sprinkled with scallions and parsley, or as a dip for pita bread.