Grilled Eggplant With Yogurt And Tomato Sauces Food

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH YOGHURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the Yoghurt Sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Set aside for the flavours to develop. The longer you leave it, the better it will taste.
• Use a potato peeler to peel "strips" off the eggplant vertically as per the photo below. If your potato peeler is not sharp enough or if the eggplant is on the soft side, you might need to do this with a small sharp knife.
• Cut the eggplant into 1.5cm / 2/3" thick rounds.
• Brush one side of each eggplant with olive oil. The more you use, the yummier it will be!
• Sprinkle the oiled side of the eggplant with salt and pepper.
• Heat a griddle pan (or BBQ) on medium high heat. (Note 5)
• Place the oiled side of each eggplant onto the pan and grill for 2 to 3 minutes until it gets deep char lines on it. While the first side is cooking, brush the other side of each eggplant with the remaining olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Turn the eggplant and cook the other side until the eggplant is cooked through but still holding it's shape. The easy way to tell is to prod the centre - if you feel resistance, it needs to cook more.
• Remove the eggplant onto a serving plate and let it cool for a few minutes. Then spoon a dollop of the yoghurt sauce on each, and scatter with coriander/cilantro, mint, pomegranate seeds and chili. Drizzle with extra olive oil and serve with cheeks or wedges of lemon, if desired.

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH YOGURT AND TOMATO SAUCES

Steps:

• Trim the eggplant and cut lengthwise into 6 thick slices. Season all over and brush with 2 tablespoons of the oil.
• Heat the remaining oil in a small pan and add the tomatoes, garlic and chili flakes, along with a little salt.
• Cook gently for 3-4 minutes until the tomatoes are just softened.
• In a small bowl, mix the yogurt with the mint and some salt and pepper.
• Heat a barbecue or grill pan, and cook the eggplant slices for 5-6 minutes each side until nicely browned and softened.
• Serve 3 slices per person with the minty yogurt and tomato sauces.

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH TAHINI-YOGURT SAUCE AND POMEGRANATE

Steps:

• Prepare a fire in a charcoal grill or preheat a gas grill. If using charcoal, allow the coals to become covered with ash.
• Place the eggplants on the grill rack and grill, turning as needed, until soft when pierced. Timing will depend upon the fire. Alternatively, cook them indoors on an asador, which will allow the skins to char while the eggplants retain their shapes.
• Once tender, remove the eggplants to a bowl and cover. Let them sit for 10 minutes and peel off the skin.
• Slit the eggplants in half lengthwise and arrange on a plate. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon tahini-yogurt sauce (see http://www.food.com/recipe/tahini-yogurt-sauce-524706) over eggplant then drizzle with just a little of the molasses. Garnish with cilantro/coriander.
• Serve at room temperature.

GRILLED EGGPLANT WITH YOGURT-MINT SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix first 5 ingredients in medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Rub eggplant rounds on both sides with sesame oil. Sprinkle with coriander, salt, and pepper. Grill until slightly charred, about 6 minutes per side.
• Arrange eggplant rounds on platter. Serve with yogurt-mint sauce.

EGGPLANT INVOLTINI WITH FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Fresh Tomato Sauce: Heat oil in a medium straight-sided skillet over medium. Add garlic; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up tomato pieces with a wooden spoon, until tomatoes are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Pass through the medium disk of a food mill. Sauce can be allowed to cool completely, then refrigerated in an airtight container up to 5 days. (Makes about 2 1/2 cups.)
• Involtini: Trim and cut eggplants length-wise into 1/4-to-1/2-inch-thick slices. Place on a rimmed baking sheet fitted with a wire rack; season both sides with salt. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F. Place currants in a small heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand 10 minutes, then drain. Finely chop half of mozzarella and place in a bowl with currants, ricotta, feta, pine nuts, cinnamon, oregano, parsley, breadcrumbs, and egg. Season with salt and pepper; stir to combine.
• Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Pat eggplant slices dry with paper towels and brush both sides of each evenly with olive oil. Brush grates with vegetable oil and grill eggplant slices, turning occasionally, until charred in places and tender, about 3 minutes a side.
• Transfer to a plate, piling slices on top of one another so that they continue to steam and soften. Let cool 15 minutes. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons filling at one short end of an eggplant slice. Roll up tightly to secure in a cigar shape. Repeat with remaining filling and eggplant slices.
• Spread tomato sauce evenly in the bottom of a 9-by-12-inch gratin dish or 9-inch square baking dish. Arrange eggplant rolls snugly in an even layer, seam-sides down. Thinly slice remaining mozzarella and arrange over top.
• Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with pepper. Bake until cheese has melted and eggplant is bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly, then garnish with basil and serve with bread.