Hopvines Marinated Roasted Eggplant Aubergine Food

GRILLED MARINATED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Finely chop the parsley with the capers and garlic. Add the oregano and peperoncini and chop everything together. Put the mixture in a bowl, stir in the oil, season with salt and pepper, and reserve.
• Preheat an outdoor charcoal or gas grill or a grill pan until smoking hot.
• Put enough eggplant slices on the grill to cover it without crowding. Cook the eggplant until well marked, 3 to 6 minutes, then turn the slices over. Cook until tender, about 3 minutes more. Remove the eggplant from the grill.
• Pour the vinegar into a shallow bowl. While still hot, dip each eggplant slice into the vinegar and set it aside on a plate. Continue grilling and dipping the eggplant until all the slices are cooked and seasoned.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons of the parsley mixture onto a platter and spread it evenly with the back of a spoon. Arrange half of the grilled eggplant on the parsley in a single layer. Smear each slice of eggplant with more parsley. Place a second layer of eggplant on top and spread the remaining parsley on it. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and set aside to marinate at room temperature for about 2 hours (or refrigerate for longer). Serve at room temperature.
• Chef's notes:
• You could make the parsley mixture in a food processor, but I don't. I find hand chopping gives me the somewhat drier texture I prefer.
• For this recipe, I don't salt or oil the eggplant; I grill it dry. This way, it has a nice chewy texture. I marinate the eggplant as soon as it comes off the grill so the flavor of the marinade penetrates.

HOPVINE'S MARINATED ROASTED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Remove the peel of the eggplant. (If using Japanese eggplant, it's not necessary to remove the peel.).
• Slice the peeled eggplant thinly, about 1/8 inch thick, then make into smaller pieces (about 1"x2" strips).
• Combine remaining ingredients in a plastic airtight container.
• Add the eggplant pieces, cover, and shake well to coat.
• Chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place eggplant pieces on a non-stick baking sheet and roast for 7 minutes, then carefully turn them and roast another 7 minutes until tender.
• Keep the eggplant pieces refrigerated in an airtight container until you use them; they'll keep for up to 3 or 4 days.
• You can use the eggplant in various ways: put them in sandwiches, or (as I do) put the marinated eggplant pieces on your pizza along with the other veggies!
• Note: this marinade is also good for other roasted vegetables like asparagus; you can also grill the eggplant slices instead of roasting and use them as an appetizer (I use my Foreman grill), to make appetizers with them I usually use unpeeled Asian eggplant instead of the regular kind and slice them diagonally about 1/4-inch thick before grilling.

ITALIAN MARINATED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Peel eggplant.
• Cut the eggplants into thin long strips, like french fries.
• Place in a colander, sprinkle with the salt, and set a plate and a weight on top. Set the colander in a large bowl and set aside for at least 2 hours.
• Squeeze as much water as you can from eggplant.
• Place water and vinegar to boil.
• Place eggplant in boiling water for 3 minutes only. Don't over cook or will be mushy.
• Drain in colander, set a plate and a weight on top. Set colander in a large bowl and set aside for at least 4 hours I do overnight.
• Squeeze any remaining liquid you can out of eggplant. Put eggplant in glass jar with fresh garlic cloves , fresh cut into big chunks hot peppers, fresh mint and good drizzle of olive oil. Shake up and refrigerate. Makes 1 quart. Enjoy!

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.