Mediterranean Aubergine Chutney Food

AUBERGINE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
• Place the aubergine and the peppers on a baking tray and roast for about 20 minutes.
• Place the roasted aubergine and peppers into a kitchen processor. Add the remaining ingredients and process until you get a rough paste. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Serve with freshly baked bread or as a side dish and enjoy.

MEDITERRANEAN AUBERGINE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Dice the aubergines, finely chop the onion and garlic and grate the ginger. Prepare a heavy-bottomed pan with a drizzle of olive oil and wait for the pan to get hot.
• Once the oil in the pot is hot, add the diced aubergines together with the onions and garlic. Add the tomato paste and stir for a minute or two, then add the vinegar and sugar; mix and then add the sultanas, ginger and, spices. Cook on medium heat and stir until the sugar has almost dissolved. Turn the heat up and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest possible, cover the pan and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Remove the lid of the pan and continue to cook on low heat, stirring occasionally so that the mixture does not burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. The chutney is ready when it has turned thick and sticky. Remember to taste to make sure that the vinegar has been absorbed well or it will taste acidic.
• Preheat the oven to 160°C. If you are using jars with rubber seals, be sure to remove these. Wash the jars and lids in hot soapy water. After that, rinse but don't dry them. Place the jars onto a baking tray and into the oven for 10 minutes. Soak the lids in boiling water for a few minutes. Once the chutney has cooled, ladle into sterilised jars with tight lids. It is necessary that both the chutney and the jars are at the same temperature so that the jars don't crack.

THOMAS KELLER'S EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a small skillet, combine curry powder, cinnamon stick and clove and place over medium heat, toasting until aromatic; removed from the heat and wrap the spices in cheesecloth with the lemon and orange zest and tie the cheesecloth to make a sachet.
• In a medium saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the shallots and saute over low heat until the shallots have softened--about 4 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, red wine, sugar, lemon and orange juices, and the sachet.
• Simmer until the liquid has reduced and the mixture resembles a marmalade--about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove from heat and discard sachet.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and then add the eggplant and saute until tender--about 5 minutes.
• Drain eggplant on paper towels set on a rack.
• Return the skillet to the medium heat, add two more tablespoons of oil and, when the oil is warm, add the zucchini and yellow squash and saute that until tender--4 to 5 minutes.
• Drain the zucchini and squash.
• Note: Dish can be prepared in advance to here and chilled for several hours; if it is chilled, bring to room temperature before proceeding.
• Reheat the tomato mixture and whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Add butter, one piece at a time, whisking to emulsify the sauce. (this step can be omitted to "veganize" the recipe).
• Add the eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash.
• Fold in red and yellow peppers and parsley.
• Serve warm.
• If served as a base for skate (as at The French Laundry), this serves six; as a condiment or as part of an appetizer plate, it will serve more--the yield is roughly 6 cups.

MEDITERRANEAN CHUTNEY - LOW POINTS

Steps:

• Add sugar and vinegar mixture to a good size pot and bring to the boil.
• Add all the vegetables and tomato paste.
• Add herbs and salt.
• Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for at least half an hour, stirring occasionally to ensure chutney doesn't burn to the bottom.
• If the vegetables haven't cooked down far enough and mixture is getting too'dry' add a little more water.
• Chutney is ready when mixture takes on the consistency of a thick sauce.
• Taste, and season with extra salt if needed.
• Thicken with cornstarch.
• Although mixture is already quite thick, the cornstarch holds the water left in the chutney in suspension and helps to make a more spreadable product.
• Seal in sterilized bottles (should make 2-3 medium size jam jars).

MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Brush eggplant slices evenly with olive oil.
• Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and tender.
• Remove from oven, and finely dice the eggplant slices.
• In a medium bowl, combine the chopped eggplant pieces with the garlic, egg whites, parmesan, feta, breadcrumbs, basil and parsley and green onions.
• Add the salt and pepper in quantities at your discretion.
• Mix everything well and place in the refrigerator 20min to firm up.
• (Note: add this stage you may adjust the mixture by adding more breadcrumbs if it does not hold well together).
• Divide the mixture into 6-8 equal portions, and shape into a flattened ball.
• Coat with flour.
• Fry the fritters in shallow oil for 2 mins on either side, till they are golden brown.
• Serve with a salad, lemon wedges and a yoghurt sauce to dip into, if preferred.