Pomegranate Glazed Eggplant Food

GLAZED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Mix 2 tablespoons each water and oyster sauce, 2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce, 1 1/2 teaspoons fish sauce and 1 teaspoon sugar; set aside. Cut 4 small Japanese eggplants in half lengthwise, then cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks. Cook in 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the sauce mixture. Simmer, tossing, until glazed, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Top with chopped peanuts and cilantro.

POMEGRANATE GLAZED PORK

Steps:

• Remove the pork roast from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the rack on the lower middle section of the oven.
• Place the carrot halves on the bottom of a small roasting pan and set aside.
• Trim off any thick areas of fat from the roast. Make shallow slits about 1 inch apart in a crosshatch on the meat of the roast. Mix together the cinnamon, cloves and 1 tablespoon salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the roast and rub to coat. Place the roast on the carrots and add 1/2 cup water to the pan. Roast for 1 hour, adding another 1/2 cup water if the pan gets dry.
• Meanwhile, combine the pomegranate juice and thyme in a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and reduce by half, about 15 minutes. Stir in the maple syrup and mustard and continue to reduce until slightly thickened, another 3 to 4 minutes. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remove and discard the thyme.
• Baste the meat with the pomegranate mixture and roast until the internal temperature reaches 120 degrees F, another 30 minutes. Remove the roast from the oven and turn the oven up to 450 degrees F.
• Baste the roast again with the pomegranate mixture. Return the roast to the hot oven for an additional 20 minutes, basting with the pomegranate sauce every 5 to 10 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees F and the roast is evenly glazed. Remove the roast to a platter to rest for 10 minutes. Add any juices from the pan to the sauce and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Stir to combine. Slice the roast and serve with the sauce on the side.

EGGPLANT WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Start the preparation the day before serving. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil.
• Remove the stem end from each eggplant. Slice the eggplants on the bias into 1/2-inch thick ovals. Spread the slices on the baking sheet in a single layer and brush with olive oil. Bake the eggplants 12 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Using a spatula, transfer the slices, overlapping slightly, to a shallow serving dish.
• In a small bowl, combine the pomegranate molasses, lemon juice, garlic, sugar, olive oil, and salt; blend well. Drizzle the sauce over the eggplant. Top with the mint, parsley and pomegranate seeds. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand until ready to serve. Can be refrigerated overnight, but is best served at room temperature.

GOCHUJANG-GLAZED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Halve 4 to 5 Japanese eggplants lengthwise and crosswise. Brush with vegetable oil. Place flesh-side down on a foil-lined baking sheet; bake at 400˚ F until tender, 15 minutes. Whisk 2 tablespoons each soy sauce, gochujang and honey, 1 teaspoon each toasted sesame oil and minced garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Brush glaze on the eggplants; broil until charred, 4 minutes. Brush with the remaining glaze; top with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.

EGGPLANT WITH POMEGRANATE MOLASSES

Steps:

• Prick the eggplants in a few places with a pointed knife to prevent them from exploding. Place them on a sheet of foil on an oven tray and roast them in an oven preheated to 475°F for 45 to 55 minutes, until the skins are wrinkled and they are very soft.
• When cool enough to handle, peel and drop them into a colander or strainer with small holes. Press them very gently to allow their juices to run out. Then, on a serving plate, cut them up into large pieces and dress them quickly so that the flesh does not have time to discolor.
• Mix the lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil, pour over the eggplants, and turn them to coat them all over with the dressing.
• Serve sprinkled with chopped parsley and, if you like, pomegranate seeds.

POMEGRANATE-GLAZED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Put a small, dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add the pine nuts and cook, shaking the pan and tossing the nuts frequently, until they are lightly browned and fragrant. Watch them carefully, and keep them moving, so they don't burn. Immediately transfer them to a plate to cool; if you leave them in the pan, even off the heat, they could burn.
• Brush the cut side of the eggplant halves with oil and sprinkle them with za'atar and a little salt. Set the halves on a large piece of aluminum foil and fold it up to tightly enclose them. Put the foil packet on a small baking sheet and bake until the eggplant is fork tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
• When the eggplant is tender, remove it from the oven, turn the oven to broil, and arrange a rack so the eggplant will be just a few inches from the flame. Open the foil packet, brush the eggplant with the pomegranate molasses, and broil just until the molasses is bubbly, about a minute.
• Drizzle the juices from the foil packet over the rice. Top with the eggplant halves and scatter on the cherry tomatoes, mint, feta, and pine nuts.