Sesame Eggplant Food

SESAME EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Cut a Japanese eggplant (which is longer and more slender than the usual hulking kind) into small cubes and steam until tender. Dress with sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, the juice of half a lemon and salt to taste.

TWICE-COOKED EGGPLANT WITH CILANTRO-SESAME PESTO

Steps:

• 1. To roast the eggplant: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• 2. Toss the eggplant with the oil in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Spread on an 18-by-13-inch half-sheet pan. Roast, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely. (The eggplant can be covered and stored at room temperature for up to 4 hours.)
• 3. To make the pesto: With the machine running, drop the garlic through the feed tube of a processor to mince it. Add the cilantro, lemon juice, sesame oil, and sesame seeds and process until pureed. With the machine running, pour the olive oil through the feed tube to make a smooth sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (The pesto can be covered tightly and stored at room temperature for up
• to 4 hours.)
• 4. To make the mayonnaise: Whisk all of the ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside for up to 1 hour.
• 5. To finish the eggplant: Heat a large wok or skillet over high heat. Add the oil and swirl the wok to coat the sides. Add the eggplant and spread it out in a single layer. Let cook until the underside is seared, about 1 minute. Stir-fry until hot, about 1 minute more. Remove the wok from the heat. Add 3 tablespoons of the pesto, the pine nuts, the cilantro leaves, and the sesame seeds. Transfer to a serving bowl, drizzle with the mayonnaise, and serve hot, with the remaining pesto passed on the side. (Leftover pesto is delicious stirred into plain steamed rice or used to flavor vinaigrette.)

SPICY SESAME EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat broiler. Slice eggplant into 3/4-inch-thick rounds; cut each round into 3/4-inch-wide strips. Transfer to a broiler-proof rimmed baking sheet; toss with coarse salt and ground pepper.
• In a small bowl, combine sauce ingredients; drizzle over eggplant, and toss to coat. Spread in an even layer.
• Broil, tossing once, until eggplant is browned and tender, about 15 minutes.

LIME AND SESAME GRILLED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the first 7 ingredients until blended; brush 2 tablespoons juice mixture over both sides of eggplant slices. Grill, covered, over medium heat until tender, 4-6 minutes on each side., Transfer eggplant to a serving plate. Stir honey and pepper flakes into remaining juice mixture; drizzle over eggplant. Sprinkle with green onion and sesame seeds.

SESAME ROASTED EGGPLANT (THAI)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a large ovenpoof skillet over medium-high heat, add all of the marinade ingredients. Bring to a boil and cook until reduced by half. Add the eggplant and mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes.
• Put the pan into the oven and cook until the eggplant and mushrooms are soft and caramelized, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with sesame seeds.

SESAME EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Combine cracker crumbs, cheese, sesame seeds, and pepper.
• Spread eggplant slices with mayo on both sides.
• Coat with crumb mixture, and press crumbs into eggplant lightly to make sure they stick.
• Cut slices into quarters, to make 4 triangles.
• Place triangles on greased baking sheets.
• Bake at 400 F until bottoms are golden, about 10-12 minutes.
• Turn and then bake 5-7 minutes longer.

STEAMED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Quarter 2 pounds Japanese eggplants lengthwise and cut into 2-inch pieces; season with salt. In two batches, cook the eggplants in a steamer over medium-high heat, tossing halfway, until softened, 6 minutes. Let cool on paper towels. Whisk 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoons each sesame oil and minced garlic, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, 1 teaspoon gochugaru and 1 teaspoon rice vinegar in a large bowl. Toss the eggplants in the sauce; top with chopped scallions and toasted sesame seeds.

SZECHWAN EGGPLANT STIR-FRY

Steps:

• Cut the eggplants in 1/2 lengthwise and then slice crosswise into wedges, no more than 1-inch wide.
• Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high flame and add the oils; tilt the pan to coat all sides. When you see a slight smoke, add a layer of eggplant, stir-fry until seared and sticky, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the eggplant to a side platter and cook the remaining eggplant in same manner, adding more oil, if needed.
• After all the eggplant is out of the pan, add the green onions, ginger, garlic, and chile; stir-fry for a minute until fragrant. Add the broth. In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch until the sugar and cornstarch are dissolved. Pour the soy sauce mixture into the wok and cook another minute, until the sauce has thickened. Put the eggplant back in the pan, tossing quickly, until the sauce is absorbed. Garnish with sesame seeds, Thai basil, and cilantro and serve.

SESAME EGGPLANT WITH GREEN ONIONS

Steps:

• Puree olive oil, chopped green onions, soy sauce, and sesame oil in blender. Transfer mixture to small bowl. Stir in sesame seeds; season mixture with pepper. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Generously brush 1 side of each eggplant slice with green onion mixture. Place eggplant slices, seasoned side down, on grill. Brush tops of eggplant slices with green onion mixture. Cook until tender and charred in spots, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to platter. Garnish with thinly sliced green onions; serve warm or at room temperature. DO AHEAD Can be made 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

VEGAN SESAME MISO EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Heat sesame oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir eggplant and orange bell pepper until softened, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Whisk miso, soy sauce, ginger, vinegar, water, and garlic together in a bowl until sauce is evenly combined; add to eggplant mixture. Cook and stir eggplant mixture until sauce is thickened and glossy, 3 to 4 minutes. Top mixture with sesame seeds.

SESAME-EGGPLANT SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Pierce eggplants all over with fork. Place on baking sheet. Roast in oven until eggplants are very soft and deflated, turning once, about 1 hour. Cool slightly.
• Cut eggplants in half; scrape flesh into strainer set over large bowl (do not allow bottom of strainer to touch bowl). Let eggplant drain 30 minutes. Transfer eggplant to processor. Using on/off turns, process until almost smooth.
• Heat vegetable oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3/4 cup green onions, ginger, garlic and chili-garlic sauce; sauté just until onions soften, about 45 seconds. Stir in brown sugar, soy sauce, vinegar and lemon juice. Bring to simmer, stirring constantly. Mix in eggplant puree and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in tomatoes, 3/4 cup cilantro and sesame oil. Cool to room temperature. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to medium bowl. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
• Garnish eggplant salsa with 1 tablespoon each green onions and cilantro. Serve with Parmesan Pita Crisps.

SESAME EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SALAD

Steps:

• Place wok or skillet over high heat, when hot, add 2tbs oil and swirl to coat the pan.
• When hot but not smoking, about 1 minute, add eggplant, stir fry about 1 minute.
• Add water, or more as needed, and continue to stir-fry moving pan off and on the heat as necessary to prevent scorching, until water evaporates and eggplant is tender when pierced, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temperature.
• Mix all dressing ingredients in a bowl, whisk to blend. Pour over cooled eggplant and toss to coat well.
• To serve, mound on a serving plate and garnish with onions.

EGGPLANT WITH SESAME SEED SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onions; sauté until golden, about 12 minutes. Add chili powder and next 4 ingredients. Cook until spices are fragrant, about 2 minutes. Mix in garlic, cloves, cardamom and bay leaves. Set aside. Cook sesame seeds in medium skillet over medium heat until golden, stirring frequently, 5 minutes. Transfer to processor; grind to coarse powder. Add 3 tablespoons oil, onion mixture, 1 tablespoon water and ginger; blend until mixture forms paste. Season with salt. Spread 1/3 cup paste over scored side of eggplants (reserve remaining paste in processor). Steam eggplants, paste side up, until tender, about 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add broth to remaining sesame paste in processor; blend well. Transfer to small saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to sauce consistency, about 8 minutes. Transfer eggplants to plate. Spoon sauce over. Garnish with cilantro.

GRILLED SESAME-EGGPLANT DIP WITH PITA WEDGES

Steps:

• Place eggplants on preheated grill or directly over gas burner on stive.
• Grill until skin is blackened and cracked and eggplant is tender and collapsing, turning occasionally, about 25 minutes.
• Transfer to baking sheet and cool briefly.
• Cut eggplants in half.
• Scoop flesh into large sieve set over a bowl; discard skins.
• Drain at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Place eggplants in large bowl; smash finely.
• Heat sesame oil in large skillet medium-high heat.
• Add 1 1/4 cups green onions, garlic and ginger.
• Saute until onions soften, about 2 minutes.
• Add eggplant, mix in soy sauce, vinegar and chili-garlic sauce.
• Cook until heated through, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes.
• Mix in 1/2 cup chopped cilantro.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Cover and chill (up to 1 day ahead.).
• Bring to room temperature before using.
• Toast pits breads on preheated grill or directly over gas burner on stove until beginning to char.
• Cut into wedges.
• Transfer to bowl.
• Place eggplant dip in another bowl.
• Sprinkle with remaining green onions and cilantro.
• Serve with pita wedges.