Turkish Eggplant And Tomato Food

TURKISH-STYLE BRAISED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Trim ends off the eggplant. With a vegetable peeler, cut off alternating strips of skin. Cut eggplant into 1-inch cubes, place in a colander over a large bowl and toss with salt. Let sit for 30 minutes to 3 hours, rinse well and squeeze to remove as much liquid as possible; do not break cubes up.
• In a large skillet or saucepan, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the eggplant cubes and move them around occasionally, until they are rather tender and somewhat browned, about 7 minutes. Remove from the pan with tongs, leaving as much oil as possible in the pan. Set aside.
• Add remaining oil to the pan with the onions and pine nuts and stir occasionally, until the onions are transparent and some pine nuts are lightly browned, 7 or 8 minutes.
• Return eggplant to the pan with the tomato, raisins, sugar, cinnamon, cumin and pepper. Mix well, then turn heat to low. Cover the pan and cook until the eggplant is very tender but still in distinct pieces, about 30 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking, stirring once or twice, until the liquid is somewhat thickened, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the pan from heat and let sit uncovered until it is at room temperature, about 45 minutes. Stir in the dill and parsley, adjust the seasonings to taste and serve, accompanied by yogurt and lemon wedges for squeezing.

TURKISH EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F.
• Spray the inside and lid of a cast-iron Dutch oven with olive oil.
• Pour the couscous and 1/2 cup water into the pot and stir to spread in an even layer. Scatter on half the garlic and onion.
• Layer half the eggplant in the pot and top with half of the chickpeas, bell pepper, zucchini, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and half of the marjoram, parsley, sesame seeds, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Repeat the layers, beginning with the eggplant.
• Cover and bake for 40 minutes, or until 3 minutes after the aroma of a fully cooked meal escapes the oven. Serve immediately.
• Calories: 361
• Protein: 14g
• Carbohydrates: 70g
• Fat: 4g
• Cholesterol: 0
• Sodium: 348mg
• Fiber: 15g

EGGPLANT WITH TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Trim off each end of eggplant. Cut eggplant lengthwise in half. Place each half, cut side down, on flat surface and cut crosswise into half-moon shapes, each about one-third-inch thick. There should be a total of about 34 slices.
• Trim off ends of tomatoes and cut away the cores. Cut tomatoes crosswise into slices, each about one-inch thick. There should be about 32 pieces. Alternate tomato slices with eggplant slices and arrange them compactly in a baking dish.
• Combine garlic, rosemary and oregano and sprinkle over layered eggplant. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and dribble oil over all.
• Place dish in the oven and bake 30 minutes. Baste the layered eggplant with any juices that have accumulated around it. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

VEGAN TURKISH BAKED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Place eggplants in a colander. Sprinkle with salt and leave to drain for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking pan.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet. Add onion, red bell pepper, and garlic; cook until onion is soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, vinegar, sugar, and pepper. Remove from heat.
• Pat the eggplant slices dry with paper towels and arrange in the prepared baking pan. Drop a teaspoonful of the tomato mixture onto each eggplant slice. Drizzle remaining olive oil over and around slices. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until eggplant slices are tender, 40 to 50 minutes. Garnish with pine nuts and cilantro leaves. Serve at room temperature.

TURKISH EGGPLANT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190C). Coat 10-inch fluted-edge tart pan with cooking spray.
• Roast eggplants on baking sheet 50 minutes, or until tender. Cool. Scoop flesh into food processor; puree until smooth.
• Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, mint, anise, cumin, paprika, and red pepper flakes; saute 8 minutes.
• add chopped tomatoes and tomato paste; simmer 10 minutes.
• Stir in eggplant and garlic; cook 10 minutes.
• Press 1 phyllo sheet into prepared tart pan. Spray with cooking spray, and sprinkle wiht 1 1/2 teaspoons breadcrumbs. Repeat layering with remaining phyllo and breadcrumbs. Roll over edges, and coat with cooking spray.
• Spoon eggplant mixture into crust. Arrange tomato slices and olives over top, and sprinkle with breadcrumbs (if using).
• Bake 1 hour,or until phyllo is golden. Cool 10 minutes before serving.

TURKISH EGGPLANT AND POTATO KIZARTMA WITH TOMATO ISKENDER SAUCE

Steps:

• Garlic Yoghurt:.
• At least an hour before serving, combine yoghurt and garlic in a small bowl. Stir, cover and refrigerate. When you start cooking, remove from refrigerator and allow yoghurt to come back to room temperature.
• Iskender Sauce:.
• Melt butter in a small frying pan over a medium heat.
• Add onion, garlic and chilli and cook until onion is transparent - about 5 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and tomato paste to the pan and cook, stirring, until the mixture comes to a boil.
• Boil for 5 minutes, then reduce heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes until the sauce is rich and very thick.
• Taste and add salt as required.
• Kizartma:.
• Preheat oven to 100C (you're going to use this to keep the eggplant warm after you've cooked it).
• Heat some of the oil in a large frypan and fry the eggplant slices, in batches if necessary, until brown on both sides, adding more oil as required.
• Line a dinner plate with kitchen paper and transfer eggplant to the plate when cooked.
• Keep eggplant warm in the oven while you cook the potatoes.
• Add some more oil to the same pan, and fry the potato slices until golden brown on each side.
• To assemble:.
• Make 4 stacks, alternating potato, eggplant and a dessertspoon of tomato sauce. Each stack should have 3 slices each of potato and eggplant. Finish each stack with a spoonful of sauce, then drizzle each stack with garlic yoghurt (being careful not to topple it).
• Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.