Best Balkan Eggplant And Chile Purée Recipes

BALKAN EGGPLANT AND CHILE PURéE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment and oil lightly with olive oil. Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise, then with the point of a knife score them down to the skin, but not through it. Place cut side down on the oiled baking sheet, and bake for 30 minutes, until thoroughly softened and beginning to collapse. Remove from the oven and place, cut side down, in a colander in the sink. Leave to drain and cool for 30 minutes.
• Roast the chiles over a burner flame, or under the broiler, until charred. Transfer to a bowl, cover tightly and allow to cool. Put on plastic gloves and peel and seed the chiles.
• Peel the eggplant and purée in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the chiles to the food processor, along with the tomato paste and salt to taste. Process until everything is blended together.
• Place the garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a mortar and pestle and mash until you have a smooth purée.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a medium-size nonstick skillet and add the garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds, then stir in the paprika. Cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds, then stir in the eggplant purée. Bring to a simmer and cook stirring, until the purée is quite thick. Stir in the remaining olive oil, taste and adjust salt.
• Remove from the heat, cool and transfer to a jar. Place a thin film of olive oil over the top if storing.

EGGPLANT PUREE RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Scoop out flesh of roasted eggplant into a medium sized mixing bowl.
• Add the garlic, lemon, salt, and olive oil. Mash together with a fork until loose puree forms.
• Garnish with parsley, sumac, and more olive oil.
• Enjoy!

HEALTHY EGGPLANT AND KALE PARMESAN

Steps:

• Position 2 oven racks in the middle and upper third of the oven, and preheat to 425 degrees F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment.
• Cook the oil, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring, until the garlic just starts to turn golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the tomatoes; rinse the can with about 1 1/2 cups water, and add the tomato water to the skillet. Add the kale and basil, bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the almond flour and breadcrumbs in a medium bowl until evenly mixed. Whisk the egg whites and 3 tablespoons water in another medium bowl until frothy.
• Lay out the eggplant slices on a clean surface, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Dip the eggplant slices in the egg whites, then press into the almond-breadcrumb mixture to coat. Place the eggplant pieces on the baking sheets. Bake until the eggplant is tender and the crust is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets if the top one is browning too quickly.
• Turn the oven to broil. Spread a little of the sauce on the bottom of a broiler-safe 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange half the eggplant in the dish in as close to an even layer as you can without overlapping too much. Spread half the remaining sauce on top, then 1/4 of the mozzarella. Top with the remaining eggplant, sauce and mozzarella and the Parmesan. Place the baking dish under the broiler until the cheese is melted and browned, about 1 minute. Serve immediately, while the cheese is still warm. Sprinkle the top with the parsley.

MELANZANA (EGGPLANT PUREE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Preheat a sheet pan in oven. Generously coat eggplant with olive oil and season with salt and fresh black pepper. Carefully place eggplant on preheated sheet pan flesh down. Bake in oven 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until flesh has fully cooked. Allow the eggplant to cool. Using a soup spoon, gently scrape the flesh from the skin (including any charred or browned portion). Reserve the flesh and discard the skin. Place the eggplant and sour cream in a food processor and pulse until eggplant is slightly smooth (a chunky puree). Empty mixture into a bowl and mix in the red onion, garlic, basil, and red wine vinegar. Season with salt and fresh black pepper.

CHICK-PEA AND EGGPLANT PURéE

Steps:

• Cut eggplant into 3/4-inch-thick slices and sprinkle both sides with salt. Arrange eggplant in a large colander set over a bowl and let stand 30 minutes to drain.
• Preheat broiler.
• Rinse eggplant slices and pat dry with paper towels. Broil eggplant on a rack of a broiler pan about 4 inches from heat until deep golden, about 6 minutes on each side. When eggplant is cool enough to handle, peel off skins, scraping all flesh from skins and discarding them.
• In a food processor pulse eggplant with remaining ingredients until just puréed and season with salt and pepper. Purée may be made 3 days ahead and chilled, covered.