Best Choresh Bademjon Meat And Eggplant Goulash Recipes

CHORESH BADEMJON (MEAT AND EGGPLANT GOULASH)

Steps:

• Peel eggplant and cut lengthwise into slices about 3/4-inch thick. Sprinkle with coarse salt and let stand at room temperature for about 1 hour, or until brown juices drain off. Set aside.
• Pat slices dry. Heat 1/4 cup oil in 2 1/2-to-3-quart Dutch oven or stewpot and in it gently saute onions over moderate heat until they are soft and bright golden brown. Stir in meat and add half of salt and pepper. Cover and simmer gently over moderate heat for about 2 hours, or until meat is completely tender. Stir frequently to prevent scorching and add water only if cooking liquid evaporates.
• While meat cooks and when eggplant slices have drained, pat them dry and fry gently in single layer in remaining oil in skillet. Turn eggplant slices so that each side is light golden brown and is tender. Eggplant should be done in about 7 minutes. Set aside.
• If fresh tomatoes are used, add them half an hour before the beef is finished cooking. Add tomato sauce 15 minutes before end of cooking time.
• Five or 10 minutes before serving, lay eggplant slices over top of beef and reheat together. Adjust seasonings. Serve spooned over steamed rice.

KHORESH BADEMJAN

Steps:

• Fry the onion in 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan until golden. Add the meat and brown it on all sides. Add the dried limes or lemon juice, and tomatoes. Cover with 2 1/2 cups water and add pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
• Simmer gently for 1 hour, then add the split peas and cook for 20 minutes. Season with salt when the split peas have begun to soften, and add more water occasionally, if needed to keep the meat covered.
• Brush the cut side of the eggplants generously with oil and cook them, on the cut side only, under the broiler or on the grill until browned. They do not need to be entirely cooked, as they will cook further in the stew.
• Add them to the stew, and cook, covered, for 30 minutes longer, or until the eggplants are very soft.
• Fry 1 small chopped onion in 2 tablespoons oil until golden. Add 2 tablespoons dried crushed mint and 2 crushed garlic cloves. When the garlic just begins to color, pour over the sauce at the end, as a garnish.
• If you can get hold of unripe grapes, put them into the stew instead of the dried limes.

KHORESH-E BADEMJOON (PERSIAN LAMB, EGGPLANT AND TOMATO STEW)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, season lamb with turmeric, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
• Peel the eggplants but leave the green skin on the stem end intact. Trim the tips of the stems and make an incomplete lengthwise cut in each eggplant from the bottom, leaving both halves attached at the stem. Place eggplants in a colander set inside a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for 30 minutes.
• In the meantime, set a large Dutch oven or similar pot over medium-high heat. When the pot is hot, add 3 tablespoons oil. When the oil shimmers, add onion and cook, stirring regularly, until softened and browned, 16 to 18 minutes.
• Add the meat and cook, turning regularly, until it browns evenly on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes. Add 4 cups water and increase heat to high. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour.
• In the meantime, rinse the eggplants, dry thoroughly and set aside. Remove stems and halve tomatoes through their cores and set aside. Line a baking sheet with two layers of paper towels and set aside.
• Set a large frying pan over high heat. When the pan is hot, add 1/4 cup oil and carefully lay eggplants in the pan in a single layer. It's crucial to leave space between each eggplant for steam to escape, so brown in batches if necessary. Reduce heat to medium-high and cook, turning regularly, until eggplants are browned on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove browned eggplants to lined baking sheet and allow to drain.
• Use the same pan to brown tomatoes, cut-side down, in remaining 2 tablespoons oil for about 5 minutes. Flip and cook tomatoes on skin side until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes, then remove to lined baking sheet.
• Once the meat has cooked for 1 hour, stir in the tomato paste, saffron and 1/4 cup lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Carefully arrange the browned eggplants and tomatoes atop the stew and then sprinkle on the young grapes. Allow the stew to come to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer, uncovered, until meat is falling apart and stew is thick and unctuous, about 1 hour. Without jostling the eggplants too much, taste a spoonful or two of the stew. It should be pleasantly tart, so adjust the seasoning with salt and lime juice as needed.
• Serve hot, with Persian rice and mast-o khiar, as well as pickles, fresh herbs, scallions and radishes, if desired.