BAKLAZHANNAIA IKRA (POOR MAN'S CAVIAR)

Baklazhannaia Ikra (Poor Man's Caviar) image

Provided by William Grimes

Time 2h45m

Yield 3 cups

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 large eggplant (about 2 pounds)
1 cup finely chopped onions
6 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
2 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
Black pepper
2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Dark rye or pumpernickel or sesame-seed crackers, for serving.

Steps:

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Bake the eggplant on a baking sheet in the center of the oven, turning it over once or twice, until it is soft and its skin is charred and blistered, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook the onions in 4 tablespoons oil over medium heat until they are soft but not brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the green pepper and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes longer. With a rubber spatula, scrape the contents of the skillet into a mixing bowl.
Remove the skin from the baked eggplant with a small, sharp knife, then chop the eggplant pulp finely, almost to a pure. Add it to the mixing bowl and stir in the tomatoes, sugar, salt and a few grindings of black pepper. Mix together thoroughly. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the skillet over moderate heat and pour in the eggplant mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then turn the heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 1 hour.
Uncover and cook 30 minutes, stirring from time to time, until all the moisture in the pan has evaporated and the mixture is thick enough to hold its shape in a spoon. Stir in 2 tablespoons lemon juice and taste for seasoning, adding salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Transfer the “caviar" to a mixing bowl and chill, covered with plastic wrap, until ready to serve. Serve on squares of bread or on sesame-seed crackers.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 178, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 14 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 610 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams