Beef Burger With Grilled Eggplant Aubergine Salad Greens Recipes

BEEF BURGER WITH GRILLED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) & SALAD GREENS

Steps:

• Combine the yoghurt and hummus in a small bowl.
• Cut the eggplant (aubergine) into 6 slices lengthways; discard the 2 skin-side pieces (or put in your freezer bag of vegetable peelings etc. for using to make vegetable stock (see note above).
• Preheat the grill or barbecue.
• Combine the beef, garlic, tomato paste (or dried Australian Bush Tomato), onion, chilli, basil, breadcrumbs and egg in a large bowl; shape the mixture into 4 patties; cook the patties and eggplant, in batches, on the heated oiled flat grill or barbecue until browned on both sides and cooked through.
• Halve the bread pieces (or rolls) horizontally; toast, cut-sides up; spread the cut-sides with the yoghurt mixture; sandwich the eggplant, patties and salad greens between the toasted pieces of bread or roll.

AUBERGINE SALAD

Steps:

• Soak sun-dried tomatoes in boiling water 15-30 minutes until they soften, then drain and dice; set aside until needed.
• Heat oil in a large skillet; add eggplant, red pepper, and onion along with salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, and garlic.
• Cook mixture, stirring occasionally, over medium heat, for 8-9 minutes or until lightly tender, then remove from heat and allow to cool.
• In a large bowl, mix together chopped olives, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chopped parsley, toasted almonds, lemon juice, and mint (if using).
• Mix in cooled eggplant mixture, tossing lightly (add extra-virgin olive oil, salt, or fresh lemon juice if desired to adjust consistency to your taste).
• Serve salad warm or chilled with fresh pita bread, or alone as a salad or first course.

HERB AND GARLIC GRILLED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Marinating the Eggplant:.
• Lightly brush both sides of each eggplant slice with oil. Blend together the garlic, parsley, basil and pepper. Spread a little of the herb blend over each slice. Lay the slice side by side on a large platter, stacking them if necessary. Lightly cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature 2 to 4 hours.
• Cooking Eggplant on an Outdoor Grill:
• Burn down a charcoal fire (using real wood charcoal briquets if possible), until a white ash has formed on the briquets. Heat should be moderate. Sprinkle the slices with salt. Grill the undrained eggplant slices about 10 minutes, turning once, or until deep golden brown on each side and soft when pierced with a knife. Spoon any seasonings left on the platter over each slice after turning. Transfer the finished slices to a platter and serve.
• Cooking Eggplant Inside:.
• Grill undrained slices over medium heat on a gridded skillet or stove-top grill, until deep, golden brown on each side.
• Spread any seasonings left on the platter over each slice before turning. Do this in several batches unless your cooking surface is large enough to hold all the slices in a single layer. Or you may preheat broiler, placing eggplant about 4" from the flame. Spread any leftover marinade over the slices, and have them in a single layer. Broil slowly until slices are deep golden brown on each side, and eggplant is soft when pierced.
• Serve as a first course or main dish after topping the warm slices with long furls of Parmigiano-Reggiano or sheep cheese carved with a vegetable peeler. Enjoy!

BIG FAT GREEK EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SALAD

Steps:

• Roast the eggplant over a gas grill for 25 minutes at 450 degrees.
• Place in a colander and allow it to cool. Puree the scallions, parsley, garlic and oregano in a food processor.
• In a separate bowl, combine lemon juice, red wine vinegar, some capers, tomato, chopped parsley and the herb mixture.
• Next peel away the skin of the eggplant revealing charred flesh on the inside; leave the seeds; in a lot of recipes they're called "the poor man's caviar.".
• Roughly cut up the eggplant, and combine it with the remaining ingredients.
• Lastly, add salt, pepper, lemon to taste. Serve the eggplant salad (hot or cold) on grilled bread.

MOROCCAN EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SALAD

Steps:

• Place eggplant, garlic, water and salt in a pot and bring to a boil.
• Cover and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, or until eggplant cubes are cooked but still firm.
• Drain in a strainer and allow to cool.
• Place cooled eggplant in a bowl and toss gently with the remaining ingredients.
• Very nice served at room temperature.