Eggplant Caviar With Roasted Red Peppers Recipes

RUSSIAN EGGPLANT CAVIAR ("IKRA")

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
• Using a fork, poke holes in the eggplants at approximately 2-inch intervals* (see note below). Drizzle the eggplants and peppers with a few drops of olive oil and rub to coat evenly.
• Place on a baking sheet and roast until blistered, blackened, and totally collapsed, 45 to 60 minutes, turning the veg every 20 minutes or so. (The peppers may be done first, so pull them out and continue roasting the eggplants.)
• Transfer the vegetables to a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Set aside at room temp - or chill in the fridge - until they're cool enough to handle. (Covering the bowl with plastic traps the steam, making the veg easier to peel later.)
• Meanwhile, cut an X into the bottoms of the tomatoes, cutting about a quarter of the way through. Place in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand for a few minutes. Then drain and run tomatoes under cold water. Peel off the skins and discard. Finely dice and place in a large bowl.
• When cool enough to handle, peel the skins off the roasted vegetables and discard, along with the tops. Split open the peppers and discard the ribs and seeds. Firmly squeeze the eggplant flesh with your hands and discard the excess liquid.
• Place the eggplants and peppers in a food processor and puree until smooth (alternatively, chop them very finely). Transfer the puree to the bowl with the tomatoes and add the onion, parsley, garlic, vinegar, sunflower oil, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasonings, if needed.
• Set aside for at least 15 minutes before serving. (Leftovers may be refrigerated for up to 5 days).

ROASTED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) CAVIAR

Steps:

• Stab eggplant and roast in medium-hot oven along with garlic heads (brush garlic with olive oil) turn occasionally, until eggplant collapses and garlic is soft.
• (You can use parchment paper or silpat pad to line a pan.) Can also be done in a covered grill.
• Chop onion and red pepper.
• After eggplant cools, scoop out flesh, discarding rind, and squeeze roasted garlic cloves into eggplant.
• Either chop or puree eggplant/garlic in a processor or coarsely hand chop the mixture.
• Add the chopped onion and red peppers but don't process further-the caviar should have crunch from these raw ingredients.
• Add olive oil, Kosher salt, black pepper (and optional herbs &/or spices) and mix well.
• Serve with regular or toasted pita, crackers or crudites.

RED PEPPER-EGGPLANT AJVAR

Steps:

• Heat oven to 475 degrees. Place peppers, eggplant and garlic on a baking sheet and roast; remove garlic after 10 minutes and place in a large bowl. Continue roasting peppers and eggplant until blackened and soft, about 20 minutes more, then add to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let steam until cool enough to handle. Remove and discard all peels, seeds and stems.
• In a food processor, combine pepper flesh, eggplant flesh and garlic with oil and salt and pepper; pulse until mixture is almost smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve with Balkan burgers (pljeskavica, see recipe) or as a dip.

EGGPLANT CAVIAR

Steps:

• Halve the eggplants lengthwise, score with a knife and sprinkle lightly with the kosher salt. Cover with a heavy plate and weigh down the plate to press out the moisture for 1 hour.
• Squeeze excess water from the eggplants. Lay the eggplants skin side down on the coals and roast until completely soft, from 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the heat of the coals. Remove and set aside to cool.
• When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, skin them. Place in a wooden bowl and use a fork to mince them. Remove the pulp to a piece of clean cloth or a towel to drain the excess liquid.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, garlic, mustard and salt and pepper. Add the eggplant pulp and stir to mix. Serve immediately or store on ice for up to two days.

EGGPLANT CAVIAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Cut in half lengthwise: 2 medium eggplants.
• Sprinkle the cut surfaces with: Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper, Olive oil.
• Place cut side down on a baking sheet and roast until soft. Test for doneness at the stem end; the eggplant should be very soft. Remove from the oven and let cool. Scrape the flesh out of the skins into a bowl and stir vigorously to loosen into a purée.
• Add: 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper, 1 garlic clove, peeled and pounded to a purée, 2 to 4 tablespoons chopped parsley or cilantro.
• Mix well and taste, adding more salt and lemon as needed.
• Variations
• Use 2 tablespoons chopped mint in place of parsley or cilantro.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon crushed toasted coriander seeds. To toast, heat whole coriander seeds in a heavy pan over medium heat until slightly brown. Crush in a mortar and pestle or under a heavy pan.
• Add a pinch or two of dried chile flakes.
• For a smoky flavor, keep one eggplant whole and char it over hot coals or the open flame of a burner until tender. Cut in half, scrape out the flesh, and combine with the other ingredients.

EGGPLANT CAVIAR

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush eggplant with olive oil and roast eggplants at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until soft.
• Saute the garlic and shallots in 2 ounces olive oil over low heat until they are translucent and aromatic.
• After the eggplant has cooled, remove the pulp from the skins, and place in a food processor and process until smooth.
• Place mixture in a bowl and add remaining ingredients along with garlic and shallots. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper, and serve with pita wedges

EGGPLANT CAVIAR WITH FRESH TOMATO COULIS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place eggplant on baking sheet. Pierce eggplant several times with fork. Bake until very soft and skin wrinkles and cracks, about 45 minutes. Cool slightly. Cut baked eggplant in half lengthwise. Peel off skin. Place eggplant in sieve and let drain 45 minutes. Finely chop eggplant.
• Whisk 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice and garlic in medium bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add eggplant; toss to coat. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Bring medium pot of water to boil. Add tomatoes to boiling water and blanch 30 seconds. Using slotted spoon, transfer tomatoes to bowl of cold water and cool.
• Using small sharp knife, pull skin off tomatoes. Core tomatoes and cut in half crosswise; squeeze out seeds. Transfer tomatoes to processor and blend until smooth. Transfer puree to bowl. Mix in remaining 1§ tablespoons olive oil, salt and white pepper. Let coulis stand until any air bubbles have popped, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.
• Spoon § cup tomato coulis into center of 4 shallow bowls. Using 2 large soup spoons, form eggplant mixture into oval and set atop coulis. Repeat, placing 3 ovals in each bowl. Garnish each with 1 fresh basil sprig.