Poormans Caviar Recipes

POOR MAN'S CAVIAR: EGGPLANT SPREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to highest setting, at least 500 degrees F.
• Cut 2 or 3 slits into whole eggplant. Place eggplant directly on the oven rack in the middle of the oven and roast the eggplant until it is tender, about 20 minutes. Keep the slits facing up so that the eggplant does not loose liquids as it roasts.
• The roasted eggplant will look like a flat tire when you remove it from the oven. Using a sharp utility knife, carefully peel skin away from eggplant flesh. Add cooked eggplant flesh and juice to food processor and combine with garlic, allspice, salt, and pepper and parsley. Pulse grind the eggplant into a paste, add a drizzle of olive oil. Transfer to a serving dish. The seeds of the eggplant will make the spread resemble caviar eggs, and so the name: poor man's caviar.
• To serve, surround a bowlful of spread with crusty bread rounds.
• Tidbit: Mixed olives and selections of Italian sheep's milk cheeses are suggested accompaniments to this menu to round out your buffet. They require no recipe or preparation and add something to the offering overall. Place them on the buffet near the eggplant caviar and bread.

NO-COOK POOR MAN'S CAVIAR

Steps:

• Stir the black beans, black-eyed peas, garbanzo beans, white corn, onion, garlic, parsley, and basil together in a bowl.
• To make the dressing, mix the olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, dry mustard, and hot sauce together in a small bowl until well blended. Pour over the bean mixture and toss to mix evenly. Refrigerate for 24 hours before serving.

POOR MAN'S CAVIAR

Steps:

• Stir together avocados, tomatoes, green onions, black beans, and Mexicorn. Stir in red wine vinegar, canola oil, and hot pepper sauce. Cover, and chill 1 hour.

POORMANS CAVIAR

Steps:

• 1. Mix all together refrigerate 4 hr. serve with Chips. I have also used this on lettuce.

BAKLAZHANNAIA IKRA (POOR MAN'S CAVIAR)

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.

POOR MAN'S CAVIAR

Steps:

• Toss all ingredients to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight to allow flavors to come together.
• Serve cold or at room temperature.

POOR MAN'S CAVIAR

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Serve with Frito Scoops or tortilla chips.

BAKLAZHANNAIA IKRA, THE "POOR MAN'S CAVIAR"

Steps:

• Preheat the oven at 220°C (425°F).
• Wash the veggies (eggplant, bell pepper and tomatoes), and place directly on the oven rack to "grill" for about 1 hour. Place an iron baking tray, lined with parchment paper under the rack, to collect the juices (it avoids messing up your oven). Check the veggies every 25 minutes, and turn them, to allow the skin to char evenly.
• About 10 minutes before the 1 hour needed for your vegetables to char has passed, heat olive oil into a non-stick deep frying pan, then add shallots and parsley stems, and sauté for 5 minutes over medium heat. Pour 100 ml dry white wine (or water) into the pan, before adding the garlic. Stir often, to avoid burning. Add the garlic, and cook for about 3 more minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
• Remove the eggplant, tomato and bell pepper from the oven, and allow to cool off for about 10 minutes (you should be able to handle them without getting burned). Peel off their skins, then chop finely.
• Return to your frying pan, and bring it back to a boiling point, before pouring the roasted tomatoes, eggplant and bell pepper. Cook for 7-10 more minutes, allowing the flavors to blend. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, stir well, and let the dish cool off. If you like spicy foods, add a dash of Tabasco sauce, or a sprinkle of chili flakes.
• To get a true Russian dish, make sure you prepare a centerpiece while you wait for your Baklazhannaia Ikra to cool off. The picture accompanying the recipe should inspire you. Make sure that the salad, and all other raw ingredients are dry before placing the bread or the crackers onto the plate.
• You could also serve Baklazhannaia Ikra simply, as a spread, directly onto bread, without wasting time on decorating. It tastes very nice hot, but it is best enjoyed cold.

COWBOY CAVIAR

Steps:

• To make the dressing, in a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, sugar, white wine vinegar, chili powder, and salt to taste (I like 1 teaspoon).
• In a large bowl, add tomatoes, black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, red onion, bell peppers, and cilantro. Drizzle with the dressing and stir to combine. Cover and chill until serving time.

DREMA'S "POOR MAN'S CAVIAR"

Steps:

• 1. In large mixing bowl combine all ingredients except cilantro and onions. Mix thoroughly!
• 2. Gently stir in cilantro and onions. Mix well. Add all of dressing and toss or stir gently. Cover in airtight container and store in frig until ready to serve. Serve cold with chips! Excellent!

TEXAS CAVIAR

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, oil, water, sugar, salt and pepper in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk together and simmer for 3 minutes then remove from the heat. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, combine the black-eyed peas, black beans and corn in a large bowl. Add the onion, bell peppers and jalapeno, then pour in the dressing and stir until well combined.
• Serve the Texas caviar immediately with tortilla chips or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

BAKLAZHANNAIA IKRA(POOR MAN'S CAVIAR)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 F, Bake the eggplant on a rack in the center of the oven for about an hour, turning it over once or twice until it is soft and its skin is charred (poke a few small holes in it so it won't explode). Meanwhile, cook the onions in 4 Tbs of olive oil over moderate heat for 6-8 minutes until they are soft but not brown. 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 puree. 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 Tbs of olive 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 an hour. Remove the cover and cook for an additional half hour, stirring from time to time, until all moisture in the pan has evaporated and the mixture is thick enough to hold its shape in a spoon. Stir in 2 Tbs of lemon juice and taste for seasoning, adding more 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 rye or pumpernickel bread or on some sesame seed crackers.

POOR MAN'S CAVIAR

Steps:

• Roast eggplant for 1 hour at 350. When cool, pell and chop the flesh. Saute the onions, green pepper, and celery in oil until golden brown. Add the sautéed vegetables to the prepared eggplant and blend in food processor. Add salt, pepper, and garlic. Stir well. Serve with hot-buttered toast.