Roasted Eggplant Salad With Leeks And Cilantro Leaves Recipes

ROASTED EGGPLANT SALAD WITH LEEKS AND CILANTRO LEAVES

Steps:

• Make the dressing: stir soy sauce, sugar, water and vinegar together until sugar dissolves. Stir in chile sauce and lime juice, taste and adjust the seasonings. There should be a good balance of sweet, salty, tangy and hot.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly oil a large baking sheet, preferably nonstick. Trim dark green tops off leeks (or scallions) and discard. Leaving stem ends intact, cut leeks in half lengthwise with the tip of a sharp knife. Place cut side down on prepared pan, drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until soft and charred in spots, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and set aside to soften.
• Trim stem ends off eggplants and discard. Cut eggplants into bite-size pieces. In a large bowl, toss pieces with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Oil the baking pan again. (Use 2 if needed to prevent crowding.) Spread eggplant on pans and roast, turning pieces once or twice, until soft, browned and charred in spots, about 15 minutes total.
• When eggplant is cool enough to handle, transfer to a serving bowl. Cut leeks crosswise into 1-inch pieces, discarding stem ends, and add to eggplant. Lightly chop cilantro and add.
• Stir dressing and pour half over the salad, tossing gently until evenly coated. Taste and add more dressing, salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and chopped peanuts, if using.

BAINGAN BHARTA (ROASTED EGGPLANT SALAD)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Line a baking sheet with foil. Make 3 slashes in each eggplant, from top to tail, equally distanced around the eggplant. Rub the eggplants with a little peanut oil. Sit them on the baking sheet and roast until soft all the way to the center and the skin is brown, about 45 minutes, rotating the pan and flipping the eggplants halfway through. Remove from the oven and cool.
• Once cool, skin the eggplant. Chop the flesh until it's relatively smooth but not mushy.
• In a large skillet, warm the peanut oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the onion and saute until it turns golden brown. Add the eggplant flesh, garlic, chile and cilantro leaves. Cook 2 minutes. Add a splash of water if it begins to stick.
• Add the turmeric, cumin, and 2 teaspoons of salt. Stir and cook another 5 minutes.
• Turn off the heat. Add the yogurt and stir to combine. Taste for seasoning, and garnish with cilantro leaves and a sprinkle of ground cumin. Serve either warm or slightly chilled.

THAI ROASTED EGGPLANT SALAD WITH CILANTRO AND LIME

Steps:

• Cut eggplants in half lengthwise. Cook eggplant strips, skin-side down, on a lightly oiled hot grill until tender and lightly browned, or on a baking sheet in a 400-degree F oven for 15 minutes Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, place all remaining ingredients in medium bowl. Cut thick strips of eggplant crosswise into 2-in. chunks and add to the bowl. (May peel eggplant first.) Gently toss well to mix eggplant with seasoning. Garnish salad with cilantro leaves. Serve at room temperature or chilled with all juices.